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The Nairobian

VIC FOR VICTORY:Stars coach Okumbi happy to have Tottenham midfield enforcer to face Black Mambas

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | Nov 11, 2016

Victor Wanyama takes a selfie with Bransburn School midfielder Cornelius Nagbe during Harambee Stars evening training session at the Safaricom stadium Kasarani on Nov 09, 2016. Harambee Stars are preparing for International friendly match against Mozambique on November 12, 2016. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/WWW.SPORTPICHA.COM]

Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi says he is delighted to welcome back team captain Victor Wanyama into his squad ahead of tomorrow’s international build-up match against Mozambique at Nairobi's Kasarani stadium.

The Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder missed the last match against Democratic Republic of Congo last month.

“It is great to have Wanyama on the team. He is a leader and motivator for the other players. He is always involved in most of the action on the pitch and ensures the team gives their best,” he said.

Okumbi, who has not lost in the last six matches, said he was eager to get a positive result on Saturday to continue his good form.

“It is important that we continue playing well and get good results because this will motivate our players. We always want to play to our strength and the coming match is no different.”

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He further revealed that the rebuilding process for the team was on-going although he has identified certain players for key positions.

“We have been building the team and this is an on-going process. For some positions, we have already identified certain players but we still have to continue calling up others due to either injury or unavailability of some,” he said.

Five key players have been ruled out of Saturday’s match for various reasons. They include Ayub Timbe, Allan Wanga, Musa Mohamed, David Ochieng and Paul Were.

“Timbe is out injured and as such is not available for selection on Saturday, while we have allowed Were and Ochieng to honor upcoming club assignments, at their clubs' requests,” he said.

“Wanga has not reported to camp but has since asked to sit out the upcoming fixture due to personal engagements, while Musa was released yesterday after it became apparent that his passport would not be ready before Saturday.”

Zambia-based Jesse Were will arrive in camp on Friday while Aboud Omar, who plays in Greece, arrived yesterday for the evening training session.

Apart from playing Mozambique, Harambee Stars will also take on Liberia next week in the last build-up match this year before the team resumes international duties next year.

Before that ,the team will take part in the Council for East and Central Africa (Cecafa) Senior Challenge Cup tournament.

Elsewhere, national under-20 team John Kamau has named a squad of 36 players to move into camp ahead of the November 26 friendly match against South Africa.