Migne Sweats On Wanyama Fitness As Stars Report To Camp

NAIROBI, Kenya- Harambee Stars head coach, Sebastian Migne, is sweating over the fitness of captain Victor Wanyama as 21 players reported to camp to prepare for their crucial 2019 AFCON qualifier against Ghana on Saturday.

Last season’s SportPesa Premier League top scorer, Masoud Juma, who is unattached after ending his stint at South African Premier Soccer League side Cape Town City FC, is among those who started training with the team on Monday hoping to state a case for selection in the final squad.

English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur received a boost last Friday (August 31) when Wanyama resumed full training but was not part of the team that fell 1-2 to Watford FC at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

The Stars captain is yet to make an appearance for the Lilywhites so far this season after being sent back home from the club's United States summer tour as he suffered a recurrence of a knee injury which kept him out of action for a large chunk last season and it is not clear whether he will travel to face the Black Stars.

"Fifteen local based and five foreign based players have since reported, with the rest of the provisional squad set to jet into the country in the course of the week.

Gyan absent

"The team will hold its first training session on Monday, September 3, 2018, at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies Grounds starting at 4 pm," Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said in a statement.

Juma (un-attached), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia) and Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United) have checked in camp according to FKF.

Ian Otieno (Red Arrows, Zambia), Patrick Matasi (Tusker), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks) and Farouk Shikalo (Bandari) round off the list.

Stars are third in Group F, three points behind Ghana and second placed Sierra Leone, who both won their opening matches; a 5-0 hammering of Ethiopia with Kenya falling 1-2.

Migne rolled out a provisional squad of 38 for the tie whilst his opposite number, Kwesi Appiah has already settled on his final travelling 21-man team that is devoid of captain Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brothers- Jordan and Andre.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Red Arrows, Zambia), Patrick Matasi (Tusker), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari)

Defenders

Brian Mandela (Maritzburg, South Africa), David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Joseph Okumu (AFC Ann Arbor, USA), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia) Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United)

Midfielders

Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Mc Donald Mariga (Real Oviedo, Spain), Clifton Miheso (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan), Ismael Gonzales (CF Fuenlabrada, Spain), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden), Jesse Were (Zesco, Zambia), Masud Juma (Un-attached), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz)