Wanyama set to miss stars game against Congo
Harambee Stars will be without their inspirational skipper Victor Wanyama when they clash with Congo in an international friendly match on Tuesday.
According Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Wanyama, who plies his trade with English Premier League side Tottenham, has been omitted from the quad “in his best fitness interest”.
Deliberation between Harambee Stars technical bench and their Tottenham counterparts has arrived at a decision not to include Wanyama in the friendly.
“Since Wanyama will be in action on Sunday against Manchester City. It would be physically demanding for him play two games in under 48 hours and in two continents. This decision has been made in Wanyama’s best interest,” FKF’s Communications and Public Relations Manager, Barry Otieno, told Nairobi News.
The other reason cited for Wanyama’s exclusion is the unavailability of “favourable flights” from London to Nairobi and eventually Kinshasa this weekend.
FAVOURABLE FLIGHT
“It would be great to play against the DRC but there’s no favourable flight schedule on Sunday after our game against Manchester City,” Wanyama has been quoted by a number of online portals.
Wanyama has had a fine start to life at the White Hart Lane featuring prominently at the base of Spurs midfield and is expected to play a prominent role in the high-billed clash with Pep Guardiola’s table-topping City.
Travelling to Congo would have meant that the combative midfielder cover thousands of miles just hours after the EPL game and back to London after Tuesday’s clash.
Besides Wanyama, Sweden based striker Micheal Olunga could also miss out on the Congo trip owing to club commitments.
ZAMBIAN TRIO
At the same time, the Stars camp got a boost following the arrival of Zambian based trio.
David ‘Calabar’ Owino, Anthony ‘Teddy’ Akumu and Jesse Were – all who turn out for Zambian giants Zesco United are in camp and will be part of the 20-man squad that will jet out on Monday morning for Congo.
Also in camp is Slovenia based midfielder Rama Salim who makes a return to the Stars fold after a three-year absence.
Stars coach Stanley Okumbi is using the match to keep his boys active after the Stars failed to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in for Gabon and the 2018 Fifa World Cup finals.
Placed 91 in Fifa ranking, the Stars will be aiming for a win over Congo who are ranked 54 with the aim of improving their record.
Meanwhile Congo coach Florent Ibenge’s 23 man squad includes nine English based stars including Kebano Neeskens (Fulham), Mulumu Youssef (Norwich City), Dieumerci Bezua Mbokani (Hull City) and Botaka Jordan (Charlton Athletic).
