Kimanzi speaks hope to gamers dropped from Stars squad for Mapinduzi Cup
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 1, 2025 – Harambee Stars interim head coach Francis Kimanzi says the door of the nationwide workforce continues to be open for the gamers dropped from the ultimate squad for the Mapinduzi Cup.
Kimanzi says he’ll name them as much as the provisional squad for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) in February.
“The players who we have kept aside…who will not be travelling with the team for the Mapinduzi Cup, they will be the first in the camp when we will be preparing for the Chan,” Kimanzi mentioned.
The gaffer named a 24-man squad for this weekend’s Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar, leaving out some outstanding names who’ve shone within the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League.
Among these lacking on the airplane to Pemba Island embrace Kenya Commercial Bank’s (KCB) Francis Kahiro, who has to this point notched eight targets to propel the bankers to the highest of the league.
The former Bandari FC marksman is the league’s second highest scorer, behind Tusker’s Ryan Ogam who has notched 13 targets to this point.
Shabana’s Brian Michira, whose seven targets have spurred Shabana to ninth on the log, can be lacking as is Tusker captain Charles Momanyi who has been a rock within the brewers’ backline.
Kenya Police’s Marvin Nabwire and the AFC Leopards trio of Ovella Ochieng, Victor Omune and Sydney Lokale have additionally been minimize from the ultimate squad.
Nonetheless, the Dutch-trained Kimanzi has forged his eyes past the Mapinduzi Cup and is targeted on forging a formidable aspect for CHAN.
This, from his perspective, entails in depth scouting in all of the tiers of Kenyan soccer.
“We also need to check the players at the nationwide level…those who have some good statistics in terms of their current form and performance. The CHAN requires players from the local league so we need to check. We are still far but I am happy that the 24 we have selected have a platform and they will have to give us the answer,” Kimanzi mentioned.
Stars can be in motion on Sunday in Zanzibar of their first match of the match towards Burundi.
The match serves as preparation for CHAN, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania in February this 12 months.
