BY DARREN JOHNSTONE @CCP_Sport
Bobby Williamson has refused to blame Kenya’s World Cup qualifying failure on their travel chaos – despite touching down just three hours before kick off following an epic 22-hour journey.
Captained by former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, the Harambee Stars were beaten 2-0 by the Cape Verde Islands in Praia on Tuesday evening and were knocked out at the second round stage 2-1 on aggregate.
The nightmare trip began before they even took to the air when the players were stranded at Wilson Airport in Nairobi for eight hours after the owner of the charter plane demanded payment in advance.
And after Kenyan football federation president Sam Nyamweya was arrested over the debacle, the 50-seater jet then had to refuel in Uganda, Nigeria and Senegal before touching down just before kick off.
But former Hibs and Kilmarnock manager Williamson insists their defeat had nothing to do with their travel turmoil.
He said: “Yes, the players were tired after a long journey but that was not the main reason why we lost.
“We just could not settle and sometimes gave the ball away cheaply.
“We could have done better but unfortunately we couldn’t.
“Now we are looking forward to having a great run in Cecafa championships as we prepare for African Cup of Nations qualifying matches. It is what we can look for and hope to do better.”
