KOMBE LA DUNIA: Ubelgiji yamwacha nje Origi
Na GEOFFREY ANENE
MKENYA wa kwanza na wa pekee kuwahi kufunga bao katika Kombe la Dunia, Divock Origi hatashiriki makala ya mwaka 2018 mwezi ujao nchini Urusi.
Origi, 23, ambaye babake Mike Okoth alikuwa nyota wa Harambee Stars, ameachwa nje ya kikosi cha Ubelgiji kilichotangazwa na kocha Roberto Martinez, Jumatatu.
Mvamizi huyu wa Liverpool nchini Uingereza, ambaye yuko Wolfsburg nchini Ujerumani kwa mkopo, alifungia Ubelgiji bao lililozamisha Urusi 1-0 katika mechi ya Kundi H nchini Brazil mwaka 2014.
Michy Batshuayi, ambaye alijiunga na Borussia Dortmund nchini Ujerumani kwa mkopo kutoka Chelsea mwezi Januari, ni mmoja wa wachezaji 16 kutoka Uingereza waliojumuishwa na Martinez katika kikosi cha watu 28. Wengine ni Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen na Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Eden Hazard na Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Matz Sels (Newcastle) na Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).
Ubelgiji, ambayo haijawahi kushinda Kombe la Dunia wala Kombe la Bara Ulaya, italimana na mabingwa wa dunia mwaka 1966 Uingereza pamoja na mabingwa wa Afrika mwaka 2004 Tunisia na Panama kutoka Amerika Kaskazini, Kati na Caribbean (CONCACAF).
Timu zitasafiri nchini Urusi na vikosi vya wachezaji 23 pekee. Washiriki 32 wa kindumbwendumbwe hicho wanahitajika kutangaza vikosi vyao vya mwisho kufikia Juni 4. Kombe lenyewe litafanyika Juni 14 hadi Julai 15, 2018.
KIKOSI CHA UBELGIJI:
Makipa – Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels, Koen Casteels;
Mabeki – Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Leander Dendoncker, Laurent Ciman, Christian Kabasele, Vincent Kompany, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen;
Viungo – Yannick Carrasco, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel;
Washambuliaji – Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku