Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President MacDonald Mariga believes the Mapinduzi Cup will provide Harambee Stars with excellent preparation ahead of the CHAN tournament, set to begin on Saturday 1 February.The Mapinduzi Cup, organized by the Zanzibar Football Federation, marks Zanzibar’s Revolution Day, celebrated annually on January 12.##NAJAVA_MECA_8594025##This year’s tournament takes a new direction by featuring national teams rather than clubs. In addition to Kenya, the teams that will compete include Zanzibar Heroes, Uganda, Kilimanjaro Stars, Burundi, and Burkina Faso.Mariga, a former Kenya international, is confident that the tournament will serve as valuable preparation for Kenya. He also assured the country that he would fully support the team and ensure they were ready to perform at the CHAN tournament.##NAJAVA_MECA_8593993##“The Mapinduzi Cup presents our local players with a great opportunity to prepare for the upcoming CHAN tournament, and that’s why we’ve accepted the invitation. We will provide the team with all the necessary support to help them focus on their primary objective—playing football and representing Kenya with pride,” Mariga said.On Wednesday, interim Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi announced his provisional squad for the tournament, which includes players from the FKF Premier League, along with one second-tier player, Isaac Omweri of Nairobi United.Under Kimanzi’s guidance, the team will pitch camp immediately to prepare for the tournament, which starts on Friday 3 January.EXCLUSIVE: Harambee Stars set to appoint former Manchester United coachProvisional Harambee Stars SquadGoalkeepers: Byrne Omondi (Bandari FC), Farouk Shikalo (KCB FC), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks)Defenders: Brian Okoth (Kenya Police FC), Charles Momanyi (Tusker FC), Hanif Wesonga (KCB FC), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Baron Ochieng (Sofapaka FC), Ronald Sichenje (AFC Leopards), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC)Midfielders: Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC), Musa Katimbi (Kenya Police FC), Michael Mutinda (KCB FC), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars FC), Ben Stanley Omondi (Kakamega Homeboyz), Brian Michira (Shabana FC), Ovella Ochieng (AFC Leopards), David Okoth (Kenya Police FC), Isaac Omweri (Nairobi United FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Samuel Kapen (Gor Mahia FC), Darius Msagah (Shabana FC), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police FC), Shafan Siwa (Tusker FC), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)Strikers: Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Francis Kahiro (KCB FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Sydney Lokale (AFC Leopards), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz)Interim technical bench: Francis Kimanzi (Head Coach), John Kamau, Zedekiah Otieno (Assistant Coaches), Arnold Origi (Goalkeeper Coach), Mikael Igediah (Fitness Technology), Wycliff Makanga (Team Doctor), Noel Mandi (Physiotherapist)Francis Kimanzi returns as Harambee Stars name provisional squad for Mapinduzi Cup
