Preparations for Africa Champions League set to take back seat
Four Gor Mahia players were named to the 34 man Harambee Stars squad called up by coach Francis Kimanzi. The four are defenders Andrew Juma, Philemon Otieno, skipper Kenneth Muguna and midfielder Lawrence Juma. New signing Benson Omalla has been named to the reserve squad. Once again Gor Mahia is the team with the highest number of players.
Former Gor Mahia players in the squad include Harun Shakava, Joash Onyango, Cliff Nyakeya, Anthony Akumu, Francis Kahata and Michael Olunga.
In addition, Tito Okello has been called up to the South Sudan squad. Which means Gor Mahia’s preparations for the Africa Champions League will have to take a back seat. Harambee stars are due to play a friendly against Sudan and Zambia next month. They will then play Comoros on November 17. Comoros are atop group G with four points. Kenya are joint second with two points.
The preliminary rounds of the 2020-2021 Africa Champions League will start 2 weeks after the AFCON qualifier on November 27.
As for the local league, Nick Mwendwa is optimistic that local football activities will restart within a week
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Arnold Origi (HIFK, Finland), Ian Otieno (Zesco United, Zambia), Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya)
Defenders
Brian Mandela (Unattached), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), Joseph Okumu (Elfsborg, Sweden), Harun Shakava (Nkana, Zambia), Clarke Oduor (Barnsley, England), Hillary Wandera (Tusker, Kenya), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), David Owino (Mathare United, Kenya), Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito, Kenya), Collins Shichenje (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Andrew Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Badi Baraka (KCB, Kenya)
Midfielders
Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Victor Wanyama (Impact Montreal, Canada), Francis Kahata (Simba, Tanzania), Eric Johanna (Jonkoping’s Sodra IF, Sweden), Cliff Nyakeya (Masr FC, Egypt), Antony Akumu (Kaiser Chief, South Africa), Johanna Omolo (Cercle Brugge K.S.V, Belgium), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China), Brian Musa (Wazito, Kenya), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Katana Mohamed (Isloch, Belarus), Austin Otieno (AFC Leopards, Kenya)
Forwards
Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Masud Juma (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Timothy Otieno (NAPSA Stars, Zambia), John Avire (Tanta FC, Egypt), Oscar Wamalwa (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya)
Reserve Team
Robert Mboya (Tusker, Kenya), Stephen Otieno (Sofapaka, Kenya), Michael Mutinda (KCB), Ibrahim Shambi (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya) Chrispinus Onyango (Tusker, Kenya), Benson Omala (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
Just dont let a player like Philemon Otieno get injured again then refuse to pay for his treatment wewe Mwendwa
Why take a back seat because of 4 players? Preparations should go on and the absent players will slot back in whenever available…
Who is Dickson Raila and how come he is better than all the 40+ GMFC youth players?
Not a single youth team player has been promoted to the senior team.
Zesco have promoted 6 youth players to their senior team from their Zesco Malaiti Rangers in Lusaka, Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zesco Shockers in Mongu, and teams from Solwezi and Luapula.
Zesco have an interesting system something like:
1)Gor Mahia Mombasa Branch Youth team,
2) GMFC Kisumu branch Youth team,
3) GMFC Migori Branch Youth team,
4) GMFC Homabay Branch Youth team,
5) GMFC Siaya Branch Youth Team,
6) GMFC Nairobi Branch Youth Team,
7) GMFC Nakuru Branch Youth Team.
Something is very wrong with our youth team system if it can’t produce even one player out of a massive influx of 14 new signings.
If Pollack ain’t coming back let’s try ex- Zesco coach George Lwandamina.
Probably another ghost player! But I will give it the benefit of confidence with a sly smile. Probably another star.