Mathare, for once, miss out on Harambee Stars

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Ahead of the scheduled Kenyan national team Harambee Stars’ friendly match against Jamaica on Saturday 25 August, stand in coach James Nandwa has staged a break from the norm by not calling up any Mathare United player among the 23 selected.

First time

This will be the first time in recent times that the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) 2008 champions miss out on a slot in the national team but theirs is not an isolated case as seven other KPL teams will also not have a player in Harambee Stars for the Jamaica assignment.

Lion’s share

Western Stima, Karuturi Sport, Chemelil Sugar, Nairobi City Stars, Rangers, Oserian and Muhoroni Youth were all overlooked, with Sofapaka getting the lion’s share, having four players in there.

AFC Leopards and Ulinzi Stars have three each, Tusker, Gor Mahia, Thika United and KCB two each, SoNy Sugar one then four foreign based players complete the list.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch [Tusker FC], Jacktone Odhiambo [Ulinzi Stars FC], Arnold Origi [Ul-Kisa FC, Norway]

Defenders: Edwin Wafula [AFC Leopards SC], Clifford Miheso [Thika united FC], David Owino [Gor Mahia FC], Milton Milimo [KCB], Brian Mandela [Santos FC, SA], Joseph Shikokoti [Tusker FC]

Midfielders: Martin Imbalambala [AFC Leopards SC], Stephen Ocholla [Ulinzi Stars FC], Bernard Mangoli [AFC Leopards SC], James Situma [Sofapaka FC], Humphrey Mieno [Sofapaka FC], Antony Kimani [Sofapaka FC], Francis Kahata [Thika United FC], Rama Salim [Gor Mahia FC], Victor Mugubi [Celtic FC, Scotland]

Strikers: John Barasa [Sofapaka FC], Evans Amwoka [Ulinzi Stars FC], Raphael Mungai [KCB FC], Enock Agwanda [SoNy Sugar FC], Denis Oliech [AJ Auxerre, France]

Head Coach: James Nandwa, Assistant Coach: Kennedy Odhiambo, Team Manager: Cpt. Joe Birgen Goalkeeper Trainer: Sunil Shah, Team Doctor: Wycliffe Makanga, Physiotherapist: Bruce Juma