Stars’ friendly match against Cranes in doubt
Kenya’s proposed friendly match against Uganda is unlikely to take place, following differences between the respective football associations over the match venue.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) had last week formally reached out to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with request for a build up match on March 19, meant to fine tune the two teams ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches later this month.
Uganda, who top Group D with maximum points from two games, will play against Burkina Faso away, while Kenya will be away to Guinea Bissau on March 29.
“We wanted to play Kenya in Kisumu where the climate is just about similar to what we expect in Ouagadogou but (FKF President) Nick Mwendwa’s people are asking us to come to Nairobi. So we are stuck in between,” Uganda Cranes coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic told Nairobi News on Friday.
CECAFA CHAMPIONS
This even as Harambee Stars new coach Stanley Okumbi talked up the idea of his charges playing against an inform Ugandan side.
The Ugandan team is fresh from winning the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup and competing at the Africa Nations Championship last month in Rwanda.
“Yes, I am welcome to playing them if the opportunity arises. I have recruited some new faces into the set up and they need such games to build confidence,” Okumbi said.
The last time these two teams met, during the 2015 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia, Kenya won 2-0, courtesy of goals from Jacob Keli and Micheal Olunga.
However, Kenya was bundled out of the championships at the quarter final stage as Uganda went on to win the title.
At the same time, FKF CEO Robert Muthomi says he is “not aware” of any plans to play Botswana in another friendly as has been reported in a section of the media.
