Former Liverpool star Xavier to lead Mozambique against Harambee Stars
Former Liverpool star defender Abel Xavier will be in charge of the Mozambique national team that is set to play Harambee Stars in an international friendly in Nairobi on Saturday.
The Southern Africans led by the Portuguese national landed in Nairobi on Wednesday night ahead of this highly billed contest against the Kenyan squad at Kasarani.
Kenya will also play Liberia in another friendly on Tuesday.
By all means, it remains clear the 43 year old Xavier – whose 18 year career saw him also enjoy successful stints at Everton and Middleborough in the English Premier League, plus with top Dutch team PSV, Galatasaray (Turkey), Hannover 96 (Germany), AS Roma (Italy) and LA Galaxy in the USA – has maintained his trademark flashy looks to date.
WERE-OLUNGA PARTNERSHIP
The match against 95th ranked Mozambique on the Fifa rankings, could offer a chance for Kenyans to watch the deadly duo of Jesse Were and Micheal Olunga paired in attack.
The two players, who have enjoyed a sublime season, are available for the match. Were, who scored his 16th league goal and also claimed an assist in Zesco United’e league win over Nchanga Rangers on Wednesday, is expected in Nairobi on Thursday alongside teammates David ‘Calabar’ Owino and Anthony Akumu – who also featured in the game.
Stars coach Stanley Okumbi paired Were and Olunga in attack away to the Democratic Republic of Congo in October, a match Kenya won through a goal by the former.
FOREIGN-BASED PLAYERS
According to Football Kenya Federation Communications manager Barry Otieno, Olunga (IF Djuargadens), Aboud Omar (Slavia Sofia, Bulgaria) Clifton Miheso (Golden Arrows, South Africa) and Amos Ekhalie (IFK Mariehamn) have joined Captain Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur, England) in the list of foreign based players that have so far reported to camp.
Ayub Timbe (Lierse, Belgium)who has been left out of the Saturday fixture as a precaution, due to injury, is expected in the country on Saturday November 12, 2016 and may feature in the Tuesday fixture, if he is cleared by the Stars medical team, this according to Harambee Stars First Coach Stanley Okumbi.
Stars have resorted to competing in friendly matches after suffering early elimination from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and also missing a ticket to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
