By Robin Toskin

For the second time in a row, Harambee Stars will miss the Fifa international friendlies window with their key opponents in the last round of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup, Nigeria and Tunisia, in action on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles play Jamaica, while the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, who will come calling in Nairobi on March 28, face off with the Netherlands.

The last time such a window was open in November, the two teams and Mozambique, the other team in Group 2 of the qualifiers alongside Kenya, made the most of it.

On Monday, Football Kenya Limited (FKL) CEO, Sammy Obingo, told FeverPitch that a proposed trip to face Colombia was too expensive for the organisation.

“We have no friendly for Stars because FKL could not afford the Sh4million it would have cost to take the team,” Obingo said.

He explained the matter of friendlies was not an issue since the organisation had arranged a fixture against Malawi during the last Fifa window last year but former coach, Francis Kimanzi declined to name a team.

But even as the proposed friendly with the South American country fell through, Harambee Stars are without a coach.

FKL had previously told caretaker coach, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla they would discuss a job offer with him after the Egypt friendly.

However, in a sudden turn of events, the group recognised by world football governing body, Fifa, have hinted they would give back the job to Kimanzi.

Apology demanded

A meeting called by the FKL top brass on Saturday to discuss whether Kimanzi should be reinstated, following a public outcry over his unceremonious sacking last month, resolved to have the former coach apologise for his alleged indiscipline.

But Obingo’s insistent reference to Kimanzi’s refusal to name a team for past matches raises serious doubts as to whether FKL would reinstate him especially after the Mathare United coach earlier said he had no apologies to make.

Ogolla, the Kenyan Premier League side, Sofapaka assistant coach, has not heard a word from FKL.

“They (FKL) were supposed to have a meeting over the weekend after which they would communicate with me. They had also given me something to think over and I will talk to them in the course of the week,” Ogolla said.

Crippling impasse

Harambee Stars’ problems are further compounded by a lack of progress in the talks between Fifa and the Government of the impasse created by the warring football officials. Last week Fifa’s legal team met the Government together with FKL and Kenya Football Federation to resolve the row.