Harambee Stars Started residential training on Thursday, as they await the upcoming international friendly against South Sudan on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium. – By Madellene Kalunda
On Saturday, Kenya will host the Bright Stars at Nyayo Stadium before playing the Taifa Stars in a double-header scheduled for Monday and Thursday.
Kenya international John Macharia is confident the friendly matches against South Sudan and Tanzania will shape the team and instill confidence ahead of the Harambee Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt and Togo.
All local based players have checked in except Daniel Sakari, Bonface Onyango, Samuel Olwande, James Mazembe and Erick Kapaito of Kariobangi Sharks.
They missed the session because of club assignments in the FKF Premier League.
Kenya are third in Group G of the qualifiers. They are scheduled to face Egypt in Nairobi on March 22 before flying out to Lome for their final group tie against bottom-placed Togo on March 30.
Kenya’s chances of reaching a second successive Afcon finals were dealt a major blow after the team lost 2-1 away to Comoros in their last outing.
However, a victory over Egypt at home would bring them right back into contention ahead of the final match of the qualifying series.
After the first friendly against South Sudan on Saturday, Stars will host Tanzania in back to back matches on March 15th at the Nyayo National Stadium and on March 18th at MISC Kasarani.
These matches will be used as build up matches towards the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that get underway in June 2021.
Harambee Stars provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars), Joseph Okoth (KCB), Peter Odhiambo (Wazito), Sam Adisa (Bidco).
Defenders: Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito), Michael Kibwage (Sofapaka), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks), Nahashon Alambi (KCB), Bonface Onyango (Kariobangi Sharks), David Owino (KCB), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks), Baraka Badi (KCB)
Midfielders: Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia), Collins Shichenje (AFC Leopards), Micheal Mutinda (KCB), Musa Masika (Wazito), John Macharia (Gor Mahia), Reagan Otieno (KCB), James Mazembe (Kariobangi Sharks), Oliver Maloba (Nairobi City Stars), Bonface Muchiri (Tusker), Kevin Kimani (Wazito), Abdalla Hassan (Bandari)
Forwards: Erick Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards), Henry Meja (Tusker), Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia)
