Unwanted: Williamson drops Oliech, Olum, eight others from Stars squad ahead of Mauritius clash

Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson has exhibited rare bravery by dropping star players ahead of the team’s 2018 World Cup preliminaries clash with Mauritius.

Skipper and lead-goal poacher Dennis Oliech and lanky centre-half Lawrence Olum are the major casualties from Williamson’s lean 20-man squad that will confront Mauritius in on October 7 away in Port Louis.

The return leg will be played Nairobi a week later.

The team reports to residential camp on October 2 to begin preparations.

Should Stars kick out Mauritius in a two- leg face off, they will face Cape Verde with the aggregate winner proceeding to the final stage of the qualifiers consisting of 18 other teams, from where the five nations to represent Africa at the Fifa World Cup in Russia in 2018 will be selected.

Besides Oliech, others that have been axed are Tusker’s talisman and league top scorer Jesse Were, his Tusker teammate Humphrey Mieno ,Paul Were, Sammy Mejja (Thika United), Danson Kago, Noah Wafula (Tusker), Wycliffe Kasaya (Nakumatt)and Gor Mahia’s midfield general Collins ‘Gatusso’ Okoth.

Okoth, Oliech and Olum were all off- colour as Stars fell 2-1 to Zambia in Nairobi in September in a 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Mejja, Kasaya and the pacy Kago played no part in the Zambian defeat.

The move by Williamson who is still chasing after his first competitive win with the senior squad since taking the reins of the perennially under-achieving team in September last year means that Oliech, who has been out of competitive action will continue being out in the cold.

It is also seen as a pointer that his time is up with the team. Williamson also had no room for Italy based McDonald Mariga.

Mariga is still club-less despite the transfer window having closed in Europe and has had a difficult time in the last two years where he became a long term resident in the sick bay.

However, Williamson whose tactics and game plan came under scrutiny in the wake of the calamitous home defeat to the Chipolopolo has retained the bulk of the team.

The new faces in the squad include Nakumatt’s midfielder Peter Nzuki and Kevin Amwayi.

Amwayi is a senior private and turns out for military side Ulinzi Stars. Bandari’s roving left back Abdulatif Omar is also in the team.

Omar has previously featured for Stars but lost his place in the wake of injuries and it will be a sweet return to the team having returned to form with the dockers.

The team will be skippered by Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama, who despite attracting interest from English Premier League’s big boys has never translated his club form for the national team.

The 21-year old towering Gor Mahia sensation Michael Olunga will most probably be Williamson’s main upfront supported by the 30- year old Allan Wanga.

Stars begin their campaign away in Port Louis on October 7 and Mauritius stop-gap coach Alain Happeis is expected to make some changes to the squad that was whipped 7-0 by Ghana in an Afcon qualifier.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, Norway), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia).

Defenders: David Owino (Zesco Utd, Zambia), David Ochieng (Unattached), Dennis Odhiambo (Thika United), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg Utd, South Africa), Edwin Wafula (AFC Leopards).

Midfielders: Bernard Mang’oli (AFC Leopards), Peter Nzuki (Nakumatt), Kevin Amwayi (Ulinzi), Johanna Omollo (Royal Antwerp), Eric Johanna (Mathare Utd), Abdul Latif (Bandari FC), Teddy Akumu (Al Khartoum, Sudan), Victor Wanyama (Southampton, England), Ayub Timbe (SK Lierse, Belgium).

Strikers: Michael Olunga (Gor Mahia), Allan Wanga (Azam, Tanzania), Jacob Kelli (Nkana Red Devils, Zambia).