NAIROBI, Kenya, March 11- Harambee Stars coach Antoine Hey says his team will have its work cut out when they line up against Iran on Saturday.
Hey who took over as Stars coach last month said that Tehran is not an easy place to play in and that the team will have to approach the match with a positive mindset in order to obtain a satisfactory result from the fixture.
“Iran are one of the best teams in Asia and have very talented players which gives us a huge responsibility to go there and play well,” said Hey.
Hey expressed his displeasure with the hastily arranged fixture after stating a fortnight ago that he would not subject the players to a friendly ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.
“What can I do? This was an agreement between two governments which as Harambee Stars we have no option but to honour,” said Hey.
Hey added that he would have preferred to play against an African team.
The former Liberia coach on Wednesday selected 21 players who will travel to the Middle East to take on the three time Asian Cup champions.
The team which is made up of mostly local based players went had their last training session on Wednesday morning before their scheduled departure on later the same day.
Francis Ouma who was at Italian club Parma for trials linked up with the squad on Wednesday was also expected to travel.
One player who will not be travelling is American based player Apiyo Taiwo Atieno due to eligibility issues.
Atieno who hopes to pull on the Stars jersey one day was full of praise of the German coach and his methodology.
“Training has been great Antoine has brought organization into the team which the players have responded well to,” said Atieno.
The British born striker thinks that Tunisia match will be a formidable challenge for Stars.
“Tunisia have been in almost every world cup I’ve watched which makes it a big ask for us,” said Atieno
Squad:
Noah Ayuko(Sher), Pascal Ochieng(KCB), Ndetto Mulinge(Ulinzi), Julius Owino(Gor Mahia), John Njoroge(Tusker FC), Jockings Atundo(Tusker), Titus Mulama, Victor Mugabe(unattached), Hillary Echesa(Vietnam), Sebastian Muchera(AFC Leopards), Dennis Wise, Anthony Dofaa(Bandari), Peter Opiyo, Joseph Njuguna( Tusker FC), Joseph Shikokoti(Tusker), Austin Makacha(Mathare), Francis Ouma, Fred Ajwang, Wilson Oburu(Sofapaka), Evans Wandera(Sofapaka)
