Harambe Stars Coach Henri Michel on Friday announced his 25 man squad to represent Kenya in the 2012 Tusker Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup that kicks off in Kampala on November 24th.
The squad is dominated by players from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) with only Lawrence Olum (Kansas City, US) and Ibrahim Shikanda (Azam, Tanzania) completing the foreign contingent.
Kenyan national U-20 midfielder Patila Omotto who plays for Kariobangi Sharks also makes the team as the only player based in Kenya that doesn’t play in KPL.
According to futaa.com, Rangers Coach James Nandwa who is also the national U-23 side will take charge of the team in the tournament assisted by Ken Odhiambo of Nairobi City Stars while Michel will handle the side that takes on Burundi in CHAN qualifiers.
In his words, Nandwa said that the squad is strong with a mixture of youth and experience and hopes the side will perform well.
“It is as strong a squad as I can choose really. It has a sprinkling of youth and experience in equal measure. I am confident that we can do well. What we need is for the players to believe that things will happen in their favour as well as some luck and prayers and the results will be good”, he told Futaa.com.
Kenya is pooled alongside Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia in group A and opens the tournament with Uganda on November 24th.
Full squad
Goalkeepers; Martin Musalia (Mathare United), Boniface Oluoch (Tusker FC) and Duncan Ochieng (Sofapaka FC)
Defenders; Ibrahim Shikanda (Azam), Thomas Wanyama , Abdallah Juma (Sofapaka FC), Milton Milimo – KCB FC, Joseph Shikokoti, Joackins Atudo (Tusker FC), David Owino (Gor Mahia FC), Martin Imbalambala (AFC Leopards), Lawrence Olum (Kansas City), Patila Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks)
Midfielders; Bernard Mangoli, Paul Were (AFC Leopards), Humphrey Mieno, Antony Kimani (Sofapaka FC), Francis Kahata, Clifton Miheso (Thika United).
Strikers; Michael Baraza, Allan Wanga (AFC Leopards), Ramah Salim, Edwin Lavasta (Gor Mahia FC), Enock Agwanda (Sony Sugar) and Paul Kiongera Mungai (KCB)
