Muguna omitted as Odhiambo earns Stars call up

Harambee Stars First Coach Stanley Okumbi has rewarded George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo for his scintillating club form with a call back to the national team with fellow longtime absentee Omar Mbongi also making part of the 19-man squad.

Okumbi announced the squad comprised only of local based players on Friday ahead of the Stars’ international friendly match against Mozambique.

Reigning Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Most Valuable Player of the Year Kenneth Muguna is a conspicuous miss as the impending switch to Albanian side KF Tirana continues to swirl around the Gor Mahia FC midfielder.

The want-away star had earlier risked irking Okumbi when he snubbed his previous national team call up to represent Gor at the inaugural Super Cup tournament in Tanzania.

Nonetheless, two National Super League (NSL) players made the cut – Bernard Ochieng of Vihiga United and Joe Waithera of Wazito FC – with the foreign legion set to named at a later date.

Mathare United’s Chris Ochieng, Tusker FC’s Boniface Muchiri and Nakumatt FC hotshot Kepha Aswani have also been included in the team.

-Berry return-

While Aswani’s six goals for Nakumatt this term make him an obvious choice for selection, the recall of Blackberry truly marks his revival with the winger now almost an indispensable fixture at Gor.

He last featured for the Stars in 2015 before inconsistencies left him on the fringes but is enjoying a stunning revival under new Head Coach Dylan Kerr at Gor and has been key for the side that now tops the KPL standings with 37 points after 18 matches.

The selected players are set to report to camp on August 20 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) Grounds before departing for Mozambique 11 days later.

Stars will play the Mambas on September 2 in Maputo. The last time the two sides met was on November 12 last year in Kenya where Eric Johanna’s solo strike earned the home team a 1-0 victory.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers

Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers)

Defenders

Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Omar Mbongi (Ulinzi Stars), Simon Mbugua (Posta Rangers)

Midfielders

George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Ernest Wendo (Gor Mahia), Victor Majid (AFC Leopards), Jackson Macharia (Tusker), Daniel Waweru (Ulinzi Stars)

Strikers

Stephen Waruru (Ulinzi Stars), Samuel Onyango (Ulinzi Stars), Bonface Muchiri (Tusker), Kepha Aswani (Nakumatt), Masoud Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Joe Waithera (Wazito), Chris Ochieng (Mathare United)