Williamson: Zambia slightly stronger but we'll beat them

Harambee Stars head coach believes their Sunday 2017 Afcon competitors hold a slight advantage over them as they have been training hard.

Coach Bobby Williamson said Zambia’s Chipolopolo are well prepared for the 2017 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier match as they have been training well as compared to his charges.

Chipolopolo have been having thorough work-outs for the last three weeks while Stars only started on Tuesday for the weekend match at Nyayo National Stadium.

However, Williamson believes that with several experienced internationals in his side, his boys should not face a major problem when the two sides lock horns on Sunday.

The Scot who is bidding to take Stars to their first Afcon finals in over a decade also stressed that the good form of strikers Michael Olunga, Jesse Were and Jacob Keli, who plies his trade with Nkana FC in the Zambian Premier League, should work for the home side.

"Of course, they (Zambia) will always have an advantage but it (early preparation) was out of our hands .It was a question of whether we will have the players and whether the clubs would release them,” he said when asked whether the short training programme would work against his charges.

Williamson also put a robust defence of his striking force that has struggled to score goals in the African Nation Championship (Chan) qualifiers where they were tossed out by Ethiopia on a 2-0 aggregate.

"Why always be negative, we can pick some positivity. We scored four goals against Botswana (in the under -23 Africa Youth Championships), and, of course, our strikers are having a good run,” he said in response to a journalist who questioned his team's ability to find the back of the net in the crucial Sunday game.

Despite being the first day in training, 20 players took part in the light afternoon training that begun at 3.15pm and ended an hour later.

Long term skipper Dennis Oliech ,recently recalled to the side, took part in the work-outs and so were several foreign based players among them Allan Wanga , Francis Kahata ,Johanna Omollo, Lawrence Olum, David Ochieng while lanky Gor striker Michael Olunga ,who was recently in South Africa for trials with Bidvest Wits was also in attendance.

Free-agent, Olum, also echoed his coach’s view that having the experienced Oliech in camp will boost the team.

"We all know what he (Oliech) is good at and what he can do,” he said.” It’s a tough opposition that we will be facing and so, we have to prepare well. I’m always available and ready to give my best if selected. As I've always said, playing for one’s country is always an honour," he said.

Sofapaka deputy coach David Ouma and former AFC Leopards team manager Willis Waliaula who were this week drafted to help bolster the technical bench were also in attendance. The Chipolopolo are expected to touch down in Nairobi on Thursday.

Present at Tuesday’s training

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch, Wycliffe Kasaya, Ian Otieno.

Defenders: David Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Sammy Mejja ,Harun Shakava , Edwin Wafula and Lawrence Olum.

Midfielders: Johanna Omollo, Eric Johanna, Francis Kahata, Bernard Mang’oli, Collins Okoth ,Danson Kago and Humphrey Mieno.

Strikers: Allan Wanga, Michael Olunga, Dennis Oliech, Noah Wafula and Jesse Were.