Oliech happy to return

By Gilbert Wandera

Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech is glad to be back in the national team and is looking forward to Saturday World Cup qualifier match against Nigeria.

Oliech, who was dropped by coach Antoine Hey before last month’s qualifier against Tunisia said he is not allowing what happened in the past to affect his performance.

He said:" I have always been part of the team even if I was not called for the match against Tunisia and I am glad to be back."

The AJ Auxerre striker said he has no ill feelings against Hey, but hopes the German as well as the team have learnt valuable lessons from their relationship with each other.

Positive result

AJ Auxerre striker Denis Oliech at the national team, Harambee Stars, training, on Wednesday. Photo: Stafford Ondego/Standard

Hey is my coach and so I cannot speak badly against him, but I hope he has learnt something from being in Kenya and he can do a better job wherever he goes after this," he said.

Oliech is optimistic that the team can qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola by beating Nigeria at home.

He said the current squad is strong and can pull off a positive result at home.

"We have a strong squad and whatever result we get on Saturday, everybody will be satisfied that we did our best," he added.

Oliech said he is also looking forward to playing champions league football with Auxerre next season as the club is currently riding high in the French Ligue one with an impressive third position.

"We have started well and are hoping that we can finish in a position that guarantees us a Champions League or at least a UEFA Cup place. We are hoping to go on with our good run until the end of the first leg," said Oliech.

Auxerre play Monaco on November 21 and will go top of the league if they win. Regarding his aborted move to Qatar, Oliech said it was overtaken by events after the transfer window closed without his club having agreed to release him.

But he is now looking forward to moving to a bigger club probably next season and feels his performance at Auxerre will have a major influence on any up-coming move.

 

 

Read all about: Dennis Oliech Twahir Muhiddin Football Kenya Kenyan premier league Harambee Stars Kenya Antoine Hey AJ Auxerre

 

 

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