Etienne Ndayiragije on Why CHAN 2024 Was a Double-Edged Sword for Kenya Police FC's Champions League Hopes

Kenya Police FC coach Etienne Ndayiragije has opened up about how the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) was both a blessing and a curse as they gear up for their debut in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

Kenya Police FC was well represented at the CHAN 2024 tournament, with captain Abud Omar, vice-captain Daniel Sakari, and Marvin Nabwire featuring in what turned out to be a respectable campaign.

Harambee Stars started their campaign with a win over DR Congo before holding Angola to a 1-1 draw. They also claimed wins over Morocco and Zambia to proceed to the quarterfinal.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

However, they were eliminated from the tournament following a penalty shootout with Madagascar after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Despite the fair run, Etienne Ndayiragije has weighed in on the good and the bad of having some of his players at CHAN 2024.

He revealed that having players in the Harambee Stars squad added a lot of value to the squad, and they had a lot of key lessons from that they will implement in the continental tournament.

However, the tactician added that they missed their training sessions with the entire squad, and that might affect a few things, but they will learn how to cope.

“When you have players in the national team, it adds a lot of value to the team because they play at that level, and the experience there from the tempo, the fans and everything is really high. It also shows that as a club, we have high-calibre players who can represent the country,” the Kenya Police FC coach said in an interview with Telecom Asia Sport.

“But it also brought a bit of a challenge because they were not with us for most of the pre-season, but again, as internationals, they always know how to cope as soon as they are back and from what I have seen this week, they are coming in well.”

The coach noted that things had been going well so far and that the team had been preparing really well. He added that the players are ready for the Champions League and confident they will achieve the goals they have been training for.

Etienne Ndayiragije explained that the players are focused, know what is expected of them, and are willing to rise to the occasion, adding that they have worked on all aspects of the game.

The coach added that the CECAFA Kagame Cup was instrumental since they had to gauge where they were as a team ahead of the major challenge.

Kenya Police FC bowed out of the tournament despite finishing second in Group A with six points, one behind Singida Black Stars, who topped the group with seven. Only group winners and the best second-placed team qualified for the semi-finals.

KMC FC edged Kenya Police FC in the ranking of second-placed teams after finishing second in Group B with seven points.

“The tournament was really good for us because we needed such a competition to test and measure ourselves. We needed to play against teams from different countries to be able to have a taste of what the Champions League will be like,” he revealed.

“It was also a great opportunity for me to see my players in a competitive environment to know them better and also see how the new players have gelled into the team. It showed that we are somewhere at least, and the competitive games we played have pushed us to a certain level.”

He revealed that, having watched Mogadishu City play in the regional tournament, they are aware of the kind of opponent they are.

“We managed to see them several times in CECAFA because they were also participating. We know what they can do and we know their potential and we have much respect for them,” he opined.

“We are taking them very seriously, and I believe they also know us because they saw us playing. It will be a very good challenge for us.”

Etienne Ndayiragije expressed his relief that the team had avoided injuries during pre-season and confirmed that everyone is available for the continental showpiece.

He noted that, compared to last season, the players have reached a new level both physically and tactically, and there is great improvement within the squad.