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Okumbi names Harambee Stars squad for Uganda, Zambia games


Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi has selected a number of exciting youngsters ahead of the team’s assignments against Uganda Cranes and Zambia’s Chipolopolo.

Also handed opportunities to impress in the Stars line-up are two English based players of Kenyan heritage who are angling for debuts in the white, red and green jersey.

Kenya will play Uganda in a Fifa recognised friendly match in Kampala on August 31, and then travel to Ndola for a competitive assignment against George Lwandamina’s Zambia in what is a meaningless 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualification tie three days later.

Thika United midfielder Eugine Mukangula, AFC Leopards duo Jack Bruno and John “Softie” Ndirangu alongside Gor Mahia’s Baron Oketch plus Zoo FCs Mike Magoya are among the youngsters called up by the youthful Okumbi.

Mukangula dominated media headlines after an impressive show in which he scored a brace during a league match against Tusker last week. Likewise, Bruno, Oketch and Ndirangu have displayed flashes of brilliance when featuring for their respective clubs.

“He (Mukangula) will benefit from a great deal from training with the Likes of Jesse Were and Micheal Olunga. He will learn a thing or two and I am excited for him,” Thika United coach James Nandwa said.

Also included in the 40 man squad is little known defender Josh Lenan who plies his trade at Plymouth Argyle in England, plus forward Jonathan Ayunga (Brighton and Hove) who is based in the same country.

Others are, David “Cheche” Ochieng who is attached to New York Cosmos in the US, Clifton Miheso (Golden Arrows, South Africa), and captain Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur, England).

Okumbi will be seeking to extend his winning run at the helm, following that impressive 2-1 win over the Republic of Congo in June.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), David Okello (Tusker), Ian Otieno (AFC Leopards).
Defenders: Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Nicholas Meja (Nakumatt), Eric Ouma (Gor Mahia), Yusuf Mohammed (Muhoroni Youth), Joseph Okumu (Chemelil Sugar), Mohammed Sherif (Bandari), Eugine Asike (Tusker), Joackins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Josh Lenan (Plymouth Argyle, England), Aboud Omar (Slavia Sofia, Bulgaria), David Owino (Zesco), David Ochieng (New York Cosmos, USA), Brian Mandela (Maritzbug, South Africa).

Midfielders: Amos Nondi (Gor Mahia), Eugine Mukangula (Thika United), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia), Mark Makwatta (Ulinzi), Mike Madoya (Zoo FC), John Ndirangu (AFC Leopards), Masoud Juma (Sony Sugar), Micheal Mutinda (Thika United), Victor Majid (Chemelil Sugar), Kenneth Mugambi (Western Stima), Bernard Mang’oli (AFC Leopards), Peter Nzuki (Zoo FC), Clifton Miheso (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Ismael Gonzalez (Las Palmas, Spain), Anthony Akumu (Zesco United, Zambia), Victor Ali (Cape Town Ajax, South Africa), Eric Johanna (Mathare United) and Ayub Timbe (Lierse, Belgium)

Strikers: Bruno Jack (AFC Leopards), Baron Oketch (Gor Mahia), Micheal Olunga (IF Djugardens, Sweden), Jonathan Ayunga (Brighton and Hove, England) and Jesse Were (Zesco United).