Erick 'Marcelo' Ouma opens up on his new role at Harambee Stars
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 02.06.26. | 19:47
After over one year out of the national team set up, Ouma was called up by head coach Benni McCarthy in the latest Harambee Stars squad that is preparing for back-to-back matches against Lesotho
After a 10-month debilitating injury, Harambee Stars defender Eric 'Marcelo' Ouma has opened up on his new role at the Kenya men's national football team following his latest call-up.
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The former Gor Mahia defender has been out of action since August 2025 due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered during a training session with his Polish club, Raków Częstochowa.
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After over one year out of the national team set up, Ouma was called up by head coach Benni McCarthy in the latest Harambee Stars squad that is preparing for back-to-back matches against Lesotho.
Speaking on the sidelines of Harambee Stars’ last training session at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Monday, 1 June, before departing the country, Ouma, who is currently one of the most experienced members in the team, spoke of his role in handling young and new players.
“It is just to be the role model and to use my experience to show the young players what is needed because 10 years ago, I was like them and I learnt a lot along the way, so it is just for me to show them the way,” said Ouma.
“Sometimes it is difficult for a young player to integrate into the squad, and so we have to be our brother's keeper,” he added.
The Green Commandos alumnus also went ahead to state the importance of the team gelling together as well as the upcoming matches ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
“We are building a team that will be ready to compete for AFCON at home, and so the matches will help us in gauging ourselves,” he added.
Ouma also took time to express his gratitude after shaking off the injury and making a comeback to Harambee Stars since his last appearance on 23 March 2025.
“It feels good to be back. It has been a long time since I got injured. I took about nine months on the sidelines, which is very unusual for me, but I feel this is now the right time to be back.”
In the absence of skipper Michael Olunga and his assistant Joseph Okumu through injury, Ouma is expected to captain the team in the friendlies set for Thursday, 4 and Sunday, 7 June at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.