Harambee Stars, Kenya’s national football team, is set to play a friendly match against the Iranian national team on 28 March 2023. Striker Benson Omalla’s last-minute chop from the squad has not been received well by football enthusiasts.
“Welcome to Kenya where the leading top scorer in the running league is not on the national team sheet,” a fans said.
“Shida ya Kenya kila mtu ni coach.” – “In Kenya, the problem is that everyone is a coach,” another fan commented.
The Chepkoilel Derby in the FKF Women‘s Cup at the University of Eldoret
This is the first international assignment for Kenya’s national football team since its suspension by FIFA was lifted. The Football Kenya Federation has made it clear that they want to see the progress of the national football team. They secured the friendly match after Burundi pulled out of the initial scheduled friendly with the Kenyan national team.
Benson Omalla is currently the leading goal scorer in the Kenyan Premier League followed closely by Elvis Rupia who managed to squeeze through to the last squad of 24 players that is set to play Albania.
“I would exclude him if he is injured. That’s the only reason that I would not include him in the travelling pack. Otherwise, kila la kheri vijana,” a football fan commented.
The Chepkoilel Derby in the FKF Women‘s Cup at the University of Eldoret
Benson Omalla had a short stint in the Swedish top division side, FC Linkoping City, after a successful trial in 2021. He returned to the Kenya Premier League less than a year after signing the contract with the Swedish club. Benson was played as a right-back while in Sweden which prompted his return.
It is alleged that he is on the radar of several foreign clubs. PSL clubs have been mentioned severally as one of the clubs which want Benson Omalla to sign a deal with them.
Omalla gained recognition while featuring Kisumu-based Manyatta United in the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom Tournament in 2019. He emerged as Nyanza region’s top scorer as well as the national top scorer in the tournament. The striker is an alumnus of Kisumu Day High School and has previously played for Western Stima in the Kenya Premier League.
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Omalla is currently tied to Gor Mahia FC in the Kenya Premier League and has won several accolades in the club. He became the youngest player to win the famous Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) player of the month in December 2019.
The last batch of payers to be chopped off from the Harambee Stars squad alongside Benson Omalla are Collins Shichenje (AIK, Sweden) Andrew Juma(Bandari FC), Mohamed Siraj (Bandari FC), and Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz)
Harambee Stars Final Squad for the friendly march is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police), Ian Otieno (Zesco), Bryne Odhiambo (KCB).
Defenders:
Joseph Okumu (Gent), Brian Mandela (Sundowns), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela), Eric Ouma (AIK), David Ochieng (Mathare United), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), Abud Omar (Kenya Police).
Midfielders:
Amos Nondi (Ararat), Richard Odada (Philadelphia Union), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Kenneth Muguna (Azam), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Duke Abuya (Kenya Police), Wilkims Ochieng (FC Koper), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards).
Strikers:
Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police), Alfred Scriven (IL Hodd), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail).
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