Rupia, Abuya na Momanyi waitwa Harambee Stars

NYOTA wanne wa Ligi Kuu Bara, akiwamo Duke Abuya wa Yanga na Elvis Rupia wa Singida Black Stars ni miongoni mwa wachezaji walioitwa katika kikosi cha timu ya taifa ya Kenya, Harambee Stars kinachonolewa na kocha Benni McCarthy.

Wengine waliotwa katika kikosi hicho kitakachoingia kambini kesho Jumatano wanaotokea Ligi Kuu Bara ni mshambuliaji wa Pamba Jiji  Mathew Momanyi na kiungo,  Apollo Otieno wa Dodoma Jiji.

Kikosi hicho cha kwa kwanza kuitwa na McCarthy tangu ateuliwa kuinoa Harambee inajiandaa kucheza mechi mbili za kuwania kufuzu Kombe la Dunia la 2026 dhidi ya Gabon na Gambia kikiwa kimechanganywa wachezaji wazoefu na chipukizi.

Kocha McCarthy, aliyewahi kuwika na klabu kadhaa maarufu duniani ikiwamo Manchester United, amewajumuisha pia nyota chipukizi kama  Kelly Madada na Andreas Odhiambo sambamba na kiungo anayekipiga  in the Australia, William Lenkupae ikiwa ni mara yao ya kwanza kuitwa Harambee Stars.

"Tutaingia kambini Jumatano, tukiwa na wachezaji mchanganyiko wakiwamo wanaocheza ligi ya nyumbani na wale wa nje ya nchi, tukilenga kuwaangali baadhi yao kwa lengo la michuano iliyopo mbele yetu, ikiwamo Kombe la Dunia na CHAN," amesema Benni McCarthy wakati akikitangaza kikosi hicho leo.

Harambee itashuka uwanjani Machi 20 ikiwa ugenini kwenye Uwanja wa Allasane Ouattara, huko  Ivory Coast kukabiliana na Gambia, kisha kurudi nyumbani siku tatu baadae kuivaa Gabon  mechi itakayopigwa Machi 23 kwenye Uwanja wa Nyayo, jijini Nairobi.

Kikosi kamili kilichoitwa na Benni McCarthy ni;

Makipa: Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City)

Mabeki: Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Siraj Mohamed (Bandari FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Levis Esambe (AFC Leopards SC), Eric Ouma (Rakow Czestochowa), Johnstone Omurwa (Kapaz fc), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims), Collins Sichenje (FK Vojvodina), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg FF), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch), Amos Nondi (Ararat)

Viungo: Musa Katibi (Kenya Police FC), Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards SC), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia), Mathias Isogoli (Mara Sugar FC), Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Slavia Prague), Apollo Otieno (Dodoma Jiji), Amos Nondi (FC Ararat), Eric Johanna (UTA Arad), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar Khorramabad), Ismail Gonzalez (Merida AD), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners)

Washambuliaji: Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police FC), Mohamed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), Eric Balecho (Tusker FC), Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka FC), Elvis Rupia (Singida Blackstars), John Avire (Porto Suez), Jonah Ayunga (St Mirren), Michael Olunga (Al – Duhail), Mathew Tegisi (Pamba Jiji), Masud Juma (Esteghlal FC).

 Kenya ipo Kundi F ikiwa nafasi ya nne kwa kuwa na pointi tano zilizotokana na mechi nne, huku Ivory Coast wakilioingoza kwa pointi 10, ikifuatiwa na Gabon yenye tisa na Burundi ikiwa ya tatu kwa alama saba.