On Tuesday, the South African legend announced a squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Madagascar and Comoros. The friendlies set for the November FIFA international break will be played in Antalya, Turkey.
Looking at McCarthy’s shortlist, which omitted striker Michael Olunga, no AFC Leopards player made it to the team. AFC Leopards is Kenya’s third most successful club behind Tusker FC (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (21 titles), the latter with whom they regularly contest the Mashemeji derby.
In the squad, Gor Mahia, who are AFC Leopards rivals, provided five players, namely goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, defenders Sylvester Owino, and Michael Kibwage, midfielders Alpha Onyango, and Austin Odhiambo.
Meanwhile, Tusker provided one player in goalkeeper Brian Opondo, the same number as FKF Premier League side Kenya Police FC, who gave Marvin Nabwire. Promoted side Nairobi United, who qualified for the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, gave two players – defender Manzur Suleiman, and winger Ovellah Ochieng, who re-joined the national team fold after an extended absence.
Harambee Stars selection criteria raises concerns
The absence of a single AFC Leopards player in the squad to Turkey, and previous ones, has caught the attention of the club’s legend, Reginald Asibwa, who believes the selection should be done across the board.
“When I watch the Kenyan Premier League, it’s difficult to identify any team that is way ahead of the rest in terms of very high-quality top-level players,” Asibwa told Flashscore. “The rate at which AFC Leopards players are being overlooked in the recent past when naming even provisional squads for the national team is indeed wanting.”
He added: “I am not privy to the criteria used, but the process of selecting players raises concerns in terms of the yardstick used. I think if our level of football has gone down or up as a country, I think this should be across the board.”
According to Asibwa, who played for AFC Leopards in the late 1980s, those involved in selecting players for the national team should do it fairly to avoid people raising questions after the list is out.
Asibwa, who played for Harambee Stars during his football journey and currently resides in South London, further wondered why it was possible that when players leave AFC Leopards, they end up getting national team call-ups while representing their new clubs.
“Please, those involved in selection, let it not be the case of witch-hunt, maligning AFC Leopards and/or treating our players unfairly,” explained Asibwa.
“How can one explain when a player leaves AFC Leopards today, tomorrow they’re called to the national team? This isn’t good at all. In fact, I don’t think Kenya has a database containing all statistics regarding performances for all Kenyan players, which could have been the basis for inclusion or omission.”
Asibwa concluded: “Selection based on the beholder without an elaborate criteria can lead to one being biased, which you, the people concerned, need to check.”
After a poor start to the current campaign, AFC Leopards have gone ahead to register two back-to-back wins against KCB and Sofapaka. Ingwe are lying fifth in the 18-team table with nine points from five matches.
Final squad for Turkey trip
Goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), Brian Opondo (Tusker FC).
Defenders: Vincent Harper (Walsall), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Etoile Du Sahel), Michael Kibwage (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Sogndal), Manzur Suleiman (Nairobi United), Baron Ochieng (Zamalek).
Midfielders: Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Lech Poznań), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC), and Austin Odhiambo (Gor Mahia).
Strikers: William Lenkupae (VPS), Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Adam Wilson (New Saints), Aldrine Kibet (Celta Vigo), Ovellah Ochieng (Nairobi United), Jonah Ayunga (ST Mirren), Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger), Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinajoki).
