News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Home  » News » Kenya can reach Super Sixes: Odumbe

Kenya can reach Super Sixes: Odumbe

By Marcus Prior
February 11, 2003 12:32 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Former Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe believes the East African side is good enough to reach the Super Six stage of the World Cup.

Odumbe handed over the captaincy to Steve Tikolo last year but remains in the side as a talented middle order batsman and useful off-spinner.

He was in bullish mood at the team hotel in Potchefstroom on Monday.

"I seriously believe this side can reach the Super Six. It's not beyond us," Odumbe told Reuters.

"I am not dreaming. Our preparation has been right, the boys are feeling good. It's not beyond us. It's not rubbish or something I'm just talking about.

"If we beat Bangladesh or Canada it's not going to be an upset. We'd expect to win those two. I don't mind then even targeting a big scalp like South Africa or Sri Lanka. After the West Indies beat South Africa last night the pool is wide open which makes our life much easier."

Confusion still surrounds the scheduled game on February 21 against New Zealand, who said before the tournament they would not travel to Nairobi because of security concerns.

Odumbe said West Indies' upset win over the South Africans in the tournament's opening game on Sunday had gone down well with his team mates.

"You have to remember the West Indies have always been our heroes and to see them play well was encouraging to us," he said. "It gave us hope. You have to remember that the West Indies have been struggling but are now on the up so it was great to see them play well."

The only negative note struck by the former captain was a familiar refrain.

"We haven't been playing much, to be honest. It's the usual story. We get maybe three or four games in a year and that doesn't help us at all.

"We need to play more international matches against top international sides but we don't and then people complain that we are not performing."

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Marcus Prior
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.