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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Stars shaping up ahead of January clash

Football

By - Gilbert Wandera | Dec 24, 2012

Tusker FC midfielder Peter Opiyo (right), and his teammate David Ochieng’ in a past
encounter.

By Gilbert Wandera

Harambee Stars coach James Nandwa has recalled troubled striker Enock Agwanda and Tusker midfielder Peter Opiyo ahead of the return leg of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifier against Burundi.

Nandwa said he wants to get goals in the return match hence the decision to have players who can score early.

“We need to win the match with at least two goals to proceed to the next round. This is only possible if we score early because it will give us the motivation to go for more goals. Agwanda and Opiyo give us plenty of options upfront,” he said.

More Options

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The presence of the two gives Nandwa more attacking options as he already has Moses Arita, Paul Kiongera, Mike Baraza and Francis Kahata.

The team is currently on a break and will regroup after the Christmas festivities. Kenya lost the opening leg 1-0 and will be looking for at least a two-goal win to progress.

With Sony Sugar and Sofapaka fighting over Agwanda, it remains to be seen whether he will have the focus to give his best with the national team.

Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa has accused Sony of falsely claiming that the player still has a contract with them yet they had given him a letter confirming that he will be free at the end of this year.

“Sony cannot keep on holding onto a player who clearly wants to go elsewhere,” said Kalekwa.

However, Sony chairman Christopher Odera hit back and accused Sofapaka of committing an illegality by approaching a player who has a contract with another club.

“The said letter from Sony indicating our intention to release Agwanda cannot hold. His contract supersedes anything else and as per our records he remains our player until 2014,” said Odera.

Refuted Claims

He denied claims by Sofapaka that Agwanda is supposed to be free at the end of this month pointing out that It is Sony as custodians of the player’s contract who are aware of when it lapses.

“Sofapaka should know that it is wrong to double sign or even pay signing on fee to a player who is contracted by another club without talking to them. We discovered Agwanda while he was in school and paid all his expenses. He can’t just go like that,” pointed out Odera.

CHAN is administered by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and is played between the best national teams of Africa, exclusively featuring players who are active in the national championships and qualified to play in the ongoing season. Expatriate players are not eligible to take part in the African Championship of Nations.

The first tournament was held in Côte d’Ivoire in 2009 and won by The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, the competition has expanded to 16 teams.

The tournament is held every two years, alternating with the Africa Cup of Nations. The qualifying phase has taken place every even year and the final every odd year.