Stars coach Migne criticised over team selection criteria

Head Coach Harambee Stars' Sebastian Migne train at Kenya School of Monetary Studies, he has held three training sessions with all the local based players initially called up, expressing satisfaction with the team’s preparations. He will take charge of his first assignment when Kenya play two International friendly match. Kenya is set to face Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea on Friday, May 25, and Monday May 28, at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County. May 24, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

For the umpteenth time, the selection criteria of national football team, Harambee Stars, has come under sharp criticism.

Head coach Sébastien Migné named a provisional 38-man team for next month’s (September 8) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana at Kasarani.

The inclusion and exclusion of some players has left many questioning the parameters the Frenchman used.

From the named squad, that hits camp on September 2, it is clear the technical bench does little in checking the condition and fitness level of the players.

In what may prove to be an act of choreographed optimism, Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama leads the foreign-based legion barely two weeks after he suffered a recurrence of a knee injury in Spurs’ pre-season tour in USA.

His inclusion together with suspended Maritzburg defender Brian Mandela, Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper Brian Bwire and unattached striker Masud Juma has raised eye-brows with former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani questioning the technical bench’s decision.

“I don’t see the necessity of picking 38 players for a single match bearing in mind they will only be in camp for less than a week.

“This is a predetermined squad and I really doubt if Migné picked the team himself; there are some forces behind this selection. Who doesn’t know Wanyama is injured and Mandela is suspended?” Ambani said. 

However, the Football Kenya Federation moved quickly to explain Migné’s decision.

“Coach Migné has called up Maritzburg defender Brian Mandela, who is, however, suspended for the match, to assess him in preparation for future engagements,” read a statement from the federation.

Fans on social media also demanded answers for the exclusion of Zoo Kericho’s Mike Madoya, AFC Leopards’ Jaffari Owiti, Gor Mahia captain Harun Shakava and Humphrey Mieno.

Shakava was personally disappointed with his omission.

“It is unfortunate that with my current fine form, I have been overlooked by the national team officials. I don’t have any ill feelings towards them, but I think that omission will push me to work extra hard,” said Shakava.

Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr said: “I think Shakava has been one of the most outstanding players in the league since he got the armband and he deserves to be in team. However, every coach has his own opinion.”

Though it is good to see the likes of goalkeeper Ian Otieno (Red Arrows, Zambia), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Joseph Okumu (AFC Ann Arbor, USA) and Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan), make their national team comeback, the question is, who has been monitoring their performance abroad?

What about the duo of Erick Ouma and Ovella Ochieng who joined Swedish side Vasalund barely a month ago?