‘We have a problem in that department’ - Harambee Stars assistant coach identifies what Kenya badly lacks ahead of CHAN 2024

Harambee Stars players in training. Photo/FKF Media

‘We have a problem in that department’ - Harambee Stars assistant coach identifies what Kenya badly lacks ahead of CHAN 2024

Joel Omotto 12:46 - 16.01.2025

Harambee Stars interim assistant coach John Kamau is hoping that Kenya can quickly solve their problems upfront ahead of the CHAN 2024 tournament.

Harambee Stars interim assistant coach John Kamau is saddened by the lack of prolific strikers in the Kenyan league which he feels could impact their participation in the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).

Harambee Stars have largely relied on captain Michael Olunga for goals in recent years but with the CHAN tournament only featuring players based in local leagues, Kamau is worried that Kenya might have a hard time come August when matches begin unless there is a quick change in fortunes.

The former Posta Rangers coach has singled out Tusker’s Ryan Ogam and Kakamega Homeboyz forward Moses Shumah as the only players who have so far impressed but he feels that is not enough for a tournament of CHAN’s magnitude.

“We saw a good account from Tusker’s Ogam and Shumah from Kakamega Homeboyz but those are the only two strikers that we have,” Kamau said on Wednesday after the CHAN draw that saw Kenya pooled with Morocco, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia in Group A.

“We would also like to have a look at more strikers and then we can be in a position to share notes and see what we have but, in a nutshell, we have a problem in that department.

“If you look at our league, games end 1-0 or 2-1. It is not a high-scoring league, so it gives you an indication of what we have.

“We have a pool of strikers and we are thinking [of] we will get that opportunity now so maybe we have like some other 20 players we would like to get.”

Ogam and Shumah were the strikers used at the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar this month with the former scoring one goal and he is also the FKF Premier League’s leading scorer with 13 goals.

Shumah, meanwhile, has seven in the league and there is also Ulinzi Stars’ Boniface Muchiri who impressed at the Mapinduzi Cup and has seven goals as well in the FKF Premier League.