Kenya/Sudan: Oliech Now Agrees to Play in Sudan Match

Charles Nyende

22 June 2011

Nairobi — Kenya striker Dennis Oliech has made a U-turn and joined up with the Harambee Stars team for Saturday’s LG Cup clash with neighbours Sudan.

The Auxerre player trained with the team in an early morning session at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

Oliech, who had earlier indicated that he was on holiday and would not be in the right physical and mental state to play in a competitive match, said he was ready to lead the team.

Football Kenya Limited’s technical committee chairman Hussein Swaleh said Oliech will be available for the friendly match together with Patrick Oboya of FK Trinec (Czech Republic) and Dennis Odhiambo of Pretoria University (South Africa) who were expected to link up with the Stars by Thursday.

Kenya coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno had named an exclusive home-based squad when the 15 call-ups were made public on Sunday.

Considered Kenya’s best striker of his generation, Oliech has yet to score for the national team in four consecutive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches and may be hoping to break his drought with a goal in the low-profile – and presumably less pressuring – friendly.

When Sudan landed in Nairobi on Tuesday, their coach Mohammed Abdallah was quick to underline the importance of the tie.

He said: “This is good preparations for us as we prepare to play DR Congo in the (Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers.”

Abdallah has brought along several players who have featured in their promising Nations Cup qualifiers and will be keen to get back at Kenya, who defeated his side 1-0 in the Nile Basin Cup held in Egypt in January.

Also watch KPL Top Eight final

The northwestern neighbours hold a superior record of 10 victories against Kenya’s seven with four matches drawn in their 21 encounters.

A centre stand match ticket will cost Sh500 and terrace Sh200 and can be bought at G4S outlets in Nairobi.

Swaleh said only 25,000 tickets are available and urged fans to snap them up and stand a chance to benefit from products by electronics maker LG.

“Any person who will have a ticket on match day will be entitled to purchase selected LG products at half price courtesy of the match sponsors,” Swaleh said.

The ticket will allow fans to also watch the KPL Top Eight knock-out final between Ulinzi Stars and Western Stima from 3pm at the same venue.

AllAfrica – All the Time