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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Kimanzi will not rush to name team to play Malawi

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | May 23, 2012

By Gilbert Wandera

National football coach Francis Kimanzi will not be naming his final squad to face Malawi in a World Cup qualifier on June 2 until 48 hours prior to the match.

Speaking to the press during his weekly briefing, Kimanzi said he is not worried by the negative impact such a decision may have on the team, especially the crucial need for foreign players to gel with the locals.

“For now we should not worry about the fact that they may not have bonded well because this are players who have played with each other for a long time and understand each other well. I expect the players to jell well because they understand each other,” he said.

Even as Kimanzi delayed making public the names of his foreign based players, it is apparent former captain Dennis Oliech will not be available for selection, at least, for the June 2 fixture.

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Still expected

Oliech who announced his decision to quit from the team one month ago was still expected to make it for the match following efforts by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to convince him to rescind his pronouncement

But the Auxerre striker said he will only be in the country on June 14 effectively ending any efforts to bring him in for the Malawi tie. However, all is not lost as there are efforts to convince him to play against Namibia and Togo, which will be playing Harambee Stars in June.

Patrick Oboya, who plays in Slovakia, as well as Celtic midfielder Victor Mugubi are among the two foreign, based players already in the country.

Kimanzi defended his decision to delay naming his final squad for the Malawi match insisting it is a new way of managing the team.

“This is a new way of doing things that we have chosen and it is all for the good of the team,” he said.

Elsewhere, Malawi’s foreign-based players have already joined their team and will have more training time ahead of their trip to Nairobi.

Atletico Madrid ace Robin Ngalande and Angola-based defender James Sangala joined the team on Sunday.

According to Nyasa Times, Ngalande said his team is ready to extinguish Harambee Stars.

“This is a game we need to win at all cost. I am confident with the caliber of players the coach has selected we can do it,” he said.

Other foreign-based players expected to join camp this week include, Moses Chavula, Robert Ng’ambi, Peter Mponda, Chieukepo Msowoya, Tawonga Chimodzi, Dave Banda, Atusaye Nyondo, Peter Wadabwa, Jimmy Zakazaka, Harry Nyirenda, Russell Mwafulirwa, Simplex Nthara and Zicco Mkanda.

The Flames will leave this week for Tanzania where they will play two friendly matches before clashing against Kenya.

Malawi have had a short training stint in China in preparation for their match against Kenya.