Kenya Football .:. Story - Harambee Stars Break Camp

HARAMBEE Stars training camp at Kasarani broke off after Football Kenya Limited (FKL) received official communication from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about their opponents withdrawal in the Africa Nations Championship qualifier (CHAN).

FKL Vice Chairman Erastus Okul confirmed the team will resume training on May 3rd for the same tournament.Stars will play against the winner between Uganda and Burundi in the second round.

Okul said there was no cause for alarm adding that they will meet with the teams technical bench for the way forward.Head coach Twahir Muhiddin disclosed he had released the players to join their respective clubs until they get further communication.

"We are set to meet FKL officials for the way forward and discuss our future programmes.It';s unfortunate we are breaking up when the players had started picking up and gelling in training. The players who have been in camp had shown serious commitment by observing punctuality.

The Ethiopians FA announced the withdrawal of the team popularly known as Walya Antelopes from the tournament citing lack of funds .

But the local tactician has challenged Stars locally-based players not to relent but continue training hard with their respective clubs.Above all, players fitness will gift each individual their way into his 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifying team.

“I have been impressed generally by all the players. This is the team to maintain even in future tournaments. The CHAN tournament will present each with a chance of breaking into the senior team. It’s a challenge for all,” Twahir said.

Kenya was handed a tricky group for 2012 tournament after being placed in Group 10, alongside their former 2010 World Cup qualifying opponents Angola, regional rivals Uganda Cranes and Guinea-Bissau.

Forty-four teams were drawn into 11 groups of four teams each and will play each other on a round-robin basis. The winners of each group will qualify for the finals as well as the three best second-placed teams.

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon qualify automatically for the tournament.

Harambee Stars performance has been very dismal losing virtually all their continental matches including the December regional senior Challenge Cup held in Kenya.

Consequently, Okul has appealed to Kenyans to give FKL support maintaining that their aim has always remained to improve the standard of football.He said wrangles will not help and called upon football fans and stakeholders to reject being involved in football politics and wrangles.

The former Gor Mahia Chairman further reiterated that for football to improve in the country, appointment of referee must be handled by FKL but not Kenya Premier League (KPL).

"We have no quarrel with KPL but rules must be followed. The standard of refereeing has drastically gone down with clubs complaining of biased officiating.The only way to stamp out this vice is for KPL to relegate the appointment of referees to a National soccer body which is FKL,” said Okul.

Ends.