By Robin Toskin
The team, with a 2-1 advantage over Kenya, arrived at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday at 9.30pm, but were held up until
Tuesday at 1.30pm.
Somalia Football Association Secretary-General, Abdiqaui
Said Arab, blamed the immigration hitch on the local counterparts.
"We sent a list of players and officials in advance to
the Kenyan Federation, but are surprised it was only presented today to the
immigration officials here.
"It doesn’t make sense because we have been
communicating with the KFF Secretary-General and he assured us everything was
well," Arab said.
No official from the federation was at hand to receive the
Somali contingent of 18 players and five officials.
"It is surprising that we are getting this kind of
reception and yet we received Kenyans well in Djibouti," Arab said.
The Fifa-backed KFF Secretary-General, Sammy Obingo, could
not be reached as he was said to be busy sorting out allowances for the
under-17 team.
On Monday, the youngsters vowed not to leave the Kasarani
base unless their allowances were paid. The Government, however, undertook to
pay.
Meanwhile, the under-20 national team play Dagoretti Santos
Wednesday afternoon in their second build-up match ahead of Saturday’s battle
with Somalia.
The team hit Premier League champions, Tusker, 4-1 on Monday
at Ruaraka. Coach Leonard Saleh said today’s match, against a Nation-wide side,
will help him pick a team for the return leg tie of the CAF Youth Cup
championship.
"They boys are confident after thrashing Tusker. We
need another build-up tie before Saturday," he said at the Kasarani training
camp yesterday morning.
However, Saleh is concerned about four players who sustained
injuries against Tusker. The four — Havana Maloba, Maurice Odhiambo, Stephen
Waruru and Alphonce Musa — did not train.
"I was forced to rest them today, but I am confident
they will recover before the match," he said. Saleh said his team was
confident of over-turning the 1-2 away loss to Somalia two weeks ago.
"We played the first leg under hours after arrival in
Djibouti," said Saleh. Now, he said, everything was in their favour and
his side should go through to the second round of the tournament.
"We were a bit demoralised after the under-17 side were
bundled out by Rwanda at the weekend, but we have put it behind us," said
the coach.
Saleh is expected to pick his starting line-up on Friday for the Nyayo National Stadium match.
Source: Standard, April 29, 2008