Harambee Stars interim head coach Francis Kimanzi has left the doors to the national team open for the players who were dropped from the final list for the invitational Mapinduzi Cup.Kimanzi named his final team of 24 on Wednesday for the tournament which Kenya is using as part of their build-up for CHAN which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.The former Mathare United gaffer said he will call up the dropped arsenals to the provisional squad for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) in February.##NAJAVA_MECA_8605350##The Dutch-trained tactician left out some prominent names who have shone in the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League (FKF-PL).Among those missing on the plane to Pemba Island include Kenya Commercial Bank’s (KCB) Francis Kahiro, who has thus far notched eight goals to propel the bankers to the top of the league.The former Bandari FC marksman is the league’s second-highest scorer, behind Tusker’s Ryan Ogam who has notched 13 goals thus far.Shabana’s Brian Michira, whose seven goals have spurred Shabana to ninth on the log, is also missing as is Tusker captain Charles Momanyi who has been a rock in the brewers’ backline.Off to Zanzibar for #MapinduziCup2025 pic.twitter.com/5sgrfwOnrw— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) January 2, 2025 Kenya Police’s Marvin Nabwire and the AFC Leopards trio of Ovella Ochieng, Victor Omune, and Sydney Lokale have also been cut from the final squad.“The players who we have kept aside…who will not be traveling with the team for the Mapinduzi Cup, they will be the first in the camp when we will be preparing for the Chan,” Kimanzi said.“This Mapinduzi Cup is a blessing to us because it gives us an opportunity,” Kimanzi said after naming his final squad.Gor Mahia start new year with Kitara FC friendly“We have already seen 40 players, we will still invite them, all the players we kept aside who will not be traveling for the Mapinduzi Cup will be the first players in the next camp and then we shall also bring other players on board.”Nairobi United’s Isaac Omweri who was the only representative from the National Super League (NSL) and lower tier leagues, seems to have impressed the title-winning coach, as he suggested digging more talents from lower leagues as part of CHAN preparations.##NAJAVA_MECA_8606441##“We also need to check players from the nationwide level, there are some players with good statistics there in terms of their current form and performance and see because CHAN has to produce players from the local leagues.“We are still far away to check. I am happy that we have 24, that will give them a platform and they have to give us the answer.”✨| Moments that brighten your day! 👊👊Isaac Omweri in national colors 🇰🇪 #lazimaiwork #WeAreNairobiUnited #NaiBois #NaiGeng pic.twitter.com/nlkeqnrVaN— Nairobi United (@nairobiunitedfc) December 30, 2024 Stars will be in action on Sunday in Zanzibar in their first match of the tournament against Burundi.The tournament serves as preparation for CHAN, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania in February this year.
