Eric Ouma, Ayub Timbe and Eric Johanna out of Cranes, DRC friendly matches
Ayub Timbe (left) and Paul Were during a past training session. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- Team captain Victor Wanyama and South Africa-based Brian Mandela however arrived in the country early Tuesday morning.
- The arrival of the duo is a major boost for coach Stanley Okumbi, who is using the two friendly matches in preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers starting in June.
- Stars face Cranes on Thursday and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in another friendly match.
Harambee Stars trio Eric Ouma, Ayub Timbe and Eric Johanna have withdrawn from the upcoming international friendly matches against Uganda Cranes and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Team captain Victor Wanyama and South Africa-based Brian Mandela however arrived in the country early Tuesday morning, and joined the team for the afternoon training session at the match venue at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.
The arrival of the duo is a major boost for coach Stanley Okumbi, who is using the two friendly matches in preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers starting in June. Stars face Cranes on Thursday and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in another friendly match.
A communique from Football Kenya Federation Tuesday indicated that the three have asked for some time to settle in their new clubs. Winger Paul Were, currently unattached, has been called up as an emergency replacement.
Ouma joined Georgian side FK Kolkheti in January this year, while Timbe left Belgium’s Lierse for Chinese Division Two side Beijing Renhe.
Johanna ditched Mathare United at the end of the 2016 season and is currently trying out in the Swedish league.
“I have issues that I need to clear here in China and also with my former club in Belgium that is why I have passed up on that opportunity,” winger Timbe told Daily Nation Sport.
“My transfer was a little complicated because it happened during the very last days of the Chinese transfer window and I still have a lot of paperwork to process, and I need time to do that.”
In light of the three withdrawals, Paul Were travelled to the national team’s base in Machakos where he linked up with the rest of the team which include Zesco United trio of Anthony Akumu, David Owino and Jesse Were, Johanna Omollo (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Michael Olunga (Guizhou Zhicheng, China) and Aboud Omar (Slava Sofia, Bulgaria).
ONYANGO OUT
Uganda Cranes also arrived in the country Tuesday morning and were joined by their six foreign based players Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Hassan Wasswa Mawanda (Nijmeh, Lebanon), Crizestom Ntambia (Jimma Aba Buna) and Yassar Mugerwa (Saint George, Ethiopia).
SC Villa striker Emmanuel Okwi and midfielder Brian Majwegga from KCCA have also returned to the Cranes squad after being sidelined by coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic in the squad that represented Uganda in the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon in January.
Mamelodi Sundowns custodian Dennis Onyango, Robert Odongkara (Saint George, Ethiopia) and Salim Jamal (Al Merreikh, Sudan), the three goalkeepers that were in Gabon for the Nations Cup, were omitted from the travelling party.
Local based custodians Benjamin Ochan and Isma Watenga have been drafted in their place, a clear indication that coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic is keen on building a team for next year’s African Nations Championship qualifiers starting this August.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 3pm in Machakos, and ticket prices have been set at Sh100 and Sh300 for terrace and VIP respectively.
