Makwatta eyes goals against Mambas
What you need to know:
- John Mark Makwatta is targeting his first ever goal in national team colours in Saturday's international friendly away to Mozambique.
- In the absence of first choice attacking duo Micheal Olunga and Ayub Timbe, who have been excused for this assignment owing to personal reasons, Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi looks set to entrust the goal scoring responsibilities on Makwatta, 22, and Jesse Were in this clash at the Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo.
John Mark Makwatta is targeting his first ever goal in national team colours in Saturday's international friendly away to Mozambique.
In the absence of first choice attacking duo Micheal Olunga and Ayub Timbe, who have been excused for this assignment owing to personal reasons, Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi looks set to entrust the goal scoring responsibilities on Makwatta, 22, and Jesse Were in this clash at the Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo.
Having already suffered elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, these two teams will primarily use this fixture to maintain shape ahead of the 2019 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers which resume next March.
"The game will be tight as they are a solid side. We witnessed that when we last played them in Nairobi." Makwatta told Nation Sport.
"I am eager to get off the mark, but it's not an obsession. I had to wait for my first goal at Buildcon. With the national team, the goals will certainly come, hopefully on Saturday."
Granted, Makwatta has been prolific in front of goal in the past year.
Last season he netted 16 times for Ulinzi Stars, to emerge top scorer in the SportPesa Premier League.
And then, having transferred to Zambian club Buildcon in March, the attacker has - following a slow start - banged in four league goals in his last seven league appearances in the MTN FAZ league.
The former City Stars player however needs to transfer these prolific numbers onto the international front to better his CV.
Stars departed the country on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Mambas who are managed by the flashy former Liverpool defender Abel Xavier, are seeking winning ways after a spate of unconvincing results.
The Southern Africans lost 1-0 in this reverse fixture played in Nairobi last November and were also recently eliminated by Madagascar from the race to qualify for the next year's Africa Nations Championship (Chan) tournament slated for Kenya.
Travelling squad:
Goalkeepers:
Fredrick Odhiambo (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers, Kenya).
Defenders:
Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Aboud Omar (Slavia Sofia, Bulgaria), Joackins Atudo (Posta Rangers, Kenya), Kamura Robinson (AFC Leopards, Kenya), David Ochieng (New York Cosmos, USA), David Owino Odhiambi (Zesco United, Zambia).
Midfielders:
Anthony Akumu (Zesco United, Zambia), Cliffton Miheso (Buildcon FC, Zambia) Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Amos Asembekha (Sony Sugar, Kenya) Eric Johanna (Vasalund FC, Sweden), Victor Majid (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya).
Attackers:
Jesse Were (Zesco United, Zambia), John Mark Makwatta (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Timothy Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia, Kenya).
