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How Harambee Starlets ‘lost their cool’ and the regional cup

By DAVID KWALIMWA September 21st, 2016 2 min read

Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma insists there “isn’t much to read into” the chaotic scenes that marred his side’s heartbreaking loss during the Cecafa Women Championship final.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations bound Starlets fell 1-2 to Tanzania’s Taifa Queens during an action packed contest staged at the Fufa Technical Centre in Jinja on Tuesday.

Omar Mwanahamisi was Kenya’s tormentor in chief, scoring both of Tanzania’s goals in the opening stanza to guarantee her country the regional title.

Kenya’s consolation goal meanwhile, was scored by Christine Nafula just after the restart.

Speaking after the match, Ouma said: “We learn from every game and there is no different case. We should have scored two goals before they took the lead but we never executed the chances. Anything else, there isn’t much to read into that.”

However, this 90 minute contest was punctuated by some questionable decisions by the match officials, which later fueled unrest among a number of Kenyan fans and sympathizers who had thronged the venue to cheer the team.

DISPUTED GOAL

The controversy started moments before half time, when Mwanahamisi’s rasping shot found its way to the back of the net for what eventually was her team’s second goal.

The centre referee initially seemed to disallow the goal, but moments later, and after consultations with his assistant, awarded it, prompting protests from a section of the crowd who responded by hurling unprintable words.

The Kenyan players also reacted by surrounding the ref to protest the decision and coach David Ouma had to step onto the pitch to calm down his charges.

The confrontations resumed at full time when a number of Kenyan players again surrounded the centre referee in protest over what they claimed was biased officiating in favour of the victorious team.

It took the intervention of the security detail, including the uniformed and plain clothes policemen to salvage the situation and whisk the match officials from the venue.

This was Kenya’s first loss in the tournament, with the Starlets having earlier won their opening four games.

The team’s next assignment will be in Cameroon, during the Women’s Afcon in November, when they will face Nigeria, Ghana and Mali.