Kenya/Angola: Oboya a Doubt for Angola Do-Or-Die Nations Cup Tie

Sammy Kitula

21 March 2011

Nairobi — The availability of Harambee Stars midfielder Patrick Oboya for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola hangs in the balance, even as the team reported for their training session on Monday.

The left-footed player, who scored a stunner in their 2-1 win over Palancas Negras in 2007, might miss the weekend tie after his club, FC Trinec, claimed the Kenyan football authority failed to release him after a national assignment.

Petition Fifa

According to Football Kenya Limited senior vice-chairman Titus Kasuve, however, the federation plans to petition Fifa over the club’s stand. “We are going to write to them Fifa and FC Trinec about the matter and see how it goes,” said the FKL boss. Oboya is currently on loan with FC Trinec from Banik Most.

On the same date when Kenya plays Angola, his club will have a do-or-die match with league leaders Dukla Praha and, according to his club, Obioya’s services will be highly needed. In the last Kenyan encounter with Angola in Nairobi, Oboya put the home side in the lead in the first half but Angola drew level thanks to a Manucho strike just before the break.

Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech took advantage of a defensive slip-up to seal the win for Harambee Stars late in the game. Should the federation and his club fail to reach a consensus on time, the services of one of the best Kenyan forwards would be dearly missed.

Even as the Oboya saga continues to simmer, Kenya’s international goalkeeper Arnold Origi joined the team yesterday at their residential camp in Nairobi.

Most of the locally-based players reported to camp on Sunday evening after their weekend Kenyan Premier League matches and they held their first training session in the evening after paying a visit to FKL vice-chairman Erastus Okul, who has been unwell for the past two weeks.

Origi makes a comeback to the national team after missing out on the match against Uganda Cranes in Nairobi and the friendly matches against South Africa and Tanzania.

At bottom of the table

The last time the goalkeeper turned out for the national team was during Kenya’s opening Nations Cup qualifying match against Guinea Bissau mid last year, which Kenya lost 1-0.

South Africa-based Dennis Odhiambo has also reported to camp, with Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga, Oliech and Johana Omollo expected today. Victor Mugabe is expected on Wednesday.

Kenya sit at the bottom of the table with one point, two adrift of both Angola and Guinea Bissau. Uganda are at the helm with four points.

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