NAIROBI – Kenya’s top striker Dennis Oliech has been left out of Monday’s friendly match between the Kenyan senior national team, the Harambee Stars, and its Moroccan counterpart in Marrakech.
A few hours to the team’s departure on Friday, head coach Bob Williamson said he had no plans for Oliech, who was kicked out of the team earlier in the year.
The player had walked out of the training camp as Kenya prepared for its 2015 Africa Cup of Nations pre-group stage qualifier match against The Comoros.
Oliech, who turns out for French side Ajaccio, was kicked out by former Kenya head coach Adel Amrouche. [eap_ad_2] However, the striker apparently invited himself to the national team training camp in Nairobi and has been training with the rest of the squad since Monday.
Coach Williamson, though happy with Oliech’s presence in camp, has made it absolutely clear that he will not be part of the travelling contingent.
“I made my plans and he (Oliech) was not part of it. I won’t have to change my plans on that,’’ the coach said.
Ironically, Williamson is decrying the shortage of good strikers in the Kenyan squad and football followers are wondering why he is not keen on picking Oliech.
Kenya failed to reach the group stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
It is now using international friendlies to shape up for the 2014 Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations Senior Challenge Cup set for Addis Ababa in December.
Kenya will be seeking to retain the regional title it won in Nairobi in 2013. (PANA/NAN) [eap_ad_3]
