Muhiddin heaps praise on Ouma

• Harambee Stars head coach says the striker deserves chance as Zambia first hurdle

Harambee Stars coach Twahir Muhiddin has praised recalled striker Francis Ouma saying he was an accomplished goal scorer worthy of the number nine shirt.

“Ouma is not a newcomer to this business. He is not a newcomer to the team. He is looking sharp and he knows his job and his responsibility to the team,” Muhiddin said on Thursday.

The 20-year-old Ouma trained for the first time with the team yesterday morning after arriving from his base in Portugal where he turns out for GC Tourizense, in the second division.

The top scorer in the Kenyan Premier League last year with Mathare United, Ouma was an integral part of Harambee Stars in their second round of World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He last featured in the qualifiers on October 12 last year, scoring a goal in Kenya’s 3-2 loss to Guinea in Conakry. The goal poaching Ouma helped Stars to advance to the final in last year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, top scoring for his team with four goals.

Formidable side

“He is a worthy replacement for Dennis Oliech,” Muhiddin said of Ouma. Muhiddin was upbeat about Kenya’s chances of lifting the trophy on home soil.

“We have a formidable side. The players are up to the task of playing before their home fans. They do not want to let the fans down and are looking to going all the way,” the soft speaking Kenya coach said.

Muhiddin will also be keen on clinching his first regional title. He guided Stars to the semi-finals of the 2004 Challenge Cup, losing in post-match penalties to host Ethiopia after the two sides had battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

Kenya are in Group A with African Cup of Nations qualified Zambia, 2004/2005 champions Ethiopia and Djibouti. The hosts open their assignment with a tough tie against Zambia tomorrow at Nyayo National Stadium.

Muhiddin will be pleased with the availability of up coming Peter Opiyo. The confident Gor Mahia midfielder is expected back in the country today from Germany where he has been attending trials with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

The final 20-man squad for the tournament will be announced Friday.

Unlikely to make the team is new call up Amos Chona of IFK Mariehman. Muhiddin said he did not want to risk including the Findland based midfielder who is recovering from a bout of malaria.