Harambee Stars new coach Francis Kimanzi has named his first squad that will participate in an international friendly against the Ugandan Cranes on 8th September.
The former Mathare United tactician was sure to include Zesco United striker Jesse Were in his provisional squad. Were had missed the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) national team call-up with Kimanzi’s predecessor Sebastien Migne saying that the striker did not have what it takes to feature for Harambee Stars.
This statement by the French tactician angered Kenyan fans who thought that Were is an exceptional player who should have been included in the squad. It led to discussions amongst Kenyan football analysts and fans who thought that Migne should not have left Were out of the squad.
Apart from Were, the rest of the squad is pretty much the same one that represented the country at the AFCON except for Kakamega Homeboyz midfielder Moses Mudavadi. Coach Kimanzi has also named 10 players in a reserves list who could be called upon in case of injury to the called up players.
Kimanzi and his assistant Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno were recently announced as the new heads of the Harambee Stars technical bench. The two have had experience working with te national team in the past.
Kimanzi has experience with the national team having coached Stars in two different spells between November 2008 and January 2009 and later from November 2011 to June 2012. His assistant Zico has also previously handled the senior team between December 2010 and December 2011.
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi (St. George SC, Ethiopia), John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Faruk Shikalo (Young Africans SC, Tanzania)
Defenders
Joseph Okumu ( Real Monarchs FC, USA), Mike Kibwage (KCB FC, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Wazito FC, Kenya), Abud Omar (Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania), Erick Ouma (Vasalunds IF, Sweden) Nicholas Meja (Bandari, Kenya), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya)
Midfielders
Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs FC, England), Francis Kahata (Simba SC, Tanzania), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker FC, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Duke Abuya (Kariobangi Sharks FC, Kenya), Ismael Gonzales (UD Las Palmas FC, Spain), Cliffton Miheso (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Johanna Omolo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe FC, China), Cliff Nyakeya (FC Masr, Egypt), Erick Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Whyvone Isuza (AFC Leopards SC)
Forwards
Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol FC, Japan), Jesse Were (Zesco United, Zambia), John Avire (Sofapaka FC, Kenya)
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