Stars hold first training session ahead of Tanzania friendly

National football team Harambee Stars held its first training session on Tuesday ahead of the friendly match against Tanzania planned for Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium.

Kenya will use the friendly to prepare for its June 5 match against Congo in the penultimate round of qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Zambia-based trio of Jesse Were, David ‘Calabar’ Owino and Anthony Akumu attended Tuesday’s session alongside Spain-based Ismail Gonzalez who has earned his first national team call-up. Team captain Victor Wanyama is expected in the country Wednesday evening, while South Africa-based Ali Abondo and Brian Mandela arrive Thursday morning.

Speaking on Tuesday, Stars’ coach Stanley Okumbi said he was getting familiar with the players, adding that proper training begins Wdnesday.

“We started a bit of training with those who arrived early, but we expect to have better quorum tomorrow when the other players and the captain arrive,” he said.

Okumbi had earlier named a 29-man provisional squad, but added eight more to cushion the team against withdrawals. Kenya has already lost to Zambia and Guinea Bissau to exit he race for a place in 2017 Cup of Nations, making next month’s game a dead rubber.

Football Kenya Federation chairman Nick Mwendwa is expected to address a press briefing Wednesday morning to expound on among other things, the proposed mandatory use of the Pepea Card to purchase tickets for upcoming international games.

The Kenyan national junior team is also in residential training as they prepare to play Sudan in another friendly match to be played this Friday.

The team is camping at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani under the tutelage of coach John Kamau and assistant Hesbon Nyabinge.