Harambee Stars leave for Comoros

Harambee Stars will on Wednesday leave for Moroni, Comoros, for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifier return leg match against the islanders on Friday.

But the team’s preparations have been overshadowed by the axing of striker Dennis Oliech over what head coach Adel Amroche termed “a major case of indiscipline.”

On Monday, Amrouche said Oliech would not be part of his game plan in Comoros after the player missed training for a week without permission.

LACK OF RESPECT

Amrouche read lack of respect in Oliech’s actions and it is still unclear if the striker will travel with the team even as first-choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi joined the camp in Monday.

“I don’t care who you are, even if you are Diego Maradona. Everybody in the team is equal and discipline is mandatory,” said a visibly-angry Amrouche. Amrouche’s decision is aimed at instilling discipline in the entire squad.

This is not the first time the France-based forward is having disciplinary issues with coaches. Oliech was in the bad books of former Stars coaches, German Antoine Hey and Frenchman Bernard Lama. At one point, Hey bowed to public pressure and fielded Oliech even after dropping the player from the team over disciplinary issues.

Having struggled to beat Comoros in Nairobi, the team must rethink its strategy if they are to keep alive their hopes of participating next year’s tournament in Morocco.

Comoros frustrated Stars by closing down on the spaces, sitting back to absorb the pressure and suddenly bursting forward to attack when in possession.

With Oliech out of the squad, Amrouche is likely to start with AFC Leopards’ Allan Wanga and Belgium-based Ayub Timbe as lead forwards.