Kenya pick provisional squad for Togo tie

Kenya national team coach Francis Kimanzi has named a 31-man provisional squad to prepare for the forthcoming South Africa 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo.

Included is goalkeeper Arnold Origi who, however, said his top most priority was club football.

Kenya host Togo in a mid-week tie on February 29 and play the return leg on June 16 in Lome.

Origi, who announced his retirement from international football on January 27, said he wanted to put in at least two years of uninterrupted play in Europe to enhance his club career.

“I respect the coach and the Kenya technical bench very much and do not want to comment further on the matter. I will first wait for them to contact me about the selection,” Origi said on phone from Norway.

The 28-year-old surprised many last month when he said he was withdrawing from Harambee Stars because injuries sustained in international football had hampered his career.

He now features for Ullensaker in the Norwegian Second Division.

Origi was curiously included in the team by Kimanzi, who said he had no official communication on the retirement and thus still considered Origi part of the team.

Kimanzi made many surprise inclusions in the team. Taiwo Atieno, of Torquay United in the English lower divisions, and a decided flop in Kenya’s 2010 World Cup campaign, gets another chance at international football.

Maiden call up

So too does Allan Wanga, who makes a return after a one year hiatus and unsettled Osborn Monday, whose career has been marked by many short-lived career moves abroad.

Kimanzi has also given opportunity to several fresh talents that have never featured at international level.

Genk’s youth team product Ayub Timbe, gets his maiden call up together with Peter Atsango (Nairobi City Stars), Kelvin Serenge (Ulinzi), Christian Bwamy (Follo, Norway) and Enock Agwanda (Sony Sugar).

The local-based players were expected to report for camp on Monday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi.

A friendly against Egypt that was planned for February 23 looks highly unlikely following violent demonstrations in that country after the death of 74 fans in a local league match last week.

In an earlier interview, Football Kenya Federation chairman Sam Nyamweya said they were still hopeful, but an alternative fixture would be sought if the Egypt arrangement failed.

Harambee Stars provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Arnold Origi (Ull-Ensaker), Boniface Otieno (Tusker), Duncan Ochieng (Sofapaka); Defenders: Brian Mandela (Tusker), Eric Masika (AFC Leopards), Mulinge Ndeto (Ulinzi), Pascal Ochieng (Rangers), James Situma (Sofapaka), Dennis Odhiambo (Thika United), Yusuf Juma (Gor Mahia), Osborne Monday (Sofapaka), Peter Atsango (Nairobi City Stars), Anthony Kimani (Mathare United); Midfielders: Rama Salim (Gor Mahia), Victor Mugube (Celtic), McDonald Mariga (Parma), Humphrey Mieno (Sofapaka), Kevin Kimani (unattached), Jamal Mohammed (Mathare United, Kelvin Serenge (Ulinzi) , Kelvin Ochieng (Gor Mahia), Ayub Timbe (Genk), Collins Okoth (Gor Mahia), Titus Mulama (Sofapaka); Strikers: Bob Mugalia (Sofapaka), Christian Bwamy (Follo, Norway), Paul Were, Dennis Oliech (Auxerre, France), Taiwo Otieno (Torquay United, England), Enock Agwanda (Sony Sugar), Allan Wanga (AFC Leopards).