Emerging Stars head coach Ken Odhiambo is confident about his team's ability to bounce back after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Comoros in a 2024 Cosafa Cup encounter at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Despite the loss, Odhiambo believes they can overcome the odds and finish top of Group A'.
Matters came to a head for the Kenyan lads when enterprising left-back Paul Ochuoga was sent for an early shower after picking a second yellow card following an infringement in the penalty area.
"The match against Comoros was challenging for us, especially after Ochuoga received a red card early in the game," Odhiambo remarked.
"However, the outcome was merely a momentary setback and I'm convinced the boys will bounce back stronger in our final group match against Zimbabwe," he added.
He believes his players have the talent and ability to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and improvement.
The coach cites the team's resilience and determination as key factors in their future success.
He lavished praise on his young charges for showcasing enormous talent and potential during the match against Comoros.
"With continued development and training, these emerging talents can take their game to the next level and help lead the nation to new heights," Odhiambo stated.
He has already set his sights on Zimbabwe, confident of capitalising on their desire to make things right again.
"With a renewed sense of purpose and a strong squad, we can emerge at the top of our group and land a spot in the semifinals," Odhiambo said.
Affande Djambae's brace on either side of the interval propelled Comoros to the top of Group A with six points. They beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in their opening match.
Despite starting their campaign with an authoritative 2-0 win over Zambia on Thursday, Emerging Stars dropped to third place on the log with three points.
