Photo Credit - Football Kenya Federation.
Kenya national team striker Michael Olunga has sung the praise of new head coach Benni McCarthy for giving young players an opportunity to train with Harambee Stars in readiness for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Harambee Stars will continue with their quest to qualify from Group F when they travel to face Gambia on Thursday in Ivory Coast before returning home to host Gabon at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
“It is very positive to see young players making it to the final squad, and we have a crop of young players, especially, those, who are playing in the local league, and it is good to see that they are being integrated into the senior team at an early stage, at an early level, it is really very important for them,” said Olunga.
“Also not forgetting this year Kenya will host CHAN, so we need each and every player to be tested at the high level of the national team because sometimes the club level and the national team, they are two different setups that this player they need to have a feel and you know, it is a stage where most of them they come and need to harden themselves, and they need to grow.”
Olunga added: It is very positive to see the coach made quite all-inclusive team, especially the provisional team and now to the final squad, even those, that didn’t manage to make it to the final squad, it is an open gate to everybody.
“They should not give up, but they should just go and continue working hard at their club level and hopefully they will be rewarded in the next call-up or even in the final squad for the next assignment.”
Kenya are currently siting fourth in the group with five points, five less leaders Ivory Coast.
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