6 Gor Mahia players named to national team

Harambee stars coach Bobby Williamson named a squad of 31 players for the 2017 Africa Nations cup qualifiers and CHAN qualifiers. Among the players named are Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch and skipper Musa Mohamed both of whom . Collins Okoth “Gattuso” who is having a quiet but solid season has also been rewarded with a return to the national team. He first played for Harambee stars in 2011.

Striker Michael Olunga who scored 3 goals for the national U23 team against Botswana has also been rewarded with a return to Harambee stars. He was first named to Harambee stars as a 19 year old in 2013.. Though he has starred for the U23 team, he has yet to prove his mettle at senior national team levels. Given his form at club level, Olunga is bound to shine for the national team.

Ali Abondo who is having a breakthrough season has also earned a national team call up after several seasons in the national league. The 26 year old has been playing in the top tier league for five plus years. Back in 2010 he was named as a last minute replacement in the team that was going to Ethiopia to play a friendly under then coach Twahir Muhidin. Since then, his form has been too inconsistent for a place in the national team. This season he is finally fulfilling his potential. Given his domestic form, he too is likely to perform well.

And given that coach Frank Nuttall was drafted in as the offensive coordinator to assist coach Bobby Williamson, it is likely that Olunga and Abondo will thrive.

Also named are former Gor Mahia players Anthony Akumu and David Owino. A shock exclusion by coach Bobby Williamson is striker Dennis Oliech who has played for the national team since  making his debut at age 17 in 2003 and McDonald Mariga whose form in the Italian league has been indifferent of late.

Their first assignment will be a friendly against Rwanda dubbed the Peace cup in early June. They will then take on Congo-Brazza in the opening AFCON qualifier.