When Kenya’s Harambee Stars head coach Boby Williamson released his team for FIFA World Cup qualifier match away to Mauritius next month today, one name was loudly missing from the list, that of Tusker’s danger man and Kenyan Premier League top scorer Jesse Jackson Were.
Jesse has been on top form for the Ruaraka based outfit thus far in the league netting 19 times with nine of his goals coming from three consecutive hat-tricks, making him the top contender for the golden boot award – only Gor Mahia’s Michael Olunga comes close with 15 goals.
He also scored over the weekend in Tusker’s 4-2 demolition of strugglers AFC Leopards in the KPL Top 8 knockout tournament.
But while Olunga retained his spot in the national side, Kenyans have been left wondering why Jesse could have been dropped from the squad after making it to the final squad which lost to Zambia 2-1 in the AFCON qualifier last month.
Sources close to Harambee Stars technical bench has intimated to Soka25east.com that Jesse Were and fellow teammate Danson Kago have been omitted from the Stars team due to indiscipline.
The two were rumored to be at the center of a scandal which rocked Harambee Stars’ last camp at Mvuli Hotel,Nairobi where a lady employee of the Hotel was allegedly intoxicated by the players to gain sexual favors – the matter was handled by Kenya Police but the outcome of their investigations is yet to be made public with claims of cover up surrounding the whole issue.
Also missing in the squad is former skipper Dennis Oliech who is currently club less, defender Lawrence Olum also unattached and Gor Mahia’s midfield kingpin Collins Okoth. Okoth has not been playing for “K’Ogalo” lately since falling out with the club’s management over his sign on fee which is yet to be settled months after renewing his contract in June.
Kenyans are also questioning the absence of Gor Mahia defenders Musa Mohammed and Harun Shakava. The two have been solid at the back for the 2015 champions who have only conceded 12 times in 26 league fixtures – Musa didn’t make it to the last 18 in the team which fell to Zambia.
It will remain to be seen if public pressure will see some of the players called for the match.
The Team:
Goalkeepers:- Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, NOR), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia, KEN)
Defenders:- David Owino (Zesco Utd, ZAM), David Ochieng’ (Unattached), Dennis Odhiambo (Thika Utd, KEN), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg Utd, RSA), Edwin Wafula (AFC Leopards, KEN)
Midfielders:- Bernard Mang’oli (AFC Leopards, KEN), Peter Nzuki (Nakumatt, KEN), Kevin Amwayi (Ulinzi, KEN), Johanna Eric Omollo (Mathare Utd, KEN), Abdul Latif (Bandari FC, KEN), Teddy Akumu (Al Khartoum, SUD), JOhanna Ochieng Omollo (Royal Antwerp, BEL), Victor Wanyama (Southampton, ENG), Ayub Timbe (SK Lierse, BEL)
Strikers:- Michael Olunga (Gor Mahia, KEN), Allan Wanga (Azam FC, TZ), Jacob Kelli (Nkana Red Devils, ZAM)
@bonfaceosano
