Kenya national football team head coach, Francis Kimanzi on Friday called up two more players to his squad that is preparing for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers next month.

Kimanzi has added striker Victor Ochieng of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side AFC Leopards to replace his teammate Allan Wanga who has been ruled out for six weeks with an aggravated foot injury as well as Mathare United's midfielder Dennis Nzomo who is yet to make a competitive start returns to the team that resumes training on Sunday hoping to earn his maiden play time after he was dropped from the final squad for the same tournament.

It will be the second cap for Ochieng, formerly of AFC's KPL rivals Chemelil Sugar who played a part in Kenya's botched campaign at the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup regional tournament in December while Nzomo makes his return to the side as Kimanzi prepares for the final leg of training that has been anything but smooth.

The team's preparations for their June 2 World Cup group qualifiers opener against the Malawi Flames in Nairobi and the June 15 return leg of their 2013 Africa Nations Cup knockout qualifier against Togo in Lome were rocked by the unavailability of the venue after both of the country's main stadiums, Nyayo and Moi International Sports Centre were booked for other events.

Harambee Stars also ensured another week of debate in the country's parliament when Sports Minister, Dr. Paul Otuoma earlier in the week urged the team's captain and top scorer Dennis Oliech, who has expressed his desire to retire from the side over usage of his image in a billboard elected by the team's sponsors East Africa Breweries without his authority, to return to the negotiating table and the side.

"My ministry appreciates and values, Oliech's participation in the national team and will continue to advice and persuade him to put the national interest in front as we try to find a solution to his dissatisfaction in the contract," the Minister told parliament on Tuesday.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)