Flashback: When Paul Were and Kevin Omondi were booted from Harambee Stars for sneaking ladies to team hotel

FOOTBALL Flashback: When Paul Were and Kevin Omondi were booted from Harambee Stars for sneaking ladies to team hotel

Mark Kinyanjui 08:09 - 22.03.2024

Abud Omar and Erick Johana Omondi were sent packing by Engin Firat after fighting in the team hotel, but it is not the first time Harambee Stars players have been sent home for indiscipline.

The Kenyan football scene was saddened on Thursday when reports surfaced, claiming Abud Omar and Eric Johana Omondi were sent packing by Harambee Stars boss Engin Firat after fighting in the team hotel on Wednesday night, just hours before the side jetted out to Malawi.

Firat opted to send them away in efforts to instill discipline and send a message that violence of any kind would not be tolerated in camp.

During his press conference, he had made it clear that the reason he did not call up Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo was due to a lack of discipline after the player had 'lied' that he was sick only to be spotted playing for and scoring for his club in a friendly match.

However, it is not the first time players have been sent away from Harambee Stars camp for gross misconduct.

In 2012, the federation validated the expulsion of Paul Were and Kevin Omondi from their CECAFA camp in Uganda, pledging further disciplinary measures against the former AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia forwards respectively.

After beating South Sudan 2-0, they received massive paydays of approximately Ksh290,000 in winning allowances.

The two were reported to be so excited, that they stormed the streets and went on a merry-making spree with ladies whom they sneaked back to the hotel.

A representative from the federation said, “We have indefinitely suspended the two players from the national team and we are going to punish them some more in their home club football as well so that it can act as a lesson to the rest.”

The then head coach, James Nandwa was saddened by their behavior, he decided the players would not be receiving any allowances until after the tournament.

“We have also decided that we will be paying our players, allowances, once they are back in the country to avoid such disgraceful incidents,” the visibly disappointed coach added.

Disgraced, both players had no option but to apologise to the entire nation, before FKF were persuaded into recalling them given CECAFA rules prohibited teams from calling up different players once the final squad of 20 initial players was submitted.

“Having named the two in a list of 20 players before the tournament, there is no way we can replace them according to the tournament rules, and with selected injuries in the team, they would certainly be a boost to the side. 

“They had apologized to the entire nation for their mistakes and will be keen to steer the national team to glory,” read part of the statement released by FKF.

It remains to be seen whether there will be a way back for Johana and Omar, two of the most experienced players in the camp.

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