Fast-rising Gor Mahia defender Sylvester Owino says he is ready for the challenge that lies ahead after receiving his maiden Harambee Stars call up.Owino, who was initially missing from the 30-man provisional squad called up by head coach Engin Firat, received a late inclusion, and reported for the team camp that started training on Tuesday ahead of their participation in the Four Nations Tournament scheduled to be held in Mauritius from 11-18 June 2023.Gor Mahia centre back Sylvester Owino has been included in the Harambee Stars team gearing up for the Four Nations tournament in Mauritius pic.twitter.com/XKGdeK3jyV— Meshack Kisenge (@kisengemeshack1) June 6, 2023 Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the former Kakamega Homeboyz player, who played for the U23 national team back in 2021, expressed his delight in being handed the opportunity to prove his worth for the national team.“It is always a privilege to be called to the national team. I am happy I have been given this opportunity to show what I can do on the pitch,” the player told Mozzart Sport.Owino’s inclusion to the national team follows a whirlwind turnaround in the player’s career as he missed the first leg of the 2022/2023 league season after deciding to wait on Gor Mahia’s transfer ban to be lifted.How childhood dream made Sylvester Owino wait on K’Ogalo for five months despite transfer banHis decision ended up paying off when he officially joined the club in March and has gone on to make steady improvements in his game with the latest being a stellar show against Ulinzi Stars over the weekend.“It has not been easy, because I struggled a bit when I started playing but now I feel there has been some improvement in our last few games and I am ready for the challenge,” the player, who finished third in the 2020/2021 FKF Premier League Young Player of the Year awards, revealed to Mozzart Sport.After receiving the maiden call, Owino, who takes the list of new faces in the team to five alongside Simon Masaka (Sofapaka),Kevin Luke Otiala (Kariobangi Sharks), Charles Ouma (Kenya Police), and Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), will be hoping to make the final squad for the trip to Mauritius.##NAJAVA_MECA_7306385##The team is set to play Mauritius, Djibouti and Pakistan in the four-team friendly tournament taking place during the upcoming FIFA international window in June.Harambee Stars will open their campaign by facing Djibouti in their first of three matches on Monday 12. They will then take on Pakistan two days later on Wednesday 14 June before closing their participation in the tournament with a game against hosts Mauritius on Sunday 18.The tournament is being used as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup whose African qualifiers kick off in November this year.Arriving in the #HarambeeStars camp for the four Nations tournament preparations. pic.twitter.com/6P3seKfzmW— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) June 6, 2023 They final squad will travel to Mauritius on June 10.Provisional SquadGoalkeepersIan Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Bryne Odhiambo (KCB) ,Brian Bwire (Tusker), Simon Masaka (Sofapaka)DefendersJoseph Okumu (Gent, Belgium), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden) Collins Shichenje (KUPS), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), David Ochieng (Kenya Police), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Mohamed Siraj (Bandari), Kevin Luke Otiala (Kariobangi Sharks), Robinson Kamura (Kakamega Homeboyz), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia)MidfieldersAmos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Richard Odada (Philadelphia Union, USA), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Alvin Mangeni (Kenya Police), Clifton Miheso (Kenya Police), Charles Ouma (Kenya Police), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Joseph Mwangi (Nzoia Sugar), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Bonface Omondi (Gor Mahia), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards).ForwardsMichael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masoud Juma (Difaa El Jadidi, Morocco), Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), and Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia).
