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Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has come to the defence of Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat after he was accused of ‘favouritism’ for not selecting Gor Mahia’s Benson Omala
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has waded into the issue of national team selection following complaints from a section of Kenyans over the exclusion of Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala from the Harambee Stars squad.
Omala, who is the FKF Premier League’s leading scorer with six goals, was not selected by coach Engin Firat in Kenya’s squad set to face Russia in a friendly match in Turkey on Monday, leading to complaints of ‘favouritism’ among some fans but Namwamba feels the coach has every right to select whoever he feels will produce the desired results.
“The view of the ministry and government is that the coach must be given the chance to build a team that he believes can compete because if we start taking the responsibilities of selecting a team for the coach, then all of us will come up with our teams,” Namwamba said on West TV.
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15:30 - 11.10.2023
FOOTBALL Firat claps back at critics over Harambee Stars selection for Russia friendly
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“The minister will select his team, the President, fans will select their teams, it is a difficult thing. I follow a lot when other countries select their teams when there are competitions. You will see the coach of Brazil or England name their squads and always there are sharp reactions.
“Recently when Gareth Southagate selected his England team, I heard complaints why Harry Maguire continues to be selected, why Kalvin Philips who plays few games for Man City has been selected. Many fans in England do not understand but it is up to Southgate. If the team does not play well, then he will be responsible.”
The CS feels forcing the coach to select certain players will make it easy for him to shift blame whenever he does not perform.
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11:15 - 14.10.2023
FOOTBALL Gor Mahia’s Benson Omala responds to Firat after Harambee Stars snub
Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala has broken his silence following his omission from the Harambee Stars squad despite being the FKF Premier League’s leading scorer
“If you force the coach to select a certain player, if he loses, he will say it is you who forced him to select certain players. We have given the coach the free hand to select players. What we help the coach with is to identify the players who he might not know of and where they are,” he added.
“Like there are players born abroad but their parents are Kenyan and we feel they can play for Harambee Stars. He recently selected the boy who plays for Exeter (Vincent Harper). However, the decision of selecting the player and playing him, we cannot get involved.”
Regarding Omala’s omission, the former Buladangi MP said the door is not closed for the striker since he has been given opportunities before by Firat.
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18:00 - 11.10.2023
FOOTBALL Exeter City defender Vincent Harper voices expectations in Harambee Stars jersey
Exeter's Vincent Harper expresses high expectations joining Harambee Stars, anticipating successful matches ahead, including the friendly against Russia in Antalya.
“On Omala, I talked to this coach before, and asked him; ‘When you select a team, do you look at the goals the player has scored or clean sheets a goalkeeper has kept’? The coach gave the metrics that he uses and I informed him that he is free to select his team but must give every player equal opportunity,” said the CS.
“Omala was given a chance in Mauritius in the four-nations tournament and there is a match he played and after, the coach decided to try other players because since the end of our FIFA ban, it has been trying different players who can fit in well.
“From next month, it is when we will know which team the coach will select for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. For now, I would like to urge Kenyans to give the coach a chance.”
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20:00 - 12.10.2023
FOOTBALL ‘He is not Messi or Bergkamp’ - McKinstry's honest assessment of Gor Mahia hotshot Benson Omala’
Omala tops the goalscoring charts on six goals in the league so far this season, with his brace against AFC Leopards the pick of the bunch so far.
Omala was overlooked for Kenya’s friendly match against Iran in March before being called up for the four nations tournament in June but was missing again from the squad that was named for friendly matches against Qatar and South Sudan in September.
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