Kenyan Striker Dennis Oliech Dropped For Tunisia Clash

Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech has been quietly dropped from the national team ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Tunisia. The news emerged only yesterday when the striker said that his club has not received a letter requesting his release a day after the team had left for Tunis.

Oliech told The Standard: "I cannot make it for the Tunisia match, because Football Kenya has not sent a letter to my club requesting for my release."

“Auxerre have said it is too late now and they cannot release me to honour the game," he added.

The striker is now scheduled to travel with his club to Switzerland tomorrow afternoon for a friendly match. The decision by coach Antoine Hey seems to have caught Football Kenya and other officials by surprise, as none of them were aware it was happening.

Football Kenya chairman Mohammed Hatimy said: "The issue of writing release letters to foreign clubs is a matter for the secretariat and technical bench. I have not been around and cannot say for sure whether the letter was sent."

Harambee Stars team manager Edward Oduor was equally in the dark about the development. Oduor, who joins the team in Tunisia on Wednesday, said the coach was solely responsible for deciding who gets called-up for Sunday’s clash.

"I personally was not in camp when the coach announced his final squad, and if Oliech’s club has not received a letter requesting for his release, then it means he is not in our plans," he said.

Apart from the frosty relationship with Hey, Oliech’s form has also dipped of late, both for his French club and the national team.

James Momanyi, Goal.com