The Belgian was speaking after conducting training on Wednesday at Nyayo National Stadium with AC Ajaccio forward Dennis Oliech the only professional to join Al Taawon defender David Ochieng in the team.
“I’m not in a good mood since I expected to have full house by today since most of the leagues in Europe are over and we had notified them a month before we reported to camp. This has affected my preparation but I will work with the players that I have at the moment if they come well and good,” the vexed Belgian tactician thundered.
The foreign based players who include English Premier League side Southampton midfielder and team captain, Victor Wanyama, his elder brother who features for Serie A side Inter Milan, Macdonald Mariga are the notable absentees.
Oman based Jamal Mohammed, KF Tirana midfielder Francis Kahata, MC Alger winger Edwin Lavatsa, Belgian based Johanna Omolo and David Gateri who plies his trade in South Africa are others yet to show up.
Thika United defender Vincent Omumbo is the latest call up replacing Hillary Otieno from lower Division Kariobangi Sharks who fell sick with Injured Sofapaka custodian Duncan Ochieng also training lightly.
“I saw Omumbo playing against AFC Leopards on Sunday where he performed well and his consistency in Under 20. We need to utilize him for the future competitions so we had to bring him in and see what he can do.
“Duncan is our player and this is the only way to show him we care about his career because he has played for the national team for a very long time, we want to help him recover quickly and gain fitness,” the coach added.
Amrouche called upon his charges to give their all since he expects a tough encounter because the Islanders will come boosted by the 1-1 draw they settled in a friendly match against 2013 Afcon finalist Burkina Faso unlike his side that has been untested since they won the GOtv Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup last December.
“There is no small team nowadays anyone can surprise so our focus is to prepare well for Sunday’s match and if we
win both legs then we will think about our next opponent since our main target is to qualify for Afcon.”
Oliech called upon his colleagues not to underrate their opponents.
“We don’t now much about them but we just need a win so that we can progress to the next round. We have a good squad so if we focus and work hard everything will work out,” the former skipper added.
Kenya will face the winner of the Liberia vs Lesotho preliminary if they overcome Comoros over two legs and should they progress further, a place in Group C of the final pool qualifiers featuring Burkina Faso, Gabon and Angola await.
Read more here Capital Sports