Pistone Mutamba’s dream of penning his first professional contract abroad seems to have hit a snag with the Kenyan international reportedly out of the talks with top Libyan club.
Mutamba had reportedly signed for Asswehly SC but the move seems to have fallen through after his parent club, Bidco United, refused to release him.
The two clubs failed to reach an agreement over payment of the remainder of the player’s contract.
Bidco is reportedly demanding for Sh500,000 (5000 USD) in signing fee.
Mutamba joined the newly promoted Bidco United at the start of the 2020/2021 season as a free agent after he was released by Wazito FC.
The finer details of the contract were not yet clear, though sources indicate that Mutamba still had two months left on his contract. If true, then Bidco are not entitled to any fee, according to rules if transfer.
Mutamba, who earned his maiden cap in with the national team in 2018 against Eswatini, has also played for former Kenyan champions, Sofapaka.
Kenya’s dream of taking a football team to the next Olympic Games went up in smoke on Tuesday after the national U-23 football team were held to a barren draw by visiting Sudan in the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations Qualifiers at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi.
Sudan sailed to the third round where they will face Nigeria in a match whose winner will book one of the eight tickets to Egypt for the age group competition.
The winner of the September championship will represent Africa at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
There were high expectations that Kenya would progress with a win over Sudan, but the Emerging Stars failed to make amends after going down 2-0 in Khartoum last week in the opening leg bowing out of the competition on a 2-0 aggregate.
Coach Francis Kimanzi was totally out of ideas on how to turn around the away defeat.
The Mathare United tactician called up a vividly tired Piston Mutamba to the squad despite the Sofapaka striker having had no rest after landing in the country with the senior team from Ghana on Monday.
Less than 20 hours, he was given a full match and the future Harambee Stars striker struggled with what looked like jet lag. He was so ineffective that he didn’t have even a single shot on target.
Sudan on the other hand knew they had to jealously protect their two-goal lead.
Their defence led by the ever-awake custodian stuck by the script, running down the clock with every available chance that fell their way.
Kenya, playing as if they were leading, were wasteful. Only James Mazembe gave the few local fans, who had turned up at the Kasarani Stadium for the show, some slim hopes with dashing runs but that was it. Nothing meaningful came out of them.
Swedish-based Ovella Ochieng wasn’t generous enough with his ball distribution, while Kariobangi Sharks talisman, substitute Sydney Lokale, was a pale shadow of himself.
Mutamba missed an opportunity to hand Kenya the lead in the 40th minute, from close range, but he did not have much contact with the ball. Mutamba was perfectly set on by another new call up, James Kinyanjui who had to pave way just a few minutes after the restart.
A mean Ovella blew another chance when he opted for power instead of passing the ball to an unmarked Ibrahim Shambi.
The hosts appealed for a penalty after Sudanese player handled the ball inside his own net, but was ignored by the Madagascan referee having waved play on after Ovella was brought down inside the box in the first half.
Shambi’s lack of composure proved costly as Kenya created another chance moments after a hard working Sudanese keeper parried Ovella’s perfectly curved free kick.
The visitors held on to force a 0-0 draw and secure a passage into the final round where Nigeria is waiting.
We will go for early goal to propel us against Sudan, Kenya U-23 team coach Kimanzi says ahead of Kasarani clash
An early goal is what Kenya will be going for when the Emerging Stars take on Sudan in the Africa U23 Cup of Nations Qualifiers on Tuesday.
The match is a crucial one for the Kenyan coach-Francis Kimanzi who kicked off the lengthy campaign process on a wrong footing-having bowed 2-0 in the opening leg last week-as the competition will also act as an Olympics Qualifier.
The Emerging Stars must beat Sudan 3-0 to secure passage to the third round of qualification phase, but despite the herculean task ahead, Kimanzi is upbeat that the home boys can turn around the match.
“If we play better than we did in the first leg, I am confident that we can get a positive result. Getting the first goal will be tough, but if we can get it early enough, I know we will be in control of the match,” said Kimanzi.
To do this, Kimanzi will rely on heavily on the new inclusions, Sofapaka striker Pistone Mutamba who has just returned from AFCON qualifying match with the senior team-Harambee Stars from Ghana and Mathare United forward James Kinyanjui.
The two will stand in for John Avire and Jafari Owiti, who have both been ruled out after picking up knocks in the first leg.
Football Kenyan Federations knows that the junior team will need the support of the 12th man and as such the federation has waved gate charges for the Tuesday clash.