Harambee Stars has suffered a major blow ahead of the World Cup/ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tunisia with news that top striker Denis Oliech is injured. News of Oliech’s injury could not have come at a worst time for coach Antoine Hey as he will also be missing first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

Oliech, who plays for French Ligue 1 side Auxerre sustained a thigh injury while playing for his club at the weekend. Speaking from Auxerre yesterday, Oliech said he would be out for at least one month effectively knocking him out of the crucial fixture against Tunisia in Nairobi on March 28. "I saw the doctor yesterday (Monday) in Paris and his opinion is that this injury might take one month to heal. I don’t think I will be in good shape to play for Harambee Stars," he said.

The striker said he could not train at the moment owing to the injury meaning he will have at least another month to be fit for the next qualifier against Nigeria in June. "I have to do physiotherapy sessions in the morning and evening when my team-mates go for training. Another review of the injury will be done after two weeks to see how fast it’s healing," he added. Oliech said he played just a few minutes of the second half match against Toulouse at the weekend due to the thigh injury.

Oliech is Kenya's top scorer having scored three goals against Guinea and one against Zimbabwe in the qualifiers, which gives Hey food for thought ahead of the crucial qualifier. The result of the Tunisia encounter will be crucial for Hey in trying to build confidence with the fans and he would have been happy to have the top striker take on the Carthage Eagles. Last month, Oliech had threatened not to play for Harambee Stars unless sacked coach Francis Kimanzi was reinstated. The striker, however, seem to have had a change of heart and has not questioned his selection in the current provisional squad picked to face Tunisia.

In the absence of Oliech, Hey will now look up to Tanzania-based Boniface Ambani who has been in free-scoring form for his club Yanga, Bernard Mwalala (Yanga), Patrick Oboya (Said Most, Czech Republic) and Allan Wanga (Petro Atletico, Angola). The team has always had a problem scoring without Oliech, who has been consistent in all international campaigns. Stars home based players started training at Kasarani on Monday.

By Gilbert Wandera

Source: The Stanard