Marvin Nabwire breaks silence on friendly that earned him a Harambee Stars call up

Kenya Police FC midfielder Marvin Nabwire says he was not out “to prove a point” on the day he ended up earning a call-up to the Harambee Stars squad that will feature in next month’s 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

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In a classic turnaround of fate, Nabwire on Tuesday, 15 July, forced Kenya’s head coach Benni McCarthy to reverse his 13-day decision of locking out the midfielder from his provisional squad.

Having initially batted off question marks on his team selection, McCarthy was forced to hit a rare reverse button, calling up Nabwire for the first time since he took over the reins at Harambee Stars.

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Behind the call-up was a performance too hard to resist from Nabwire, who turned up for a friendly with Team Sharks Family, and laid an exhibition against McCarthy’s then-provisional squad.

Speaking on how the events unfolded, Nabwire, who scored seven goals for Kenya Police last season, said: “I did not come to prove a point in that friendly. I just played my game, and maybe he [McCarthy] was impressed with how I performed.”

On how the call-up came, the former AFC Leopards man said he had already left the grounds to resume pre-season training with Kenya Police FC, when he received a strange call.

“After I had left, I received a call from the Team Manager telling me I was supposed to join the national team camp,” he said.

For a man whom many believed should have made the team after all, there was no room for delay.

“I was ready,” Nabwire said. “I just did the needful and heeded the call. As a player, I needed to be ready for anything, and I was.”

To illustrate his readiness, Nabwire said he did not break camp after the season and kept fit all along the short break.

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“I felt something would happen and maybe it's by luck that it did,” the former Kenya U23 player said.

On having any reservations about having initially missed the team, he said: "On one side, I felt I should have been there, but on the other, most players had good seasons, and whoever was called up deserved the chance."