New Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has set in motion his two month contract after officially overseeing his first session with the national team as local based players entered residential camp on Thursday ahead of back to back FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers against West African nation Mali.After naming a 34-man provisional squad on Wednesday where he recalled old guards in David ‘Calabar’ Owino, Abud Omar, Joash Onyango and handed maiden call ups to US based midfielder Philip Mayaka, Gor Mahia’s promising defender Frank Odhiambo and Tusker’s Eric Zakayo, the head coach oversaw a training session at Utalii Grounds a day after to lay down his philosophy on the side after taking over from Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.“This is our first training session and I wanted to see what is going on in the field and what the boys will do. In general, I am satisfied. We will prepare now with the local boys who are here where I will try to explain what I expect from them. They have to adapt to me and the way I want them to play,” the head coach said.Today we kicked off preps for our 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier back-to-back matches against Mali.🔗https://t.co/xvBL61cZDb#Tunaweza#RoadToQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/olB6HX1t5r— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) September 30, 2021 While all local-based players have checked into camp, the head coach lamented on the lack of adequate time that will be at his disposal to integrate the team as one unit with foreign-based players set to join the camp from Thursday evening and others including Abud Omar, Stanley Okumu, Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, Richard Odada and Ismael Gonzalez expected to link up with the team in Morocco just days before the match due to club commitments.“In Morocco the foreign based players will arrive and we will only have one or two training sessions before the match. Therefore, we will really not have enough time to prepare but we will find solutions to go out and to play well,” the coach added.Abud Omar, Calabar and Joash recalled to national team in Firat’s first squadWith Mali not having a proper stadium to hold international matches, Harambee Stars play them on neutral ground in Morocco on October 7 before traveling back for the home match on October 10, 2021. Kenya is currently second on the standings on two points, two behind leaders Mali, and level on points with Uganda.
The team leaves for Morocco on Monday October 4, 2021.Harambee Stars Provisional SquadGoalkeepersIan Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Faruk Shikhalo (KMC, Tanzania), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars), Brian Bwire (Tusker)DefendersJoseph Stanley Okumu (KAA Gent, Belgium), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), David Odhiambo (Napsa, Zambia), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks), Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito), Eugene Asike (Tusker), Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), David Owino (KCB), Abud Omar (AEL Larisa, Greece), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Bolton Omwenga (Kagera Sugar, Tanzania)MidfieldersRichard Odada (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka), Patila Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks), Ismael Gonzalez (Real Murcia, Spain), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Keagan Ndemi (Bandari), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker), Regean Otieno (KCB), Erick Zakayo (Tusker), Ovella Ochieng (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Philip Mayaka (Colorado Springs, USA), Musa Masika (Wazito), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari)ForwardsMichael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Henry Meja (Tusker, Kenya), Sydney Lokale (Kariobangi Sharks), Erick Kapaito (Arba Minch, Ethiopia)