Harambee Stars drop two players

Tusker FC Wonder-kid and Kenya's Under 20 striker Paul Were has been recalled in the Kenya National soccer team Harambee Stars who are shaping up for the crucial tie against Uganda Cranes.

On a sad note, Thika United attacking midfielder Keffa Aswani has been dropped out of the team after developing an arm string injury.

Other players who have been dropped include Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) leading scorer Ezekiel Odera and Ulinzi Stars match-maker Chester Okoyo. The two will pave way for the foreign based players who are expected to arrive next week.

During a weekly press conference held at Kasarani sports complex, Coach Jacob 'Ghost” Mulee said the team morale was high with players responding well with training. He said apart from Aswani who has an arm-string injury, the other players were in good shape.

However, team manager Edward Odour told our writer later in the evening that Odera and Okoyo have been dropped but failed to avail information as to why the duo have been axed.

Mulee who took over from Twahir Muhiddin few weeks ago face an uphill task as he face a team that has been defeating Kenya both home and away. ”It's time to deliver.“We have to go to the African Nations Cup finals and beat Uganda on October 9.As long as we believe in ourselves and play as a team,we are capable of beating Uganda” Mulee said.

Most of the players interviewed said they had faith with Mulee since he is an experienced coach and capable of taking the team places. “He has our respect and can bring us together” Observed a key player who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

Mulee, who is making his fourth appearance as Harambee Stars coach, including taking the Stars to the 2004 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia, is the 16th Harambee Stars coach in a decade.

But as Harambee shapes up for the crucial tie, well-placed sources indicates Uganda players based in Kenya led by Sofapaka player Mussa Mudde, coach Sam Ssimbwa who was Uganda Cranes deputy coach last year and Tusker and Uganda born Nathan Mutenza are being deployed as spies by Uganda Cranes scouts.

Cranes foreign based players include Queens Fury striker Eugene Ssepuuya , Joseph Owino (Simba, Tz, Denis Onyango (Black Aces, SA),Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Wits, SA), Andy Mwesigwa (unconfirmed), D. Ssepuuya (Q.Fury, Australia ), David Obua ( Hearts , Scotland ), and I. Sekagya ( Salzburg , Austria ).

Others are Nestroy Kizito ( Partizan , Serbia ), Tony Mawejje (IBV, Iceland ), and Geoffrey Massa (Egypt).