Kirwa said Ethiopia has a few people like Kenenisa Bekele to plan for, but his main focus will be on the upcoming athletics super power, Eritrea.

"I saw the way they were running last year and I am almost convinced that they could wreck havoc in Mombasa," said Kirwa.

He said during his two-week training stint at the Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu, he would concentrate on speed.

The tactician said he realised there were big gaps during the trials and his mission is to close them.

"I want to leave Kigari knowing that the athletes are able to keep close with others. Otherwise it will be difficult for us," he added.

He said the gaps in the men’s 12km and the junior women’s 6km left a lot to be desired.

He warned athletes to proceed to the camp prepared as it would entail two weeks of rigorous training.

He said there is no guarantee that an athlete would make the team just because he or she won during the trials.

"All athletes including wildcards will have to prove it in training at Kigari and this is where the real team will be named," he added.

He said the team would be training in the afternoon’s hot sun as a way of acclimatising to the conditions at the Coast.