Kenya: Stars Squad Named

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

21 June 2011

Coach Otieno leaves out overseas-based players for LG Cup match against Sudan

Congo United’s striker Rama Salim and Rangers hard man Brian Mandela are the new faces in Harambee Stars who went into camp training yesterday to start preparations for this weekends LG Cup friendly encounter against Sudan.

Coach Zedekiah Otieno did not include any overseas based player in his 16-man squad for Saturday’s match at the Nyayo national stadium.

Their were few surprises in the squad which also welcomes experienced Sofapaka’s goal poacher John Baraza. Zico is terming the friendly an opportunity for home based national team players to get exposed to very competitive football.

The foreign legion led by skipper Dennis Oliech have been lukewarm about the friendly, down playing its importance as Stars gear up for the penultimate round of African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea Bissau and Uganda. “Its important that players are given an opportunity to improve the national team and not play to benefit just a few people,” Oliech said.

Sofapaka captain James Situma is also likely to skip the friendly as he flew out of the country yesterday morning to link up with his new side KF Tirana in Albania where he hopes to be the first Kenyan to play in their national league Harambee Stars Management Board chairman Evans Kidero promised to double the allowances of the players should they win the match against Sudan. The clash will be preceded by the final of the inaugural KPL top eight final pitting Ulinzi stars and Western Stima Sudan were expected to jet into the country yesterday.

Harambee Stars squad:

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch (Tusker), Jerim Onyango (Gor Mahia).

Defenders: James Situma (Sofapaka), Pascal Ochieng (Rangers), Erick Masika (Gor Mahia), Brian Mandela (Rangers), Anthony Kimani (Mathare United). Midfielders: Kevin Ochieng (Rangers), Titus Mulama, Osborne Monday (Sofapaka), Joseph Nyaga (Rangers), Collins Okoth (Gor Mahia). Strikers: John Baraza, John Onami, Bob Mugalia (Sofapaka), Rama Salim (Congo United).

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