The inclusion of Jesse Were in the Harambee Stars’ squad set to face off with Uganda Cranes in a friendly match in September may hint at personal differences between the Zesco United striker and former coach Sebastien Migne.
Migne was fired by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) recently but barley a fortnight after his exit from the national team, Were made it back to the Harambee Stars squad.
Under Migne, Were just got one call up. He would later be omitted from the Stars’ Afcon squad despite finishing as the top scorer in the 2018/19 Zambian Premier League where he holds the record of the best foreign finisher.
Francis Kimanzi, the newly appointed Stars coach who worked as Migne’s assistant when Were was also omitted for final Afcon qualifier match against Ghana, handed the former Tusker striker a call up in the only change in the squad that took part in 2019 Afcon finals in Egypt.
When asked why he left out Were, Migne defended his selection, but not without questioning Were’s scoring prowess. “For Jesse, in 26 call ups, he has never scored one goal for the national team. I know he is the best striker in Zambia but we also have the best striker in Kenya in the list,” the Frenchman told journalists in May.
Also named in the squad is John Avira, who took Were’s place in the national team and would later see former FKF Secretary General/CEO step aside after it later emerged that the official was acting as his agent to force his move to Egypt.
The rest of the squad consists majorly of players who took part in Afcon finals where Kenya won just one of her three group games.
Surprisingly, Dennis Odhiambo, who was among the Kenyan players who shone in Cairo, has been named in the reserve squad alongside Gor Mahia’s Nicholas Kipkirui and KPL top scorer, Enosh Ochieng.
The team will be led by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama and while Were will compete for a first start alongside Japan-based Michael Olunga and Avira upfront.
Kenya will host Uganda Cranes in an international friendly match on September 8 at the Kasarani stadium.
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Patrick Matasi (St. George SC, Ethiopia), John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Faruk Shikalo (Young Africans SC, Tanzania);
Defenders: Joseph Okumu ( Real Monarchs FC, USA), Mike Kibwage (KCB FC, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Wazito FC, Kenya), Abud Omar (Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania), Erick Ouma (Vasalunds IF, Sweden) Nicholas Meja (Bandari, Kenya), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya);
Midfielders: Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs FC, England), Francis Kahata (Simba SC, Tanzania), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker FC, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Duke Abuya (Kariobangi Sharks FC, Kenya), Ismael Gonzales (UD Las Palmas FC, Spain), Cliffton Miheso (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya), Johanna Omolo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe FC, China), Cliff Nyakeya (FC Masr, Egypt), Erick Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Whyvone Isuza (AFC Leopards SC);
Forwards: Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol FC, Japan), Jesse Were (Zesco United, Zambia), John Avire (Sofapaka FC, Kenya)
Reserves
Goalkeepers: Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya);
Defenders: Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito FC, Kenya), Brian Otieno (Bandari, Kenya), David Owino (Mathare United, Kenya), Hillary Wandera (Tusker, Kenya);
Midfielders: Dennis Odhiambo (KCB, Kenya), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya);
Forwards: Nicholas Kipkirui (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Enosh Ochieng (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya), Timothy Otieno (Tusker, Kenya)
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