Kenya has named a provisional squad for the men’s national team, Harambee Stars, ahead of the upcoming Mapinduzi Cup, which will take place from January 3 to 18, 2025, in Zanzibar.
The tournament will feature national teams from Burundi, Uganda, Burkina Faso, as well as two teams from Tanzania: Zanzibar Heroes and Kilimanjaro Stars.
This competition will serve as part of the national team’s broader preparations for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), which they will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania in February 2025.
The team will be led by Francis Kimanzi, who returns as caretaker coach after previously taking on this role in 2008 and later serving as the head coach of the national team in 2011.
He will be assisted by Gor Mahia interim coach Zedekiah Otieno and Mathare United head coach John Kamau.
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Former Kenyan international goalkeeper Arnold Origi has been appointed as goalkeeper coach, while Mikael Igediah will oversee fitness technology.
Wycliff Makanga and Noel Mandi will serve as the team doctor and physiotherapist, respectively. These appointments are temporary as the recruitment process for the official national team coaching staff continues.
The 32-man squad, consists a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, will begin residential training on December 28, 2024.
FKF Deputy President McDonald Mariga emphasized the importance of the Mapinduzi Cup in preparing the team for CHAN.
“The Mapinduzi Cup offers our local boys a perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming CHAN tournament, and this is why we have honored the invite. We will give the team all the required support to ensure they are settled and ready to concentrate on their job, which is to play football and carry the Kenyan flag high.”
Provisional Harambee Stars Squad
Goalkeepers
Byrne Omondi (Bandari FC), Farouk Shikalo (KCB FC), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks)
Defenders
Brian Okoth (Kenya Police FC), Charles Momanyi (Tusker FC), Hanif Wesonga (KCB FC), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Baron Ochieng (Sofapaka FC), Ronald Sichenje (AFC Leopards), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC)
Midfielders
Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC), Musa Katimbi (Kenya Police FC), Michael Mutinda (KCB FC), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars FC), Ben Stanley Omondi (Kakamega Homeboyz), Brian Michira (Shabana FC), Ovella Ochieng (AFC Leopards), David Okoth (Kenya Police FC), Isaac Omweri (Nairobi United FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Samuel Kapen (Gor Mahia FC), Darius Msagah (Shabana FC)
Forwards
Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Francis Kahiro (KCB FC), Benjamin Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Sydney Lokale (AFC Leopards), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz)
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Interim Technical Bench
Francis Kimanzi (Head Coach), John Kamau, Zedekiah Otieno (Assistant Coaches), Arnold Origi (Goalkeeper Coach), Mikael Igediah (Fitness Technology), Wycliff Makanga (Team Doctor), Noel Mandi (Physiotherapist)
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