By Gilbert Wandera

Prime Minister Raila Odinga moved in to quell widening rift between Harambee Stars coach, Antoine Hey and Football Kenya officials.

Stars face a crucial 2010 World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria on Saturday, but the coach has boycotted coaching the team.

"Hey had asked to come and see him (PM), but the PM invited Sports Minister, Hellen Sambili and top Football Kenya officials, Titus Kasuve (senior vice-chairman) and Erastus Okul (second vice-chairman). He then asked them to sort out the stand-off before end of the day," said Dennis Onyango, the PM’s spokesman.

Hey, for the second consecutive day, refused to handle the team at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, leaving that duty to his assistant Twahir Muhiddin.

The parties were told to iron out their differences immediately and report back to the Prime Minister later.

"They were told to go and agree among themselves and to report what they had agreed on," said another source.

Earlier in the morning, Hey had walked out of camp as the team went for training as there appeared to be no solution over the stand-off.

Stars registered a full camp for the first time as all foreign-based players finally linked up with the rest.

Arriving on Tuesday were captain Musa Otieno, AJ Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech, Patrick Osiako (Sweden), Patrick Oboya (FK Most) and Emanuel Ake (Denmark).

Otieno, who turns out for South African side Sanlam Santos, said the stand-off is not healthy for Harambee Stars, considering that there are only three days before a crucial World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.

He said: "I am shocked by what is going in camp. It is not healthy at all and should be resolved immediately."

"We are facing a crucial match in a few days and for us it is now or never."

Otieno said it was discouraging for the players that they have not seen the head coach in two training sessions while preparing for a crucial match and no explaination is forthcoming.

Regarding the stand-off, Otieno said while it was the prerogative of the coach to decide who should be in the team, any good player should be involved.

"We are all Kenyans and any good player must be in this team but at the same time it should also not be lost that the coach has the final word on who to call up. Let all those involved resolved this matter quickly,"" he told FeverPitch.