Kenya Coach Boycotts Training

Kenya's ongoing football crisis took a turn for the worse on Monday when head coach Antoine Hey cancelled the team morning training session, then stayed away from the evening session in protest. Assistabt coach Twahir Mohammed took charge of the session in his place. Hey is reported to have been unhappy at Kenya football governing body Football Kenya Limited's decision to call up two players without his consent. Mathare United defender Edgar Ochieng and midfielder Jamal Mohammed were directed to report to the camp by the KPL, prompting Hey's protest. Hey is said to have vowed not to coach the team if Ochieng and Mohammed who were out of his plans in near future, are forced into the team by the federation. "We were expected to train in the morning, but Hey called off the training because Ochieng and Mohammed had joined camp. "He also wanted to shelve this afternoon�s session saying he had his list of players and could not allow the two to train, but as a Team Manager contracted by FKL I could only follow my employers� directives and ensure smooth administration in the camp," said Team Manager Edward Oduor. According to Oduor, Ochieng's presence would help bolster the defence, while Mohammed and Ake would fill the void left by Parma�s McDonald Mariga and Sweden based Robert Mambo. Both players have been forced to withdraw with injuries. The federation also over-ruled the coach and recalled striker Dennis Oliech and Denmark-based Emmanuel Ake after the Harambee Stars lost 5-0 to Kuwait in an international friendly last week. FKL second vice chairman Erastus Okul said they were tired of being arm twisted by the coach and vowed to stand by the decision of calling the two players. "If it�s disciplining a player, does it mean you discipline him for life and yet the country needs him. As patriotic Kenyans we have decided to include the said players with a view of winning the last qualifiers at all costs," said Okul.