Shame as Harambee Stars kicked out of Kasarani

Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama trains at the Ruaraka ground on October 9, 2015. Stars face Mauritius in the return leg of their 2018 World Cup preliminary qualifiers at Kasarani on October 11, 2015. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Wanyama confident of victory in return leg clash with Mauritius
• Williamson was joined by his assistant Musa Otieno, who had missed the trip to Mauritius with flu, and the two took the team through their paces. 

By CELLESTINE OLILO 

Harambee Stars were on Friday kicked out of the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium before their morning training session as the venue had not been booked.

It was an inconvenience that forced coach Bobby Williamson and his 22 players to go to the nearby Ruaraka Stadium in search of a training venue, but encountered another hitch on arrival. The Tusker junior team had just began their day’s training session, forcing the Stars to share the pitch with the youngsters. 

After the hour-long session, Stars coach Bobby Williamson said he was unaware of the reason why the team was barred from training at Kasarani, but he provided quick reassurance that they will remain focused ahead of the Sunday match. 

“I don’t know what happened. We had planned to train there but we were kicked out even before we began. I thank Tusker for allowing us to share the pitch with them,” he said. Williamson was joined by his assistant Musa Otieno, who had missed the trip to Mauritius with flu, and the two took the team through their paces. 

Officials from Football Kenya Federation told Saturday Nation Sport that the Kasarani venue was unavailable for the day as it had been booked in advance by another group, although questions on the preparedness of the federation on such circumstances still remain unanswered. 

WANYAMA UPBEAT

Stars captain Victor Wanyama however remained upbeat that they will finish the job tomorrow, saying such hitches will serve no purpose in destabilising their focus ahead of the return match against Mauritius. Stars won the first leg 5-2 away on Wednesday. 

“We are not strangers here, we know that this is Kenya and these things happen. Our main focus is on the game on Sunday, and I really hope the fans will come out to support us once again so that we can finish the job and advance to the next stage of the qualifiers,” the Southampton midfielder said. 

Stars will hold their final training session this morning. Gates at the match venue will open at 11am tomorrow, and tickets will be sold outside the venue. VIP tickets will go for Sh500, while the terrace tickets will retail at Sh100.