Harambee Stars, Tanzania lock horns in friendly at Kasarani

Ismail Said Gonzalez (left) and Eric Ouma during Harambee Stars training session on May 25, 2016 at Utalii College. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • No pressure on us, just a test, says out-to-prove-a-point Harambee Stars coach Okumbi
  • Both teams will be using this match as preparations for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.
  • Kenya are scheduled to play Congo in Nairobi on June 6, while Tanzania take on Egypt on the same day Dar es Salaam.
  • Kenya is scheduled to host Sudan in another friendly match on Tuesday.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars tackle Taifa Stars of Tanzania in an international friendly match at the Kasarani Stadium from 4pm on Sunday.

Both teams will be using this match as preparations for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.

Kenya are scheduled to play Congo in Nairobi on June 6, while Tanzania take on Egypt on the same day Dar es Salaam.

Kenya and Tanzania will be merely honouring their Afcon qualifying matches as they are both out of the running for a finals ticket.
Kenya at position 116 are 13 places above Tanzania in the Fifa world rankings.

Okumbi is expected to parade a galaxy of foreign-based stars including captain Victor Wanyama, Ayub Timbe, Aboud Omar, Brian Mandela, Ali Abondo, Paul Were, Jesse Were, David Owino and Anthony Akumu.

Tanzania on the other hand have carried a second string side.

They will be without captain Mbwana Samatta - who turns out for Belgian outfit KRC Genk and red-hot TP Mazembe striker Thomas Ulimwengu.

John Bocco of Azam and Deus Kaseke of Yanga, who starred for their respective clubs during last year’s Cecafa Club championships, are however part of the 25-man Tanzanian travelling party, as well as former captain Nadir Haroub who had reportedly turned down the national team call up.

Speaking to Sunday Nation Sport from Camp Toyoyo in Jericho, Nairobi, Taifa Stars coach Charles Benjamin Mkwasa explained that Ulimwengu and Samatta were unable to join the team due to club commitments, but that the rest of the team was ready and excited to face Kenya.

“This is a preparation for the Afcon qualifiers and from our performance we should know how to tweak the team.

“It is a friendly match but it will have an implication on the Fifa rankings so it is very important, to us,” he said.

“There is no pressure in this game at all. We are rebuilding the team and this is just a test that will enable us know how far we have come and how we can make the team even stronger.

“We are preparing for Congo so it will be good for us to get something from Tanzania,” Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi.

TIMBE ARRIVES

Stars have been in residential training since Monday at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.

Winger Ayub Timbe was the last player to join camp late Thursday afternoon.

Wanyama, who was doubtful for the match, trained with the team on Saturday morning and may be available for selection. Belgium-based midfielder Johanna Omollo and striker Michael Olunga will however play no part in the friendly match due to injury and club commitment respectively.

Kenya is scheduled to host Sudan in another friendly match on Tuesday.