Mariga out with injury as Kimanzi lands in Tunisia

Kenyan and Parma midfielder McDonald Mariga is facing several months out through injury. The Italian club has confirmed Mariga ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in their 2-0 league win over Novara on Wednesday.

However, Parma has not indicated how long Mariga will be out of action. But the injury effectively rules the 25-year-old, on loan at Parma from Inter Milan, out for the rest of the season.

Mariga who recently made headline news when he boycotted national duty over air ticket refunds feud with Football Kenya Federation (FKF), is also unlikely to feature for Kenya in their 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June.

Kenya will play the return leg match against Togo on the weekend of 15-17 June with a slight 2-1 cushion from the first leg.

Kenya is also due to play Malawi, Namibia and Nigeria in Group F of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers beginning June.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars Head Coach Francis Kimanzi arrived in Tunis early on Friday morning ahead of Saturdays’’ Women’s Under-20 World Cup between Kenya and hosts Tunisia.

His arrival will greatly boost morale in the team, which since arriving in the Tunisian capital has held two training sessions.

Kimanzi joins a high-powered delegation of Kenyan football officials already in Tunisia.

According to the team’s Head of Delegation, Hussein Terry, the Harambee Starlets are upbeat and ready to take on the Carthage Eaglets who beat them 2-1 in Nairobi two weeks ago. Kick off for the match is scheduled for 6pm Kenyan time.

Nesta Kizito

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