Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne has explained why striker Michael Olunga has been left out of the national team for their upcoming friendlies against Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea, scheduled to be played on May 25 and 28, 2018 respectively.
The French coach named his 24-man squad on Saturday that will do duty for Kenya as part of preparations for upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.
The likes of David Owino, Jesse Were, David Ochieng and Johanna Omollo were also left out of the squad, but Olunga’s exclusion is probably the biggest because he has scored in two of Harambee Stars three competitive matches.
The Harambee Stars mentor explained that Olunga was left out of the squad after the Girona FC striker requested to be excused from the two fixtures due to pre-planned club engagements, and not because of an injury.
“We had called Olunga but had to replace him when it became evident he would not make it for the two matches,” said Migné.
“We, however, expect him to be part of the squad that will travel to India for the Hero Intercontinental Cup scheduled to beginning on June 1, 2018.”
However, the former Congo-Brazzaville coach, who replaced Paul Put, has retained Macdonald Mariga in his squad and also named an extra nine reserve players as a precautionary measure.
“We have called up 24 players to camp, both local and foreign-based.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“However, as a precautionary measure and more so because football is a contact sport, we have named an additional nine reserve players who will not report to camp but may be called upon to replace any of the 24 in case of injuries or any other unforeseeable situation,”[/perfectpullquote]
concluded the Coach.
The team will camp at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, with the friendlies set to be played at the Kasarani Stadium.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers), Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars)
Defenders
Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Musa Mohammed (Unnatached), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia), Bolton Omwenga (Kariobangi Sharks), Michael Kibwage (AFC Leopards), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia), Eric Ouma (KF Tirana)
Midfielders
Ismael Gonzalez (CF Fuenlabrada, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), McDonald Mariga (Real Oviedo, Spain), Ayub Timbe (Heilongjiang, China), Humphrey Mieno (Gor Mahia), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards)
Strikers
Masud Juma (Cape Town City, South Africa), Pistone Mutamba (Wazito FC), Ovella Ochieng (Kariobangi Sharks)
Reserve Players
Michael Olunga (Girona FC, Spain), Marvin Omondi (AFC Leopards), Patillah Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks), Dennis Sikhayi (AFC Leopards), Johnstone Omurwa (Mathare United), Jafari Owiti (AFC Leopards), Robert Arot (Nakuru All Stars), Geoffrey Shiveka (Kariobangi Sharks), Chrispin Oduor (Mathare United)
