Harambee Stars' friendlies moved to Machakos

What you need to know:

  • Kenya’s international football friendly matches against Uganda and Democratic of Congo set for later this month have been moved from the Moi International Sports Stadium, Kasarani to the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
  • The move has been informed by ongoing renovations at both Kasarani as well as Nyayo Stadium. The two facilities, which are the country’s largest, are set to be renovated in readiness for two international sporting competitions within the next one year.
  • The 65,000-seater Kasarani stadium will stage the 2017 IAAF World Under-18 Championships in July.

Kenya’s international football friendly matches against Uganda and Democratic of Congo set for later this month have been moved from the Moi International Sports Stadium, Kasarani to the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

The move has been informed by ongoing renovations at both Kasarani as well as Nyayo Stadium. The two facilities, which are the country’s largest, are set to be renovated in readiness for two international sporting competitions within the next one year.

The 65,000-seater Kasarani stadium will stage the 2017 IAAF World Under-18 Championships in July. Also, both Kasarani and the 30,000-seater Nyayo stadium will stage selected matches of the 2018 Africa Nations Championship in January and February 2018.

Sports Kenya chairman Fred Muteti last month confirmed that renovation works have started at the stadiums and will last six months.

“The contractor is already on site. We are laying the warm-up track, tarmac and tartan at both facilities,” he said.

The team was scheduled to camp at the Kasarani Stadium ahead of the two fixtures, slated for Thursday, March 23 and Sunday, March 26, 2017, but will now camp in Machakos instead. The Stanley Okumbi -coached side will take on Uganda on March 23 before playing DRC three days later.

Uganda and DRC Congo are expected in the country on Monday, March 20. The two friendlies are in preparation for the 2019 Afcon qualifiers, away to Sierra Leone scheduled to be played in June this year.

Besides Sierra Leone, Kenya are also pooled alongside Ghana and Ethiopia, and the quartet will compete over the next 16 months for one slot in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Stars under Okumbi beat DR Congo 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Uganda in friendly matches staged in Kinshasa and Kampala respectively last year.

Okumbi is currently enjoying an eight-match unbeaten streak, with the youthful coach having also masterminded wins over the Mozambique and Liberia in the friendly matches played last November.