Harambee Stars head coach Sebastien Migne’s provisional squad for the 2019 African Cup of Nations has left Kenyan football fans expressing their opinions at certain choices the Frenchman tactician has made.
Top of the list of complaints was the omission of Zesco United forward Jesse Were as well as defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng from the list. Both players had also not been named in the squad that played Ghana in their last AFCON qualifier.
Migne was asked once again why he overlooked the two, and he said his decision was purely based on what he thought best for the team.
“It’s a choice and it’s always difficult. I need to try to harmonize not the best 23 players in my list but the best group,”
Jesse; Not in today, maybe tomorrow
“For Jesse in 26 call ups he has never scored one goal for the national team. I know he is the best striker in Zambia but we also have the best striker in Kenya in the list. Today he is not in my list but tomorrow he is there. Always the player has the answer; maybe it’s a good message for him,” the tactician stated.
On Ochieng, Migne said he personally called the defender and personally relayed the message he will not be included in the team.
Cheche’s game ‘not enough’ for Kenya
“With Cheche what I saw during the last game with Leopards was not enough for him. For me he was not ready to play in the high level. Were (Paul) showed me that he wants to participate. Also Piston gave me a lot last year and in India when nobody was there but for me he didn’t play enough, he didn’t perform enough with his club,” Migne further stated.
Jesse has hit double digit goals for Zambian Premier League side, Zesco United. In 2017, he scored 18 goals in the league, three in the CAF Champions League and two in the Barclays Cup to bring his season tally to 23.