Nairobi — The abruptly organised friendly between Harambee Stars and Kuwait in Cairo scheduled for Wednesday has landed in problems even before the team flies out. Kenyan Premier League coaches saying they will not release their players.

Football Kenya Limited senior vice chairman Titus Kasuve on Tuesday announced that the company had accepted an invitation to play Kuwait. The Stars are currently in residential training at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and are set to fly out on Sunday.

"It will interrupt our second last match which is an important match for us. It is bad timing and I don't think I will release my players. We will have to discuss this with the Harambee Stars management," Robert Matano, coach of league leaders Sofapaka said.

Need four points

The trailblazing Sofapaka have four players in the national team, goalkeeper Wilson Oburu, midfielder James Situma and forwards John Baraza and Abdi Simba. They are on track to win their maiden league title in their first appearance at this level, needing just four points from their last three matches to make it.

Title hopefuls Tusker have also raised concerned about the unplanned friendly saying no consultations were done. "We were not aware of this friendly. We only released our players for national team training this week and want them for our matches. This is a crucial time in the league and we need all our players for preparations. This has to be discussed before we allow our players to travel," Tusker coach James Nandwa said.

Tusker, who have players Joakim Atudo, Jerry Santos and Fred Ajwang in the national team, are currently third in the KPL table with a mathematically realistic chance of clinching the league title.

Crucial league stage

"Some results have not gone our way but we just have to keep working. We still have hope and will continue to battle until the last match and we need good preparations," Nandwa said. Thika United coach Abdallah Juma was most forthright in the unscheduled friendly vowing not to release any of his players for the national assignment.

"I strictly want (David) Okello for the next three matches. I cannot release him. I am not going to accept the friendly. I need my players for the remaining three games. He (Antoine Hey) is over training the players, twice everyday. I will not allow my players to travel," Juma said.

Thika are currently placed fifth and are gunning for a top three finish. Juma questioned the rational of the friendly saying it was of little help to Harambee Stars. "The team that will travel is not the same team that will play in the World Cup qualifiers so what is the point of having a friendly at this crucial stage in the league?" he posed.

Following the announcement by KPL two weeks ago to suspend cooperation with FKL, the looming stand-off over the players is once again likely to affect Harambee Stars' World Cup preparations.