A largely inexperienced 26-man Harambee Stars squad has been named ahead of the upcoming CECAFA Senior Championships to be played in Uganda.
The competition kicks-off on Saturday 7 December with Kenya expected to report to camp on Monday December 2, ahead of the regional showpiece, which will end on December 19, 2019.
The squad is made up largely of inexperienced players and does not include many of the regulars in the national setup, with Antony Wambani being the only overseas-based player.
There is a decent smattering of players plying their trade in the Kenyan Premier League with Posta Rangers’ defender Suleiman Ngotho given a chance, as has Western Stima’s sensational forward Benson Omala, who was instrumental in the U-20 Rising Stars’ CECAFA campaign in October this year.
Also included is CECAFA U-20 Championships’ best Goalkeeper Brian Bwire and will have to fight for a place against Ulinzi Stars’ Timothy Odhiambo, who was named October’s SJAK player of the month.
Kenya, who are the defending champions, have been pooled in Group C alongside Tanzania, Djibouti, and Zanzibar, and will be looking to defend the title they won in December 2017, in Machakos.
Group A is comprised of hosts Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, while Group B will pit guest team DR Congo against Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia.
Rwanda opted out of the regional championship citing financial constraints, something that raises more eyebrows having skipped the 2019 CECAFA U17 boys tourney held in Uganda and most recently the Women Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania.
The top two teams in each group, as well as two best losers from the three groups, will proceed to the tournament’s quarterfinal.
CECAFA-bound Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers
Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks)
Defenders
Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito), Suleiman Ngotho (Posta Rangers), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks), Hillary Wandera (Tusker), Andrew Juma (Mathare United), David Owino (Mathare United) Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks)
Midfielders
Anthony Wambani (Vasalunds IF), Roy Okal (Mathare United), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia), Musa Masika (Wazito), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia), Reagan Otieno (KCB), Luke Namanda (Tusker), Whyvone Isuza (AFC Leopards), Kevin Kimani (Mathare United), Cliffton Miheso (Gor Mahia)
Forwards
Oscar Wamalwa (Ulinzi Stars), Benson Omala (Western Stima), Elvis Nandwa (Ulinzi Stars), John Mark Makwatta (AFC Leopards)
