Oliech joins squad in camp

Harambee stars captain Dennis Oliech joined the national team for his first training session on Wednesday ahead of next week’s international friendly with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Nyayo National Stadium.

As the afternoon programme got under way at 3:30pm at Nyayo, only local-based players were available for the workout, before the formidable striker joined in minutes later.

Israel-based midfiedler Patrick Osiako remains doubful while Norway-based Christian Bwamy is set to miss the match after his club, IF Fram, failed to release him.

Other professionals named for the match are Victor Wanyama (Scotland), Ayub Timbe (Belgium) and Jerry Santos (Tanzania).

Osiako - a replacement for the injured McDonald Mariga - was supposed to travel on Tuesday evening, but at the time of going to press, his Israel club Hapoel Be’er Sheva was yet to receive a release request from Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

Nonetheless, head coach Henri Michel conducted two training sessions in two different venues yesterday, with just five days left to the match-day.

The team’s technical bench is leaving nothing to chance, as the national team’s handler took his charges through the morning session at the Nairobi City stadium before shifting base to a closed-door-training at the Nyayo National Stadium in the afternoon.

Michel declined to comment on the professional players’ unavailability, but a source from the technical bench said they were expecting to have a full house by the end of the week.

Several days to train together

“Yes, Oliech has just linked up with the team today evening (Wednesday). The rest of the professionals will join us as the days go by. But that’s not a big issue, as we still have several days to gel before the match,” he said.

“The rest of the professionals are expected to link up with the side by weekend.”

All the 15 locally-based players were taken through their paces including Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper Jerim Onyango, as well as Mathare United’s attacking midfielder, Andrew Tololwa.

On Monday, big guns fell by the wayside as the Frenchman trimmed the 29-man list to just 15. Among the dropped players included AFC Leopards striker Allan Wanga, and Gor Mahia’s Rama Salim. Others include the Leopards duo of Charles Okwemba and Paul Were.

Enock Agwanda (Sony Sugar), Solomon Nasio (Gor Mahia), Wycliffe Ochomo (Ulinzi Stars), John Nairuka, (Thika United), Gor Mahia winger Moses Odhiambo, and goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng couldn’t make the cut. Bafana Bafana will arrive in Nairobi on Saturday.