DURBAN, South Africa, 18 March 2003 — Kenya’s captain Steve Tikolo said here yesterday that the unheralded Africans’ achievement in becoming the first non-Test nation to reach a World Cup semifinal was no fairy tale in his eyes.
“Everybody has their own theories as to why we’ve done well,” Tikolo told reporters at Kingsmead ahead of Thursday’s day-night semifinal against India. “But to us it’s no fairy tale. We’ve worked hard for this and now that’s paying dividends.”
Tikolo, who has been suffering with tonsillitis, declared himself fully fit ahead of the big match. “I’m feeling much better,” he said, adding the team’s other injury worries were also gone.
These included wicketkeeper Kennedy Otieno who was struck a painful blow on the elbow in the process of being bowled by Australia speedster Brett Lee on Saturday. “Kennedy has no fracture. Yesterday his arm was a bit numb but he’s fine now,” said Tikolo, adding that Maurice Odumbe and Thomas Odoyo were also fit to play.
