Full house for Harambee Stars as Omurwa arrives in team camp

Harambee Stars defender Johnstone Omurwa - the only team member who hadn’t arrived in the national team camp in Turkey - on Friday 13 October joined up with the rest of the squad to make it a full house for head coach Engin Firat.

The center-back, who was expected to link up with the Harambee Stars players that left to Turkey on 9 October later this week, had earlier been reported to have undergone scans last Monday, and was among the starters for his club - CF Estrela da Amadora - as they played out to a 1-0 win over Casa Pia in Sunday’s Primeira Liga match-up.

The 2019 debutant for the national team last played for Harambee Stars in Kenya’s 2-1 win over Qatar in September, and was not made available for the team’s second friendly fixture against South Sudan days later after his services were recalled by his Portuguese club.

His arrival means he has a couple of days to work with his teammates before Kenya plays its only friendly against Russia at Antalya on Monday 16 October.

The other center-backs called up in the squad include; Brian Mandela, Joseph Stanley Okumu and Collins Sichenje.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s midfielder Anthony Akumu spoke of the need for all Kenyans to rally behind the national team saying: “Our plea to the fans is for them to continue supporting us. They are Kenyans and this is their team. For us as players, we will keep doing our best. Results are a work of planning and we will do what we can against Russia.”

Muguna declares Harambee Stars ready for Russia

The fixture against the 39th ranked team in the world will also act as the last for the team before they begin their quest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that begin next month.

Kenya has been placed in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.