NAIROBI, Nov 9 – Speculation over Antoine Hey’s future as Harambee Stars head coach intensified on Monday after he stayed away from the team’s training on Monday.
Stars resumed camp ahead of Saturday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria but Hey is said to have boycotted training.
Trouble is said to have started when Mathare United’s Edgar Ochieng and Jamal Mohammed who had been recalled to the team against Hey’s wishes by Football Kenya Limited (FKL), reported to camp.
Sources told Capital Sport that Hey is said to have told them that they would not be part of his plans for the must win match against Nigeria and barred them from training.
The rest of the players however are said to have refused to train unless the duo was included in the session, “Players stood their ground refusing to go for their training unless their fellow players were also included,” said our source.
Hey is said to have stood his ground before leaving and assistant coach Twahir Muhiddin took charge of the afternoon training session.
Efforts to get a comment from FKL proved futile with National vice chairman Titus Kasuve refusing to confirm or deny the day’s incidents and instead promised to get back to us later.
This is the latest chapter in the ongoing stand off between Hey and FKL regarding players.
Last week, FKL announced that Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech, Emmanuel Ake, Ochieng and Mohammed to the team against Hey’s wishes.
Announcing the recall, FKL said but was acting in the country’s best interests in the wake of a5-0 thrashing by Kuwait in a friendly.
Oliech was dropped after the Mozambique match while Ochieng has been missing since March this year following the wrangle over the infamous letter of commitments that was introduced by Hey.
Kenya who are currently bottom of their group must beat Nigeria and hope that Tunisia gets atleast a draw away to Mozambique to qualify for next year’s African cup of Nations in Angola.
