B. OsanoWhy Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry wants more national team call ups for his players
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 10.11.23. | 20:10
Five Gor Mahia players have been summoned for national duty in the forthcoming international break
Five Gor Mahia players have been summoned for national duty in the forthcoming international break.
Industrious defender Geoffrey Ochieng aka "Simiti" has earned his first Harambee Stars call up ahead of the team's back to back World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Seychelles next week.
Full back Rooney Onyango who debuted in the recent friendly against Russia has also made the cut, while the leading FKF Premier League top scorer Benson Omala is making a return after hue and cry from fans over his previous exclusion.
Rwandan Patrick Sibomana and Uganda Rodgers Mugisha have also been called up for their respective national teams.
Yet, K'Ogalo coach Johnathan McKinstry holds that as the most on form team and defending FKF Premier League champions, he would love to see more of his players don national jerseys.
"We're really pleased obviously for Geoffrey (Ochieng), Rooney (Onyango and Benson (Omala) for getting that opportunity with the Harambee Stars for not just friendly games but competitive games. We know that they are players that can be trusted and relied upon to perform when it's the business. We know that they can do well for Kenya.
"We wish we had more given that for the last two years we've been the form team in the division that we should really have the most players of any Kenya Premier League team in the Harambee Stars squad, but the coach will make his decision, which is fair," the Irishman said.
Despite continuing his fine scoring form from last season, Omala has been missing from the Stars team for the past two international engagements, causing fans uproar.
With coach Engin Firat most trusted scorer and skipper Michael Olunga enduring a goal drought, the overlooking of Omala has been a hot issue.
However, his return is expected to calm nerves ahead of the two games.
"I'm always positive because the decisions are for the coach to make. As for me, my job is to work hard," a happy Omala said following the recent call up.
