No Wanyama, Origi, Omollo and Marcelo for Stars’ friendlies

Harambee Stars Captain and Tottenham Hotspur ace Victor Wanyama has opted out of the Stanley Okumbi 54-man-squad named for the forthcoming build up matches.

Goalkeeper Arnold Origi, who features for Norways’ Lillestrome and Johanna Omollo of Belgium’s Cercle Brugge are also not available for the national team duty. While Wanyama and Omollo have requested to be excused for club commitments, Origi has paperwork issues hence his omission.

“Wanyama has been excused because he just returned to action from injury and is struggling to regain his form at Spurs. Omollo requested to be excused to settle in his new club, but Origi has issues passport issues,” FKF CEO Robert Muthomi said.

Wanyama was evidently below his standard in the weekend English Premier League (EPL) home 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, understandably seeking to remain with his London parent club.

Okumbi had recalled Origi for the first time since March 2016, during African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against eventual group winners Guinea Bissau.

Georgia based left back (Kolkheti Poti) Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, is missing in the squad for the first time since his maiden summon in 2016, as Ireland’s Galway United’s Jonah Ayunga finds his second chance in the team.

Marcelo is the only foreign based player who played in the 2-1 loss against Sierra Leone in the last 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) dropped.

Clifton Miheso of Zambia’s Buildcon FC also makes a comeback, with unattached Joseph Okumu included too.

Apart from the 15 foreign based players named on Tuesday, 12 more local based have been added to the initial squad in the wake of withdrawal of Ulinzi Stars players.

Gor Mahia’s duo, Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Most Valuable Player Kenneth Muguna and goalkeeper Peter Odhiambo, AFC Leopards quartet Marcellus Ingotsi, Gabriel Andika, Robinson Kamura and Dennis Shikayi are among the additions.

Posta Rangers’ keeper Farouk Shikhalo and captain Joakins Atudo, Kariobangi Sharks’ Pascal Ogweno and Patillah Omoto have also been called up, while Nakuru AllStars midfielder Peter Ng’an’ga becomes the third player from a National Super League (NSL) side to be included.

In the previous list released, Okumbi had Wazito FC’s Joe Waithera (striker) and Vihiga United’s Bernard Ochieng, both from NSL. Notably, Kakamega High School’s Alpha Onyango and James Mazembe are also in the team.

-Military Games-

Ulinzi will be representing Kenya in the upcoming East African Military Games in Burundi slated for August 24 to September 6, hence withdrawal of their five players initially included in the Stars team. Okumbi will therefore be forced to do without KPL current top scorer Stephen Waruru, defenders Omar Mbongi, Hassan Mohamed, midfielders Samuel Onyango and Daniel Waweru.

Harambee Stars will play Mozambique in Maputo on September 2, before proceeding to Morocco where they will play Mauritania and Togo.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers

Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers), Peter Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Gabriel Andika (AFC Leopards), Farouk Shikalo (Posta Rangers)

Defenders

Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Simon Mbugua (Posta Rangers), Collins Shivachi (Tusker), Joseph Okumu (Unattached), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Robinson Kamura (AFC Leopards), Wesley Onguso (Sofapaka), Dennis Shikhayi (AFC Leopards) Pascal Ogweno (Kariobangi Sharks)

Midfielders

Ernest Wendo (Gor Mahia), Victor Majid (AFC Leopards), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Jackson Macharia (Tusker), Alpha Onyango (Kakamega High School), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Peter Nganga (Nakuru All Stars), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia), Patillah Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks)

Strikers

Boniface Muchiri (Tusker), Kepha Aswani (Nakumatt), Masoud Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Boniface Omondi (Gor Mahia), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz), James Mazembe (Kakamega High School), Ezekiel Otuoma (Western Stima), Joe Waithera (Wazito), Chris Ochieng (Mathare United), Nicholas Kipkirui (Zoo Kericho), Marcellus Ingotsi (AFC Leopards)

Foreign Based Players

Abud Omar (Slava Sofia, Bulgaria), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), David Ochieng (New York Cosmos, USA), Jesse Were (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Michael Olunga (Guizhou Zhicheng, China), Clifton Miheso (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Erick Johanna (Vasalund’s FC, Sweden), Mark Makwatta (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Jonah Ayunga (Galway United, Ireland), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, Norway)