Sports

Which club got the lion’s share in Harambee Stars’ final squad? Here’s the breakdown

Monday 12th June, 2023 02:04 PM| By Collins Amanga

Harambee Stars have finalised their squad for the upcoming Four Nations tournament, with a combination of locally-based and foreign-based players making the cut.

The team coached by Engin Firat consisting of 15 locally-based players and eight foreign-based players, has travelled to Mauritius for the tournament.

Harambee Stars locally based

Among the players selected from the local league are four members from Kenya Police, including David Ochieng, Aboud Omar, Clifton Miheso, and rising star Charles Ouma. Tusker FC and Gor Mahia, both contenders for the FKF Premier League title, have contributed two players each. Tusker’s Brian Bwire and Daniel Sakari have earned spots in the squad, while Gor Mahia’s leading scorer Benson Omala, with 25 goals, joins teammate Boniface Omondi.

Harambee Stars goalkeeepers in a training session. PHOTO/FKF/TWITTER. — Harambee Stars goalkeepers in a training session. PHOTO/FKF/TWITTER.

John Mwangi from Nzoia Sugar FC, who has impressed in the FKF Premier League with 14 goals, also finds himself included. Additionally, players from Bandari, KCB, AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz (two), and Kariobangi Sharks have been selected.

However, players from Ulinzi Stars, Bidco, Talanta, Nairobi City Stars, Mathare United, Sofapaka, Wazito, and Vihiga Bullets were not considered for the squad.

Foreign-based crew

The foreign-based players in the team include captain Michael Olunga, Ian Otieno, Collins Sichenje, Eric Ouma, and Daniel Anyembe, among others.

Notably, seven players in the squad have the opportunity to make their senior Harambee Stars debut. This group includes Omala, Omondi, Otiala, Mwangi, Shumah, and Ouma.

Harambee Stars players at JKIA PHOTO/Harambee Stars/Twitter

The team is expected to arrive in Mauritius on Monday at 3:00 pm after their initial travel plans encountered difficulties. The opening match against Djibouti was missed due to a lack of available flights, but the team is now focused on the upcoming games.

Harambee Stars will face Pakistan on June 14 and host Mauritius on June 18. These matches prepare for their return to CAF and FIFA assignments scheduled for November this year.

After the Four-nations tournament, Harambee Stars’ next competitive assignment will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, set to kick off between November 13 and November 21, 2023.

The draw for the qualification stage shall be conducted on July 12, 2023, in Cotonou, Benin.