Kenya takes on giant South Africa

By Our Special Correspondent

BENONI, OCT. 6. The Kenyans are happy to compete in a tournament in which the other teams are South Africa and India. They see it is a welcome opportunity to play themselves against some of the best in business in the world. What they are unhappy about is the way the rest of the cricketing world is treating them with regard

to playing a substantial role in developing their cricket and playing against their national team on a regular basis. The match against South Africa at the Willowmoore Park here on Sunday will only be its eighth one-day international in 26 months.

After the 1999 World Cup in England, the Kenyans have played three matches in the LG Cup, one ICC Knock-out match and three matches against the West Indies recently. Kenya's Indian coach Sandeep Patil makes it a point to highlight the raw deal given to a team which has been under his care since 1997. From a frequent traveller to Kenya because of his passion for wildlife, his association with cricket in Kenya has made Nairobi, Patil's second home, the first one being the cricketing nerve centre of

Mumbai, Shivaji Park. Patil will be coach of the Kenyan team till the World Cup this part of the African continent in 2003.

Patil said on Saturday that Kenya and he personally are grateful to the United Cricket' Board of South Africa for inviting its national team to play in the tri-series here. ``It

may seem unbelievable, but tomorrow's match will be Kenya's eighth in nearly two and a half years. I think the other countries should play a role in giving Kenya's cricketers

proper exposure. The more exposure our players get the better for them. They have to compete with other international cricketers. Cricket is booming in Kenya after the ICC knock out was held last year in Nairobi. But the results will be seen only after ten years. Cricket has been started in schools. But as of now we don't have enough reserves to fall back in the event of the players getting injured.''

Like India, Kenya too has prepared well for the event. It played a three match series against West Indies which it lost, but after reaching here last week, it has won both the warm matches against a Districts XI and Gauteng Province by big margins. In the first match Kennedy Otieno scored a big century and in the second, Thomas Odoyo (111) and Steve Tikolo (80) rescued their team from a poor 24 for three to a 300 plus total.

``They take pride in their performances, but from tomorrow it will be a different ball game. We will be playing an in-form South Africa. We will have to forget the past. Everything is planned towards building the team for the World Cup. We are not in a pressure situation. We are not anxious, but it doesn't mean that the players will be excused for a poor performances.

We have certain plans and our aim is to adhere to it and execute it,'' said Patil.

After the tri-series here, Kenya will be busy until next September. ``Recently we played a tri-series in Nairobi. Mumbai and Baroda took part in that event and we beat Mumbai in the final. After this event, we will play host to the Provincial team of Bulawayo in December,'' said Patil. Thereafter the Kenyan team will be in the West Indies for two months playing in the

Busta Cup. Last year England `A' was invited to play in the Busta Cup. West Indies has supported Kenya's bid for Test status and is helping Kenya a lot. In March next the Marylebone Cricket Club (London) will play three 3 day matches and five one-dayers. The Kenyans are also scheduled to play a four nation event featuring Namibia, Canada and Bangaldesh in Namibia. This will be followed by another four nation tournament in Zimbabe and also an event in Sharjah involving all the `A' teams and Kenya and Bangladesh. Finally the Kenyan team will visit India to play Tests and one- dayers against India `A'.

``So it's packed till next September. We will keep our cricketers busy till the World Cup. They need exposure at the highest level. Our fielding is extremely good. I can say that it's better than India's. We will try to make an impact. I don't want South Africa and India to see Kenya as an also-ran team,'' said Patil before leaving for the team's practice session at a private ground in the city.

The teams: South Africa (from): Shaun Pollock (Captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Claude Henderson.

Kenya (from) Maurice Odumbe (Captain), Steve Tikolo, Ravindu Shah, Kennedy Otieno, Thomas Odoyo, Hitesh Modi, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, David Otieno, Peter Ochieng, Joseph Angara, Sandeep Gupta, Brijal Patel, Jimmy Kamanade

Umpires: Messrs.Rudi Koertzen and Barry Lambson; Third umpire: Brian Jerlin; Match Referee: Mr. Ahmed Ebrahim (Zimbabwe).

Hours of play : South Africa v Kenya (day match) (IST) 1.30 p.m.to 5 p.m..; 5.45 p.m. onwards..

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