Harambee Stars Coach Reveals Why Captain Michael Olunga Was Left Out as Injuries Pile Up Before Friendlies

Harambee Stars assistant coach Vasili Manousakis has moved to clarify the absence of captain Michael Olunga, revealing that injuries have affected not just the skipper but several key players in the squad.

Harambee Stars will open their international friendlies with a clash against Equatorial Guinea on November 14 at the Emir Complex, a match expected to test the attacking options available in Michael Olunga’s absence.

Four days later, the team will take on African heavyweights Senegal on November 18 at the Mardan Stadium, where squad depth will be even more crucial.

The absence of Michael Olunga and other notable stars has raised concern among fans, adding pressure on the technical bench to find suitable replacements for the two high-profile fixtures.

The Harambee Stars assistant coach explained that several players were dealing with minor fitness concerns and a heavy run of matches at club level, which made it necessary to manage workloads carefully.

He added that the technical bench decided to excuse a few individuals, including Collins Sichenje and captain Michael Olunga, to allow them time to recover properly.

Coach Vasili Manousakis emphasised that the decision was deliberate rather than disciplinary, as the staff felt it was the right moment to ease pressure on those players.

He noted that the gap left by the absentees opened the door for fresh faces, saying the squad has been rejuvenated with promising young talent ready to step up.

“Some of them have niggles, injuries, and congestion of fixtures in their domestic leagues. So we gave some guys a little bit of time off, Collins Sichenje, and of course, Michael Olunga,” the coach told the media on Tuesday.

“That was the thinking, and when you look at those guys, we had to refresh the team, and we have certainly done it with a crop of youngsters.”

Vasili Manousakis said the coaching staff felt it was necessary to inject new energy into the squad, although some adjustments were unavoidable due to numerous fitness problems within the team.

He pointed out that several players, such as Adam Wilson, Job Ochieng, and Manzur Okwaro, were being managed carefully to avoid worsening their conditions.

According to him, the injuries placed the technical bench under pressure, but the situation created opportunities for emerging talent to step in.

He stressed that because the upcoming fixtures are friendly matches, younger players would be able to experience senior international football against elite African sides, with the main goal being to expose them to that level and assess how they adapt.

“We needed to freshen things up a little bit…Some were forced changes because there have been a lot of injuries, a lot of niggles. Adam Wilson, Job Ochieng, and Manzur to protect him,” he added.

“Vincent Harper and Timothy Ouma…when you have a lot of injuries, you’re a little bit on the back foot, but it’s a little bit good with the boys coming.

“This is a friendly, and they will have a chance of playing senior football against some of the best opponents on the continent, so that’s the objective, give them a taste and see how they respond.”

Despite the setbacks, the technical bench remains confident that the squad will rise to the occasion. The upcoming matches will not only test Harambee Stars’ depth, but also provide invaluable experience to the new additions fighting for a permanent place in the team.