GETTING READY FOR ZAMBIA: Kenya put through paces ahead of Sunday match

From Left; Harambee Stars players David Cheche, Innocent Mutiso and Allan Wanga train in preparations for the African Qualifiermatch with Zambia to be played at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

Harambee Stars head coach Bobby Williamson hopes his top player Victor Wanyama will be in the right frame of mind when they play Zambia in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

The Southampton forward was a subject of intense speculation over his future at the weekend as English Premier League side Tottenham were keen to sign him, but the deal did not go through.

Wanyama, who is also Harambee Stars’ captain, is yet to link up with the team. That notwithstanding, the Stars camp was in a buoyant mood yesterday morning following the arrival of a host of foreign-based players.

“We have all heard what was happening with Wanyama and I even got reports from his club that he may not be in the right frame of mind to play, but he (Wanyama) says he is fine. So, I hope he will be ready emotionally and mentally to feature in the game,” he said.

Williamson, however, said he will not hesitate to drop the player should he fail to be at his best. This is an important match for Kenya, as the side seeks to make a comeback to Africa’s football bonanza.

The team has trained for only four days, but Williamson is not a worried man, and says they will try to make good use of the limited time.

“I know our opponents have been training for a longer time and this will probably give them advantage. Our situation is different in that, it is very difficult to have all the players for a longer time. If all our players were in Nairobi, then we would have had an opportunity to train together for a longer time. As it is, we have to do with what we have,” he added.

While admitting that the team has had a challenge in scoring goals, Williamson said this is not unique with Kenya and hopes the new players he has called up will make all the difference.

“It is not just a Kenyan problem. It seems the defenders are more organised nowadays, but we still have to try and get those goals on Sunday. We have a number of players who have been scoring freely. There is Michael Olunga, Jacob Keli and Allan Wanga, whom we are confident will rise up.”

Meanwhile, Kenyan international midfielder Clifton Miheso has pulled out of Harambee Stars’ camp with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined Finnish Premier League side and VPS Vasa at the beginning of the season from Sofapaka, was among the foreign-based players called up by Coach Bobby Williamson, but he is yet to recover from the injury he suffered in June.

“It is unfortunate that I will not be available for the Zambia match. I have not yet fully recovered from the knee injury, but I am happy with my rehabilitation progress. I am waiting for the physio’s recommendation before I start training,” said Miheso. 

“Zambia is a strong team, but with the players in the camp, Kenya are no pushovers.”