Harambee Stars midfielder reveals impact of Kenyan support on English club

Harambee Stars midfielder Zech Obiero has praised the Kenyan fanbase for giving him and his club, Tranmere Rovers, a boost, even as they navigate a tough season in English League Two.

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Obiero, son of a Kenyan father, was on the receiving end of a wave of support from Kenyans online, following his loan move to Tranmere on Monday, 2 February.

The 21-year-old, who on Friday, 13 March landed his first call-up to Kenya’s senior national football team, generated massive interest from Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter), with club posts involving him fetching heavy engagement, and messages of support.

Obiero, speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Fleetwood on Saturday, 14 March, spoke of the impact of the online support from Kenyans, and how it helped him settle into new surroundings.

“Kenyans love football, so anywhere a Kenyan goes in England, especially, they are going to support them,” Obiero, whose parent club is League One side Leyton Orient, told the club media on Friday.

Referencing his time back in Kenya with the Under 20s last year, Obiero said that while “the scale” of support was not what he expected, it was not a surprise to see Kenyans showing their love for football.

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“I also saw a lot of support back home, obviously I was with the Under 20s,” Obiero spoke of his short stint with the Rising Stars as they prepared for their maiden appearance at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

©FKF Media

“When I went out there, they showed a lot of love, and that is what Kenya is all about: showing love and supporting. They are crazy about football over there, so there was no surprise to see it [support] really.”

Obiero, despite his club’s struggles in the division - where they sit just seven points above the relegation zone - has settled in quite seamlessly, scoring twice in the seven matches.

Asked whether the support from Kenyans translated to his performances on the pitch, the Tottenham Hotspur's youth academy product said: “Yeah, of course. Obviously, it was a pleasure and an honour to represent my country with the U20s, and to see that the support has even grown on a major scale now; they are flooding on Twitter.

It [support] really helped me; it gave me that boost. To the fans here as well, when I came, they really jumped on the bandwagon of the Kenyan fans, and really welcomed them too. There is a lot of love around here, and I really hope I can reciprocate on the pitch.”

Amidst the fan-loving, Tranmere finds itself in the thick of a relegation fight.

On Tuesday, 10 March, the club announced the appointment of a new manager - Pete Wild - who has been tasked with stopping a slide that has seen the side lose 11 of their last 12 matches.

Leaning on the positivity Kenyan fans have created since his mid-season acquisition, Obiero said it was a welcome distraction to local fans, who have demanded to see their team win more often.

“We need the fans, they are everything,” Obiero said. “Of course, we got to play and perform, but if the fans are not behind us, it is hard to get going at times, because they are our 12th man.

They are the ones that really help us during the game. So to see the support, and giving them something to look forward to, in terms we got the Kenyans now, and there is something more - creates a buzz around the place. Hopefully that can continue.”

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