Firat names provisional squad for Mali double header

Newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has named his first squad ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup qualification against Mali. The tactician has borrowed heavily from the squad that did duty against Uganda and Rwanda, but has named several surprise inclusions in the team.

Midfielder Philip Mayaka who plays in the Major League Soccer (MLS) for Colorado Rapids has been handed his maiden call up to the team and will look to impress the new tactician.

Two call ups that will definitely raise eyebrows include those of Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks) and his former teammate Ovella Ochieng, who has recently finalized a move to South African club Marumo Gallants.

Both players have not featured in active football for close to a year. Lokale picked up an injury just as he was starting his tenure with Finish side HIFK and failed to feature for the remainder of the season.

Ovela meanwhile has been without a club since leaving Sweden where he turned out for third tier side Vasalund IF mid-last year. Their inclusion has raised eyebrows especially due to their lack of match activity over a long period of time.

Lokale has played just one competitive match for Sharks, their FKF Premier League opener last weekend.

Meanwhile, there has been a recall for fullbacks David Owino who turns out for Zambian second tier side Napsa Stars and Abud Omar who plays in Greece second tier side AEL Larisa. Spain-based midfielder Ismael Athman Gonzalez has also been handed a recall after being overlooked by immediate former head coach Jacob Ghost Mulee.

David Odhiambo’s last inclusion for the Harambee Stars was during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt

Faruk Shikalo who has since joined Tanzanian Premier League side Kinondoni Municipal Council has also been included and will compete with the number one starting role with Zambia based Ian Otieno and Tusker FC’s new signing Brian Bwire.

Joash Onyango who missed the matches against Rwanda and Uganda through injury has also been included in the 34-man provisional squad.

Meanwhile, Eric Johannah who was called up for the last two games has not been recalled for the next two fixtures. Other senior players who had been previously left out including the likes of defender Brian Mandela, midfielders Teddy Akumu, Johannah Omollo and Ayub Timbe have also not been considered.

Local-based players enter camp on Thursday while foreign-based players will link up with the team based on their league commitments over the weekend.

The first leg against the Malians will be played on October 7 in Morocco due to the fact that the West Africans do not have a FIFA approved stadium at home. The return tie is scheduled for the Nyayo National Stadium three days later.

Firat who is on a two-month contract will look to clinch Kenya’s first win in the qualifiers after his predecessor managed back to back draws to sit on two points.

The tactician has been handed a contract that covers the four remaining qualifiers and he believes that he can take Kenya to the next round of qualification.

“I believe that we can actually qualify and if I didn’t believe then I wouldn’t be here. We have a good team and I believe that we have things we need to work on and improve. I have watched the first two games and I have seen what we can work on and hopefully we can have a good team to play the next two matches,” the coach said after his arrived in the country.

Kenya pick yet another draw in World Cup qualifiers

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Faruk Shikhalo (KMC, Tanzania), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars), Brian Bwire (Tusker)

Defenders

Joseph Stanley Okumu (KAA Gent, Belgium), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), David Odhiambo (Napsa, Zambia), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks), Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito), Eugene Asike (Tusker), Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), David Owino (KCB), Abud Omar (AEL Larisa, Greece), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Bolton Omwenga (Kagera Sugar, Tanzania)

Midfielders

Richard Odada (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka), Patila Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks), Ismael Gonzalez (Real Murcia, Spain), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Keagan Ndemi (Bandari), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker), Regean Otieno (KCB), Erick Zakayo (Tusker), Ovella Ochieng (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Philip Mayaka (Colorado Rapids, USA), Musa Masika (Wazito), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Henry Meja (Tusker, Kenya), Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks), Erick Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks).