Hey guys! Sign the damn commitment letters ! PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATION MEDIA GROUP
By James Waindi
Two weeks before Harambee Stars face Nigeria in a 2010 World Cup/Africa Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja, national head coach Antoine Hey has sealed the fate of seven key players.
Kenya, who lost the opening final round qualifier to Tunisia at home in March, face the dreaded Super Eagles of Nigeria on June 7 in a crucial qualifier that would turn around their campaign.
Hey, who had issued all local-based players with a notice to bring along commitment letters from their clubs before the team began residential training a fortnight ago, cracked the whip on the players whose clubs failed to adhere to his conditions, which have been described as draconian by Kenyan Premier League clubs.
The coach axed nine players after last Thursday’s training, but said he was flexible until Monday morning and only two players from Thika United, David Okello and Chrispin Olando, met the requirements.
Goalkeeper trainer Abdulrazak Siwa had to stand between the posts during yesterday’s training in the absence of Wilson Oburu, whose club Sofapaka have refused to sign the commitment letter.
Other players affected are Mathare United’s Edgar Ochieng’, Tusker’s Joseph Shikokoti, John Njoroge, Fred Ojwang and Sofapaka’s James Situma and Evans Wandera.
But Hey called AFC Leopard’s custodian Teddy Okumba later in the day to fill in Oburu’s gap.
Protecting the team
Speaking on behalf of the coach, Football Kenya Limited Senior Vice-chairman, Titus Kasuve, said dropping the seven was unfortunate but noted that it was geared towards protecting the national team in future.
"We gave the technical committee a free hand in running the team and they have decided to work without the seven players who could not meet the team’s requirements.
Discipline is vital thing in football and it cannot be taken for granted. We have no problems with the players. I pity them because their clubs are unfair to them," said Kasuve.
The letter says the players be in camp from Monday to Thursday afternoon, respect all the rules set while on national duty and not make public statements or interviews while in the national team.
"This is not a contract and I would not like some individuals to mislead Kenyans. A contract can only be done between a player and his club, but we needed commitments letters here," said Kasuve.
"Players can’t be exposed without playing for the national team. The clubs are blocking their chances of advancing," said Kasuve.
Kasuve said no more players would be called to the current 17, adding they expect seven foreign-based players to boost the squad.
Meanwhile FKL second vice-chairman Erastus Okul has blamed East Africa Breweries for purporting to support the national team through cash pledges and yet they denied their players a chance to play for the team.
"How can you pledge money to the team for the remaining five matches and pretend to be in the front line of supporting the national team and your club cannot release their players to play for the same team. We really feel cheated by EABL," said Okul.
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