Mandela to sit out Libya friendly
With just over a week to go before the Harambee Stars travel face Libya in an international friendly match in Tunis, the team has already suffered a big blow with key defender Brian Mandela set to miss the game.
The defender, who turns out for South African second tier outfit Cape Town Santos FC, is reportedly carrying an injury after club duty and his absence for the game scheduled for Wednesday 6 February was confirmed by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Giving the confirmation, federation’s spokesman John Kariuki did not reveal the type of injury the player is carrying as the national team prepares for the friendly match and admitted that he will be sorely missed in the game.
“We will not be able to do with Brian Mandela’s services in the upcoming friendly match against Libya on Wednesday 6 February, the Football Kenya Federation can confirm. We had made a requisition to the player and his club over his availability for the game but he replied to us saying he is injured,” he said.
“To us this is a massive blow because he is one of the senior players in the national team and also well experienced. This being a Fifa recognised game we would really have done with his contribution, but we can only wish him quick recovery and hope he will be available in future.”
