Harambee Stars coach Firat names squad for September friendlies

• Harambee Stars will play Qatar and South Sudan
• The provisional squad includes the return of Ayub Timbe
• Also called up is England-based Clarke Oduor

Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat has named a provisional squad of 26 for the two upcoming friendly matches in the September FIFA window. Stars are scheduled to travel away to Doha to face Qatar, before playing against neighbors South Sudan in Nairobi.

This 26-man squad comprises a formidable mix of both local and internationally-based players.

The tactician has handed a recall to winger Ayub Timbe, who has been uninvolved with the national team since 2020. Timbe was an integral part of the team that qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but pulled out as he struggled with injury and settling for club duties.

He has since settled down in China, and currently plays in the second tier with Nanjing City.

The tactician has also recalled young midfielder Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma who plies his trade with Elfsborg in Sweden. The former City Stars man was handed his first ever national team minutes by Firat for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but was not selected in the last two friendly match windows.

Matasi also recalled to the team

Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has also been recalled to the team after missing the last round of friendly matches in Mauritius due to injury.

England-based defender Clarke Oduor has also been handed a call up by Firat for the first time. Oduor, who plays in the English fourth tier with Bradford City had been handed his first ever call up by former coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, but was surprisingly left out of most of the subsequent assignments.

Oduor who predominantly plays as a left back has been on good form with Bradford and will look forward to firming up a permanent role with the national team.

The foreign based quota has skipper Michael Olunga, defender Joseph Okumu who has recently moved to France as well as Portugal based Johnstone Omurwa.

Masud Juma who plays in Saudi Arabia, Sweden based Erick Ouma, Amos Nondi who plays in Armenia, Denmark based Richard Odada and Japan-based Anthony ‘Teddy’ Akumu have also been included in the team.

Additionally, the squad includes international players with Kenyan roots who ply their trade in Europe. Danish-born defender Daniel Anyembe, who has previously captained Denmark’s U-23 national team, and Alfred Scriven, who plays for IL Hodd in Norway, have received call-ups once more.

The team reports to camp on Sunday, September 3. They play Qatar on September 7, and then face off with South Sudan in Nairobi on September 12.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Byrne Odhiambo (KCB), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police FC)

Defenders

Collins Sichenje (AIK, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims, France), Brian Mandela (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela, Portugal), David Ochieng (Kenya Police), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Clarke Oduor (England)

Midfielders

Richard Odada (AaB, Denmark), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Timothy Ouma (IF Elfsborg, Sweden),  Duke Abuya (Singida Fountain Gate, Tanzania), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Ayub Masika (Nanjing City Football Club, China), Alfred Scriven (IL Hødd, Norway), Austin Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)

Forwards

Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Al Jabalain, Saudi Arabia)