UPROAR OVER STARS’ TEAM LIST: Team’s composition questioned ahead of Guinea Bissau tie

HARAMBEE STARS FKF President Nick Mwendwa welcomes players at Osvaldo Viera International Airport, Guinea Bissau, on Monday, March 21, 2016

As national football team Harambee Stars play away to Guinea Bissau in an Africa Cup of Nations qualfier tomorrow, the team’s composition has been thrust into focus.

Forget the cry over Francis Kahata and Collins Okoth being dropped from the final Harambee Stars squad to Guinea Bissau; or even the inclusion of two inexperienced Kariobangi Sharks duo of Patillah Omotto and Ovella Ochieng; interesting times in Kenyan football are here.

As Stars boarded a chartered flight to Guinea Bissau for their first leg of 2017 Afcon Group E qualifier, attention was diverted to the travelling party.

Whereas the playing unit is made up of 20 players, only 18 of them will make it to the team sheet tomorrow when Stars take on the ‘African Wild Dogs’ at Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro Stadium in Bissau.

HEAD OF LOGISTICS

Apart from coach Stanley Okumbi and his two assistants, Musa Otieno and Frank Ouna, an additional six people travelled guised as Technical bench ‘members.’
Those who travelled included team doctor John Wanaina, Wycliff Omom (team Physiotherapist), fitness trainer Mikael Igendia, Razak Siwa (goalkeeper trainer) and Benson Otieno (kit manager).
Three people also travelled and will all be in charge of the team’s logistics. According to the list released by FKF, Michael Kamure, Dan Muli Kawinzi and Ronny Oyando accompanied the team to Bissau ‘to take care of both FKF and Star’ logistics’.

But Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chief Executive Officer Robert Muthomi defended the federation’s decision to have the three as head of logistics. According to Muthomi, Oyando and Muli were part of the advance party  to Bissau, while Kamure is the team Manager.

Former Harambee Stars team manager Edward Oduor also poured cold water on Okumbi’s decision to fly with only one goalkeeper. The team left with Boniface Oluoch, while expecting first choice keeper, Arnold Origi to later link up with the team.

“What if Origi misses his flight? It is a common practice and every local club too knows that one must carry at least two extra keepers,” said Oduor, Bandari’s team manager.

Oduor recalled a time in 2009 when Kenya went to play against Mozambique during the 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifying matches.

“Under coach Antoine Hey, we had travelled with only two goalkeepers and all was well until the team took to the pitch. During warm-up, Origi saved team captain Dennis Oliech’s shot and hurt his knee in the process. He was stretchered off minutes into the match and we were left in a crisis. We had to use only one goalkeeper and resulted to hoping and praying that no other calamity strikes again.”

Others in the travelling party included FKF President Nick Mwendwa and head of delegation Murithi Nabea. The government catered for only 29 people.

The Ministry of Sports has government representatives Dhidha Maro and William Were, who left with the national team. Media have Fred Arocho, Stafford Ondego and Jeff Kinyanjui.