Government set to woo all Kenyan footballers born outside the country

Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba says the government is going to create a web that will enable them to identify talented footballers abroad with Kenyan roots with the aim of convincing them to turn out for the national team, Harambee Stars in the near future.

This is part of the government’s plan to have Kenya at the 2030 World Cup. The Sports in earlier interviews said that they are putting measures in place to ensure that the country graces the 2030 World Cup which will be the first time Stars will be featuring in the premier international competition. The cabinet recently approved Kenya’s plans to submit a joint bid alongside other East African Nations for the 2027 African Cup of Nations.

The CS now says Kenya has to have the strongest national team and to achieve this, he wants the best players born in the country identified and in addition, they will be going for other talented players born outside the country who are eligible to play for Stars.

“We are going to create a web…it’s not even a network…to scout players globally and locally. When you look at France, they are called Africa’s number-one team at the World Cup. England is a hub of African talent…Bukayo Saka (England winger), for example, is a Nigerian boy. Breel Embolo who scored for Switzerland against Cameroon is a Cameroonian boy. We are also going to scout for our Kenyan boys wherever they are and bring them back to be part of this renaissance of Kenyan football,” Namwamba told Capital Sports.

Among players with Kenyan roots across the globe is Everton’s Tyler Onyango, Eliot Matazo of Monaco, Jonah Ayunga of St. Mirren who already received a Kenya U23 call-up, George Gitau of Middlesbrough, Micah Obiero of Huddersfield Town among others.

The CS added that the government will involve elite players like Victor Wanyama in reviving football in the country.

“I have made it clear that our elite players should be part of this revival of Kenyan football, not necessarily in a playing capacity. Someone like Wanyama has played in Belgian…he is the only Kenyan to play in the English Premier League, the world’s best league. We want that experience to be brought and shared with our young players,” he said.

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