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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Under-23: Williamson rues absence of top players

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | May 07, 2015

**Haramebee Stars under 23 head coach Bobby Williamson follows his team's training session at Kasarani on April 21, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO**

National Under-23 coach Bobby Williamson has expressed his frustration at the inability to have all his top players ahead of Saturday’s return match against Botswana in an Africa Youth Championships tie.

Kenya face the tough task of overturning a 3-0 goal deficit against their opponents who beat them in the first leg last month.

Ahead of the match, Williamson is concerned he has had to train without two Gor Mahia players - defender Haron Shakava and striker Michael Olunga.

The two players were away with Gor Mahia in Awendo for yesterday’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match against Sony Sugar.

“It is frustrating not to have such crucial players ahead of an equally important game.

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“I wonder why they cannot cancel some of these games to give the national team an opportunity to train,” he said.

Williamson revealed that Posta Rangers defender Charles Odette is also unavailable due to injury but remains optimistic they can turn tables on Botswana in the return match set for Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.

“They scored three goals in 45 minutes. I am confident we can do the same in 80 minutes. We are counting on Olunga to be at his best in the match and be able to give us goals like he has been scoring in the KPL with Gor Mahia,” he added.
Williamson admitted preparations for the first leg match especially their travel to Botswana was not handled well.

“In essence, we arrived at the match venue less than four hours before taking to the pitch, which is wrong. The long travel ultimately had an effect on the players and this is something that was out of our control.”

Botswana will arrive in Nairobi this morning with Football Kenya Federation pointing out that plans to host the event are going on well.

The continental football governing body CAF has already designated the match officials for the tie. The match will be handled by referees from Rwanda.

They are centre referee: Abdoul Karim Twagiramukiza and assistants John Bosco Niyitegeka and Raymond Bwiliza. Gate charges are Sh300 for VIP and Sh100 for the terraces.