Mathare United defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng was recalled to the national team Harambee Stars to provide support for KAA Gent’s Josepeh Okumu.According to a source in the team, the Gent defender needs an experienced player alongside him.“From our experience, Okumu is very nervous when playing alongside inexperienced players but when he is paired alongside ‘Cheche’ or Brian Mandela, he has proven to do very well and is more stable. That is why the coach apart from recalling ‘Cheche’ also called up Mandela. They are our most experienced defenders at the moment and one of them will partner Okumu,” said the source.The source also believes that the team that the call-up of Denmark under-23 defender Daniel Anyembe has solved a major problem at the back. Anyembe plays for Viborg of Denmark and is one of the new players called up to Harambee Stars. “In Anyembe we have a permanent solution on the flanks where the team has struggled for sometime. The fact that he has played for Denmark at that level makes him a top quality player.” Apart from Anyembe another player who was called up to the team and has never featured for Harambee Stars before is Norway based Alfred Scriven.25-year old Kenyan-Norwegian Alfred Scriven has been included in Harambee Stars’ provisional squad for the international friendly against Iran set for 28th March 2023 in Tehran The center-forward plays for Norwegian second-tier side Ill Hord #StarsAbroad pic.twitter.com/7pL1Uf3cUp— Jeff Kinyanjui (@_JeffKinyanjui) March 15, 2023 The two are among five players who have never played for Kenya that Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has identified as he begins to rebuild the squad. Cheche delighted after Harambee Stars call upThe March 28 friendly against Iran is the first match for Harambee Stars in 500 days as the country was suspended by world football governing body FIFA in 2021. Initially, Stars were scheduled to play Burundi but the ‘Swallows’ pulled out at the last minute instead opting to play Indonesia away on the same day. Stars are not expected to play any qualifier matches until next year when they will begin to take part in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
