NAIROBI, August 31 – National women’s football team head coach, David Ouma has been drafted to Harambee Stars’ technical bench that reported camp on Monday ahead of this weekend’s 2017 AFCON qualifier against Zambia at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.
Ouma joins retired former captain, Musa Otieno, as assistant coaches to Scotsman Bobby Williamson while Willis Waliaula has been appointed Team Manager to replace former midfield lynchpin, Simeone Mulama who resigned in April.
Ouma, the SportPesa Premier League side, Sofapaka assistant coach, guided Harambee Starlets to the third round of the 2016 Olympics qualifiers where they were bundled out by South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.
Malaysia based defender, Lawrence Olum, Al Tawoon’s David Ochieng and Azam FC new signing, Allan Wanga are the only foreign based players that joined the 15 who play domestically in camp with record scorer, Dennis Oliech, set to link up with the team that will be training at Nyayo.
Williamson hopes to have a full house by Tuesday with Stars seeking to collect maximum points against the 2012 champions on Sunday after they started their campaign with a tepid barren home draw by minnows Guinea Bissau in their opener,.
“We are going to train intensively from tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) but we may have some light work-out in the morning.
“It is a difficult match but we are counting on the home support to drive us through the extra mile and supply us with that additional incentive,” Williamson, who led his charges to a 1-1 stalemate away to Congo Brazzaville in their opener, underscored.
Skipper, Victor Wanyama who plies his trade at EPL side Southampton is expected to arrive in the course of the week after missing his club’s two matches, leading to further speculation over his future at St Mary’s.
Wanyama has handed in a transfer request, hoping to secure a move to Tottenham Hotspur before the transfer window closes, and told his manager Ronald Koeman in a meeting on Friday he was not in the right frame of mind to play for the club.
Kenya who took early charge of Group E are running to return to the AFCON finals for the first time since 2004.
The Zambia are expected to jet in on Friday at 10.00am local time (+3GMT) and will have two training sessions, at the match venue.
Sudanese referees Mutaz Khairalla (centre), Haitham Ahmed and Mohmood Ismael as his assistants will officiate the encounter.
Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim was appointed the fourth official while Ethiopian Asfaw Bergashaw will sit on the match commissioner’s seat.
-Players in camp-
Keepers: Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Wycliffe Kasaya (Nakumatt), Ian Otieno (Posta Rangers). Defenders:Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Edwin Wafula (AFC Leopards), Dennis Odhiambo (Thika United), Lawrence Olum – Malaysia, hg.v (Al Tawoon – Saudi Arabia). Midfielders: Collins Okoth (Gor Mahia), Bernard Mang’oli (AFC Leopards), Sammy Meja (Thika United), Humphrey Mieno (Tusker), Noah Wafula (Tusker), Johanna Otieno (Mathare United), Danson Kago (Thika United (Tusker), Strikers: Jesse Were (Tusker), Michael Olunga (Gor Mahia), Allan Wanga (Azam FC – Tanzania),
Training schedule:
Tuesday – 2.30pm at Nyayo National Stadium (Open to media)
Wednesday – 10.00am at Nyayo National Stadium
Wednesday – 2.30pm at Nyayo National Stadium
Thursday – 2.30pm at Nyayo National Stadium
Friday – 10.00am at Nyayo National Stadium (Open to media)
Friday – 2.30pm at Nyayo National Stadium