Firat: Why Anyembe was not included in Harambee Stars provisional squad
By Collins Amanga, October 10, 2023
Harambee Stars head coach, Engin Firat, has addressed concerns regarding the omission of Daniel Anyembe from the 23-man squad in preparation for the upcoming friendly against Russia.
Firat confirmed that he wanted Anyembe in camp but faced resistance from the player’s club, Viborg.
Anyembe with Harambee Stars
Anyembe, who had made an impression in his first two appearances for the national team, was left out of the squad for the Russia match, raising questions about his absence.
Firat clarified that the player’s absence was due to the club’s reluctance to release him for national team duty at the time of travel.
Firat expressed hope that Viborg would now release Anyembe in time for the match scheduled for the following Monday, emphasizing the importance of having the player in camp.
“We wanted to have Anyembe in camp, but his club was reluctant to release him. We have communicated to them officially, and we hope that we’ll have him here in time for the match on Monday,” said coach Firat.
Door open at Harambee Stars
Firat also stressed that the door to the national team remains open for all eligible players as they continue working to build a stronger team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November.
“The door into and out of the national team remains open. We continue exploring options as we aim to build a strong team for the upcoming qualifiers in November,” added the coach.
Kenya faces Russia on Monday, October 16, 2023, in Antalya, Turkey. The match will be the final test match ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers set to kick off in November this year.
The Harambee Stars have been pooled in Group F against Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.