Striker Francis Chinjili has found his way back to the Kenya national soccer team and is in the party for this week's friendly tour to Malawi.
The much-travelled player is back at his Kenya Premier League club Mahakama which he had left to seek professional status in Oman. Before that Chinjili was recognised for his stint at Ethiopian giants St George's.
On Tuesday evening Chinjili was a starter in Mahakama's KPL midweek clash with one of the leading league sides, World Hope, at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) chief executive officer, Sammy Obingo released the 18-man squad for the Malawi tour which he said had been picked by coach Francis Kimanzi and his assistants.
But curiously, on Monday afternoon Kimanzi had said the KFF had not informed anything about the tour and at that time was unsure about any arrangements."I have no information whatsoever. Ask Sammy Obingo at KFF," the Harambee Stars coach had responded to inquiries.
The change of situation must have led to Kimanzi's quick action to put together a side. Apart from Chinjili, Kimanzi brings in KPL debutants Western Stima's first international this season; Augustine Etemesi, a scorer who has helped Stima to maintain a mid-table position. Another fresh cal-up is Joseph Njuguna, a KCB forward.
There is a return to the squad of Bandari midfielder Anthony Dafaa, for the first time after he played in last December's East and Central Africa Challenge Cup in Tanzania.
Kimanzi will have the services all Harambee Stars players based in the Middle East who took part in the team's recent 2010 World Cup/African Nations qualifying matches. Edgar Ochieng', Kevin Ochieng' and Monday Osborne are available and will go to Malawi. The rest of Kenya's foreign-based players are out. Kimanzi will have a perfect opportunity to build confidence in more home-based players by according them international experience.
Kenya's remaining two matches in the 2010 qualifiers are against Namibia in Nairobi in September and away to Guinea in October. Currently the second-placed Group Two team Kenya stands a good chance of entering next year's deciding round.
Kenya tour squad to Malawi:
Goalkeepers -1. Noah Ayuko (Sher Karuturi), 2. Jackton Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)
Defenders:3. Anthony Kimani Wanjohi (Mathare United), 4. Edgar Ochieng' Odhiambo (Dhosar - Oman), 5 Joseph Shikokoti Ebenzi (Tusker), 6. Lloyd Wahome Kinguru (Mathare United),7. John Njoroge Mwangi (Tusker), 8. Jockins Atudo (Sony).
Midfielders:9. Austin Charles Makacha (Mathare United), 10. Osborne Monday (Al Shabab - Oman), 11. Andrew Oyombe (Gor Mahia), 12. Levy Muaka (World Hope), 13. Kevin Ochieng' Opondo (Al Shabab - Oman), 14. Anthony Dafaa (Bandari)
Forwards:15. Francis Chinjili (Mahakama), 16. Francis Ouma (Mathare United), 17. Joseph Njuguna (KCB), 18. Augustine Etemesi (Western Stima)
Head coach: Francis Kimanzi
Assistant coaches: James Nandwa, Yusuf Chipo
Team manager: Peter Serry
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