Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has described Richard Odada’s long journey during the upcoming international break as “not ideal,” but the boss sees a silver lining in the situation.Odada, who has featured 17 times for Harambee Stars, will embark on a trip from Scotland to Nairobi for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe on September 6th in Uganda. After the match, Kenya will fly to South Africa for the second game against Namibia on September 10th before flying back to Scotland.##NAJAVA_MECA_8298156##Goodwin, who has been gradually building up Odada’s fitness and sharpness since he arrived from Philadelphia Union at the end of July, acknowledges the challenges posed by such extensive travel but welcomes the opportunity for the towering midfielder to gain some much-needed competitive action.“The traveling is not ideal, but Richard hasn’t really featured much for us yet. So, he probably would benefit from the camp, and going away and getting a couple of games under his belt.”Goodwin also emphasized Odada’s importance to the Kenyan national team, adding, “It is a hell of a distance he needs to go, and there’s even a significant distance between the two games. We will need to manage him when he comes back. But he could do with the game time, and given he has been important for the Kenyan national team in recent games, it will do him no harm at all.”Coach Engin Firat earlier this week named his squad for the two games, with the usual regulars called into the national setup. The only new faces are Patrick Otieno of KCB and Gor Mahia’s Sylvester Owino.Gor Mahia, Kenya Police handed venue boost in CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup home clashesProvisional SquadGoalkeepers: Ian Otieno (Richards Bay FC-South Africa), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police), Byrne Omondi (Bandari)Defenders: Collins Sichenje (Vojvodina-Serbia), Joseph Okumu (Reims-France), Johnstone Omurwa (Kenya Police), Amos Nondi (Ararat-Armenia), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Eric Ouma (Raków Częstochowa-Poland), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia)Midfielders: Kayci Odhiambo (AFC Leopards), Chris Erambo (Tusker), Richard Odada (Dundee United-Scotland), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar-Iran), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Eric Johanna (UTA Arad-Romania), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Clifton Miheso (AFC Leopards), Patrick Otieno (KCB), Duke Abuya (Young Africans-Tanzania), Timothy Ouma (Elfsborg-Sweden)Forwards: John Avire (P. Suez-Egypt), Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail-Qatar), Jonah Ayunga (St. Mirren-Scotland), Benson Omalla (Safa SC-Lebanon), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards)’Gor Mahia and Al Ahly are not so different’ – Geoffrey ‘Simiti’ Ochieng
