Kenya coach Otieno whittles down squad ahead of Uganda decider
Oct 04, 2011
Kenya coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno has axed seven players to accommodate the arrival of professionals ahead of Saturday’s crunch match against Uganda in Kampala.
By Dennis Mabuka in Nairobi
Kenya coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno has axed seven players to accommodate the arrival of professionals ahead of Saturday’s crunch match against Uganda in Kampala.
AFC Leopards wonder-boys Benard Mang’oli and Patrick Matasi were among those chopped from the team. Others are Chester Kokoyo (Ulinzi Stars), Eugene Asike (KCB FC), Isaac Otieno, Paul Were (Tusker FC) and Victor Ochieng’ (Chemelil Sugar).
Otieno explained to New Vision that the move to drop the seven will help pave way for the arrival of foreign-based players.
Kenya camp in Mumias also welcomed assistant coach Musa Otieno, who plays a similar role with Sanlam Santos of South Africa. Otieno is confident that they will emerge victorious in Kampala.
“The pressure will be on them. They have enjoyed a very good campaign in the group that any other team and the defeat to Angola took them off the strides. So it’s imperative to go to Kampala knowing that we can win the match and qualify,” said the ex-international.
Team manager Edward Oduor confirmed that he expects all professionals to report to camp today. The players include:
Dennis Oliech (AJ Auxerre, France), Victor Wanyama (Celtic, Scotland), McDonald Mariga (Real Sociedad, Spain), Jerry Santo (Simba SC, Tanzania), James Situma, Moses Arita (KF Tirana, Albania), Anorld Origi (Moss FK, Norway), Dennis Odhiambo (Thanda Royal Zulu, South Africa) and Jamal Mohammed (Targu Mures, Romania).