Harambee Stars Belgian manager Paul Put has named his final CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup squad ahead the official opening match against Rwanda at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega Sunday.
Conspicuously missing in the 23-man team is former Ulinzi Stars’ forward Stephen Waruru who scored 13 goals in the just ended Kenyan Premier League 2017 season.
Waruru has since ditched the soldiers for Tusker FC.
Gor Mahia duo of offensive midfielder Kenneth Muguna and defender Harun Shakava will also miss the regional tourney but due to injury.
Kenya is placed in group A alongside Rwanda, Tanzania, Zanzibar and guests Libya.
The LOC has confirmed that Kakamega and Machakos will stage the matches with Nairobi and Mumias being put on standby in case on any emergencies.
It has also been revealed that Kisumu will be considered host two or more matches after the groups’ stage depending on the security situation in the lake side city.
The tournament yesterday suffered a setback as a second guest team Zimbabwe pulled out citing insecurity.
Kenya team
Goalkeepers
Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Gabriel Andika (AFC Leopards), Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers)
Defenders
Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), Charles Momanyi (Kakamega Homeboyz), Dennis Shikhayi (AFC Leopards), Isaac Kipyegon (Zoo Kericho), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Wellington Ochieng (Gor Mahia), Wesley Onguso (Sofapaka)
Midfielders
Chrispin Ochieng (Mathare United), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Ernest Wendo (Gor Mahia), Ovellah Ochieng (Kariobangi Sharks), Patillah Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks), Said Tsuma (Thika United), Samuel Onyango (Ulinzi Stars), Whyvonne Issuza (AFC Leopards)
Strikers
Kepha Aswani (Nakumatt), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Masoud Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Vincent Oburu (AFC Leopards).
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars is the first team to touch down in Nairobi.
Stars’ coach Ammy Ninje’s is confident of doing well, “We are going to Kenya to do well and bring honor to our country.”
In the squad are two Kenyan based players namely Abdalla Hamisi of KPL’s Sony Sugar and Amani Kiata of Nakuru All Stars in the National Super League.
Tanzania team
Goalkeepers: Ramadhani Kabwili (Yanga), Aishi Manula (Simba SC) na Peter Manyika (Singida United).
Defenders: Gadiel Michael (Young Africans), Boniphace Maganga (Mbao FC), Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans), Kennedy Juma (Singida United), Erasto Nyoni (Simba SC), Mohammed Hussein (Simba SC) na Amani Kiata (Nakuru All Stars ya Kenya).
Strikers: Mbaraka Yussuph na Yahya Zayed (Azam FC), Elias Maguri (Dhofar/Mascat, Oman), Daniel Lyanga (Fanja FC/Mascat) na Yohana Mkomola (Ngorongoro Heroes).
KPL playoff
Kenyan Premier League Governing Council has agreed to a playoff as was fronted by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
In the arrangement, which KPL initially opposed, the 16th team in the just concluded KPL campaign (Thika United) will take on the third finisher in the National Super League (Ushuru) in a two-legged playoff for the third promotion/relegation spot in the topflight.
KPL has however asked FKF to push back the playoff date to allow the team to prepare a request that has been declined with the federations media officer Barry Otieno saying the dates had been communicated earlier.
“The dates remain unchanged, we made it public on the play-off long time age, therefore it was not part of our mandate to tell teams to continue training or not,” Barry said.
It will be the first time in over a decade that KPL will adopt a playoff as a means of determining relegation/promotion of teams.
Already Muhoroni Youth and Western Stima have been automatically relegated and Vihinga United and Wazito FC promoted.
Tusker restructuring
After failing to defend their KPL title and finishing a dismal sixth in the 2017 KPL, Tusker FC have let go nine players in a major restructuring move ahead of next season.
They include former KPL best midfielder Anthony Ndolo, Victor Ndinya, Moses Ndawula, George Mandela, former Kenyan international Noah Wafula, Clifford Alwanga, Danson Kago, Luis Tera Misiko and Ugandan defender Martin Kiiza.
Tusker fired their Ugandan coach George “Best” Nsimbe before the end of the season for badmouthing his players.
His former assistant Francis Baraza has since been in charge.
KPL Awards
KPL gala awards for this year has been postponed to next year to give way for the CECAFA Senior Challenge that starts this Sunday 3rd to 17th December.
The red carpet event where the league’s best performers are honored was initially scheduled for 13th December.
A new date will be communicated at a later date.
