Harambee Stars winger trains with Real Sociedad first team as club battle injuries

Harambee Stars winger Job Ochieng trained with Real Sociedad’s first team on Wednesday, 12 November, according to Spanish outlet Noticias de Gipuzkoa.

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Ochieng returned to full training just days after pulling out of the national team squad for the November international friendlies, with the Harambee Stars technical bench citing a minor “niggle.”

According to the Spanish publication, Ochieng was unexpectedly spotted at Zubieta, where Real Sociedad held their second-to-last training session of the international break.

Head coach Imanol Alguacil had called up several academy players to help reinforce a heavily depleted squad.

La Real are currently without several first-team regulars due to injuries and international duty.

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Ander Barrenetxea, Yangel Herrera, and Jon Aramburu trained individually as part of their rehabilitation programs, while Jon Karrikaburu, Ibrahima Camara, and Jon Martin also remained sidelined, leaving Alguacil short on numbers.

As a result, a large group of players from Real Sociedad B (Sanse), including Unai Arana, Aitor Fraga, Peru Rodríguez, Jon Mariezkurrena, Iñaki Garro, Alex Beitia, Alberto Dadie, Bryan Fiabema, Dani Díaz, Ekain Azkune, and Eneko Astigarraga, were drafted into first-team training.

Among them was Ochieng, whose presence raised eyebrows given his earlier withdrawal from Kenya’s travelling party to Turkey.

The forward had initially been named in Benni McCarthy’s squad for friendly matches against Equatorial Guinea and Senegal.

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However, assistant coach Vasil Manousakis later confirmed that Ochieng, along with Adam Wilson, Manzur Okwaro, Timothy Ouma, and Vincent Harper, would miss the matches due to “niggles” and the “congestion of domestic league fixtures.”

His quick return to full training in Spain suggests the issue may have been minor, though neither Real Sociedad nor the Harambee Stars technical bench has provided further clarification.

The timing reflects a growing trend among foreign-based Kenyan players who are increasingly cautious with injuries during the crowded European calendar.

With Real Sociedad B deep into their league schedule, Ochieng’s availability will be a welcome boost for a side also navigating its own injury concerns.

Harambee Stars, meanwhile, felt the absence of several key players in their 1–0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in Antalya on Friday.