Gor, Leopards players in Stars camp as derby looms
What you need to know:
- Harambee Stars are scheduled to play Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea on May 25 and 28 respectively in friendly matches which fall outside the Fifa calendar.
- Foreign-based players, including captain Victor Wanyama who is in the country for holidays, are however yet to report to camp.
This weekend’s Mashemeji derby pitting Gor Mahia and eternal rivals AFC Leopards remains uncertain after players from both teams reported to Harambee Stars training camp on Tuesday.
Seven players from Gor and five from Leopards were present at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies where the national team held its first training session ahead of this weekend’s friendly matches against Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea.
Gor captain Harun Shakava led his team mates Francis Kahata, Boniface Oluoch, Humphrey Mieno, Joash Onyango, Philemon Otieno, while Ingwe’s Duncan Otieno, Whyvonne Isuza, Michael Kibwage and Dennis Sikhayi were also part of the team.
K’Ogalo winger George “Blackberry” Odhiambo however missed the first day of camp with Stars coach Sebastien Migne explaining that he is unwell.
Leopards players reported to camp in spite of an earlier declaration by their club officials that no player would be released for national team duty in light of their upcoming league encounter against K’Ogalo slated for this Saturday in Kakamega.
“We deliberated on the issue and gave them permission because national team duty is important to every player, and we also need to work very closely with the federation. It is now apparent that the derby cannot be played. We can’t play when we are missing five key players so we may have to push the derby to a later date,” Leopards chairman Dan Mule said on Tuesday.
Harambee Stars are scheduled to play Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea on May 25 and 28 respectively in friendly matches which fall outside the Fifa calendar.
Foreign-based players, including captain Victor Wanyama who is in the country for holidays, are however yet to report to camp.
Sihlangu Semnikati of Swaziland are expected in the country Wednesday evening, while Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional are scheduled to arrive on Saturday morning.
The two games will be played in Machakos and not in Kasarani as earlier planned following the impromptu closure of the stadium for renovations.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars)
Defenders: Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Musa Mohammed (Unattached), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Bolton Omwenga (Kariobangi Sharks), Michael Kibwage (AFC Leopards), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Eric Ouma (KF Tirana)
Midfielders: Ismael Gonzalez (CF Fuenlabrada, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), McDonald Mariga (Real Oviedo, Spain), Ayub Timbe (Heilongjiang, China), Humphrey Mieno (Gor Mahia), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards)
Strikers: Masud Juma (Cape Town City, South Africa), Pistone Mutamba (Wazito FC), Ovella Ochieng (Kariobangi Sharks)
