NAIROBI, Kenya, July 30 – Harambee Stars head coach, Adel Amrouche has recalled former captain and record scorer Dennis Oliech as Kenya seeks to avoid crashing out against Lesotho in Sunday’s 2015 African Cup of Nations second round return leg at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.
Oliech who is yet to arrive in the country from France where he attended pre-season training with his Ligue 1 relegated side AJ Ajaccio, missed the first round return leg against Comoros after Amrouche dropped him on disciplinary grounds.
Also boosting the camp are US Major Soccer League side Kansas City defender Lawrence Olum and Norway based midfielder Christian Bwamy who linked up with Al Tawoon defender David Owino, former MC Algiers forward Edwin Lavatsta, KF Tirana’s Francis Kahata and Oman based midfielder Jamal Mohammed on Wednesday.
Bwamy last featured for Stars in 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria in Calabar last march while Olum returns after missing the Lesotho first leg match.
Stars enter the match trailing 1-0 and will need at least a 2-0 result to progress to the Group qualifiers that consist of 2013 Afcon finalists Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon in Pool C.
With dependable players Lillestrome first choice keeper Arnold Origi and Belgian based duo of Lommel United midfielder Johanna Omolo as well as Genk winger Ayub Timbe, missing the first leg due to clubs commitments, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is fighting to see them released since the qualifier is outside the FIFA calendar.
“We have already sent air tickets for all foreign based players called by the technical bench including Timbe and Origi. We had already written to their clubs requesting their release since we are aware the match is not recognized in the FIFA calendar,” a reliable source from FKF told Capital Sport.
The technical bench will be under assistant coach James Nandwa, as Amrouche awaits the appeal against his one CAF ban having been initially slapped with a two-match touchline ban for allegedly spitting at a match official away to Comoros.
Captain Victor Wanyama who is yet to link up with his English Premier League side Southampton for the pre-season and elder bother Macdonald Mariga are expected in camp before the end of the week.
Speedy winger Paul Were who features for South African side Amazulu is expected to make a come back to the national team as well as El Merreikh forward Allan Wanga to join local based players.
