Indonesia tempt Kenya and Burundi with all expense paid friendlies in Jakarta

Image: FKF

FOOTBALL Indonesia tempt Kenya and Burundi with all expense paid friendlies in Jakarta

Festus Chuma 14:00 - 09.03.2023

There was uproar when Kenya played India and Chinese Taipei in 2018 with another fixture lined up in a war torn Asian country.

Kenya's national team, the Harambee Stars, could play Indonesia in an international friendly later this month, according to reports from Jakarta.

Indonesian online publication Okebola indicates that the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) offered Football Kenya Federation (FKF) an all expense paid friendly match in Jakarta in the upcoming international calendar.

Such arrangement would not be uncommon for the Football Kenya Federation that once consented to a fixture very low ranked Chinese Taipei much to the chagrin of football fans.

The publication also claims that PSSI lined up a friendly against Burundi in Jakarta after Bolivia and Tajikistan declined friendlies against Indonesia.

FKF has already announced two international friendly games against Burundi, which they stated they would play in Nairobi on March 25th and 28th, 2023.

The two friendlies will mark Kenya's international football return since its one-year Fifa ban was lifted in November.

https://twitter.com/257Foot/status/1633046237560684546?s=20

Harambee Stars last played against Rwanda in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which they won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Michael Olunga and Richard Odada.

In February 2022, football's world governing body suspended Kenya, citing government interference after the authorities shut down the organization in 2021 over graft allegations.

The federation was reinstated six months ago but its football Nick Mwendwa remains out of office due to corruption charges facing him.

Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, who took Kenya through the last round of matches for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in November 2021, is expected to name his squad for the friendlies next week.

Kenya is ranked 101st globally, with Lebanon separating them from a place in the top 100, while Indonesia is ranked 173 in the world.