Omwenga delighted at national team call up after four-year hiatus

Nairobi City Stars left back Bolton Omwenga has expressed his delight after getting included in the national team squad that has been called up to camp ahead of the qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup where Kenya is pooled in group E alongside Uganda, Rwanda and Mali.

After a four year absence from the Harambee Stars set up, Omwenga was named as one of the 36 players called to the squad by head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee for the assignments that kick off on Thursday 2 September 2021 with a home tie against Uganda and then an away match to Rwanda just three days later.

Despite it not being clear if the Harambee Stars will or will not take part in the upcoming qualifiers owing to the Adel Amrouche firing saga, the left back made his feelings known about earning the call once again as the team is scheduled to enter camp on Tuesday.

“It feels good to be recalled to the national team. I thank the Nairobi City Stars Technical bench, my teammates for making it happen. I am looking forward to playing for Kenya once again and I will keep working hard to get more call-ups,” the defender is quoted on his club’s website.

Bolton last featured for the national team in June 2018 at the four-nations InterContinental Cup held in India where the hosts finished in first place leaving Kenya to settle for silver.

At the tournament he featured in games against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand and twice against hosts India. Prior to that tournament, Bolton had featured in games against Malawi and Swaziland in Apr 2017 and May 2018, respectively.

In March 2018, he featured in two friendly games – with Kenya U23 – against home team Uzbekistan at the Istiqlal Stadium.

With the list being a provisional one, Bolton will have to justify his selection as Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma who turns for Swedish top tier side AIK is also in the squad and most likely to get the nod. Bandari’s Siraj Mohammed is the other left back competing to be in the final squad.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno (Zesco United, Zambia), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya), Joseph Okoth (KCB, Kenya), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Brandon Obiero (Kariobangi Sharks)

Defenders: Joseph Okumu (KAA Gent, Belgium), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Eugene Asike (Tusker, Kenya), Nashon Alembi (KCB, Kenya), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Andrew Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Siraj Mohammed (Bandari, Kenya), Clyde Senaji (AFC Leopards, ), Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Bolton Omwenga (Nairobi City Stars, Kenya), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Baraka Badi (KCB, Kenya)

Midfielders: Richard Odada (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Duncan Otieno (Lusaka Warriors, Zambia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Kevin Kimani (Wazito, Kenya), Patillah Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Enock Momanyi (FC Talanta, Kenya), Jackson Macharia (Tusker, Kenya), Eric Johanna (Jonkopings Sondra IF, Sweden) Boniface Muchiri (Tusker, Kenya), Abdalla Hassan (Bandari, Kenya)

Forwards: Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Morocco), Cliffton Miheso (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Erick Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Additional reporting by Nairobi City Stars