Cranes, Harambee Stars to make most of friendly

KAMPALA.

As the Cranes face Kenya Harambee Stars in a friendly in Machakos this afternoon, a good number of foreign-based senior national team players remain inactive.
Some like captain Geoffrey Massa were released by their clubs while others like Tonny Mawejje, who are all still in Uganda, are said to be out of contract.
Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic wants to use this friendly in Machakos, about an hour’s drive from Nairobi, to try and address this frustrating situation.
“Having in mind that very complex situation, where some players are clubless, unattached, and some players are settling in new clubs...,” Micho told Daily Monitor.
“...And as some players are proven and don’t need extra check up, we decided to take 12 local based players.”
All 12 are candidates to play in Chan Kenya 2018 qualifiers.
“We want some players to cement their competitive positions while others to prove themselves and help us to widen the pool of competitive players, which I call International special commando forces that will help us in Afcon Cameroon 2019 and Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.” The Cranes travel to Praia in June to face Cape Verde in Afcon qualifiers and Egypt in August for the World Cup assignment. Ghana and Congo Brazzaville will come up thereafter in October and November.
“This is only space of time designated for testing, trying and experimenting,” explained Micho, “All other matches ahead will be competition where results will be priority.”
Kenya coach Stanley Okumbi also named six foreign based stars including Tottenham Hotspur’s Victor Wanyama and is using this match and another against DRC to fine-tune for Afcon’s qualifiers in June.
“Harambee Stars have under my friend Stanley Okumbi become one of top 10 competitive teams in Africa,” argued Micho.
“That is reflected in significant rise in Fifa rankings but apart from that they have very competitive team with top quality individuals.
“They will give us best possible test of character and measurement of football values before we both embark on Afcon qualifiers in June.”
Meanwhile Harambee Stars trio of Eric Ouma, Ayub Timbe and Eric Johanna have withdrawn from the tie saying they need time to settle into their new clubs.