PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Harambee Stars set for showdown against hosts Ethiopia today at 4pm

The Harambee Stars' Stephene Wakanya, left, and Kevin Kimani during team training at City Stadium on Wednesday before leaving for Ethopia on Friday, June 17th, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

Harambee Stars are back in action today with an African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifier match against hosts Ethiopia. The competition is strictly for local-based players and is now in its third edition.

Stars had a positive start in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, when they held hosts Congo Brazaville 1-1 last Sunday and will be looking for an equally good start this afternoon in Addis Ababa.

Kenya has never made it to the CHAN finals since the event was conceived and this should act as a motivation for Harambee Stars as they come face-to-face with their Ethiopian opposition.

Kenyan coach Bobby Williamson says the match will be a test on the quality of the Kenyan Premier League. “The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) is highly rated in the region and personally, I think the results of this match will prove just how good our local league is.

“This is also an opportunity for the local players to show us what they can do,” he said moments before the team left.

Williamson said he wants a positive start to make the return match a mere formality, but is weary of the threat posed by Ethiopia.

“We have a good number of players in the squad, who played against Congo Brazaville and I hope they can rise up and inspire the rest of the squad for a good start. Our opponents are known to pass the ball around very well therefore, we have to denying them that.”

Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch has come under heavy criticism for his display against Congo last weekend, but is still tipped to start between the posts.

Oluoch was very erratic in goal, coming out when he should not have and he nearly cost the team more goals, but Williamson has defended the custodian, insisting that he was playing against an unfamiliar backline.

“There is no need to criticse Oluoch as he was playing with people he is unfamiliar with at the back. I believe he will improve with time.”

The backline of Edwin Wafula, Jacson Saleh, Aboud Omar and Lloyd Wahome should start with cover from Ali Abondo, Collins Okoth and Kevin Kimani.

This is Abondo’s chance to prove his good form in the KPL, where he remains one of the leading scorers with nine goals to his name.

Abondo missed the Congo Brazaville match. Infront, Michael Olunga, Noah Wafula and Jesse Were will lead the hunt for goals. The Ethiopians go into this match highly motivated after stopping Lesotho 2-1 last weekend.

They will also be playing before their fans.

Probable line-up: Kenya: Boniface Oluoch, Edwin Wafula, Aboud Omar, Jackson Saleh, Lloyd Wahome, Ali Abondo, Kevin Kimani, Collins Okoth, Jesse Were, Michael Olunga, Noah Wafula.

Ethiopia: Tarik Getnet, Zekarias Tuji, Aschalew Tameme, Salhadin Bargecho, Siyoum Tesfaye, Behailu Assefa, Gatoch Panom, Firew Solomon and Shimelis Bekele, Salhadin Said, Getaneh Kebede.

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