Salim opts out as Okumbi names 12 foreign based players

Harambee Stars first coach Stanley Okumbi has called up 12 foreign-based players led by captain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama for next week’s international friendlies against Mozambique and Liberia.

Former Gor Mahia winger, Rama Salim who was initially considered has asked to be omitted from the squad to allow him resolve administrative issues with his club MFK Topvar Topolcany of Slovakia.

The players are expected to link up with the local based players, at the team’s residential training camp, at the Kasarani Stadium starting Tuesday as clubs break for international week.

Besides Wanyama who was immense in Sunday’s North London derby that saw Spurs deny Arsenal victory in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, Okumbi has also included red-hot IF Djurgardens striker Michael Olunga who scored a brace over the weekend in the Swedish top flight.

Zambia’s Zesco United lead the foreign count with their trio, striker Jesse Were, midfielder Anthony Akumu and defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino retaining their places in the team.

Finland-based Amos Ekhalie who turns out for IFK Marirhamn who travelled to the 1-0 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo but did not featire is hoping to finally nail a starting place in the line-up unveiled by Okumbi on Monday.

Stars play Mozambique on Saturday before taking on Liberia on Tuesday, November 15 with Okumbi who has gone six games unbeaten with the side since losing at home to Guinea Bissau in March keen to sustain his run.

Late last month, Okumbi handed a recall to striker Allan Wanga who celebrated sealing the Kenyan Premier League title on Sunday when they beat AFC Leopards 1-0 in Nakuru when he rolled out his preliminary squad of 25 locally based players.

FOREIGN LIST

1. Odhiambo David Owino-Zesco/Zambia
2. David Ochieng- New York Cosmos/USA
3. Onyango Brian Mandela- Maritzburg/South Africa
4. Aboud Omar-Slava Sofia/Bulgaria
5. Ismael Gonzales-Las Palmas/Spain
6. Agay Anthony Akumu-Zesco/Zambia
7. Victor Wanyama- Tottenham Hotspur/England
8. Amos Ekhalie- IFK Marirhamn/Finland
9. Clifton Miheso-Golden Arrows/South Africa
10. Ooko Paul Were- Acharnaikos/Greece
11. Jackson Jesse Were-Zesco Zambia
12. Ogada Michael Olunga-IF Djugardens/Sweden