Kenyan international Alphonce Omija has opened up on what captaining the national team Harambee Stars meant to him.Omija got the golden opportunity to lead the team during Harambee Stars match against Zanzibar in the absence of captain Abud Omar in a Mapinduzi Cup match played on Friday 10 January 2024 at the Gombani Stadium.In a match which was marred with controversies, Zanzibar emerged 1-0 victorious courtesy of an Ali Khatib header in the 92nd minute to ensure that his team books a date with Burkina Faso in the final.Harambee Stars prospect returns to English Premier League sideWhile there are a lot of negatives to speak about in that match including Omar’s red card and the center referee punching the Kenya Police defender, it was also a special moment and career highlight for Omija who shared his feelings after the match.”It was the proudest moment of my life as a player, stepping onto the pitch as the national senior team captain,” Omija wrote on Instagram.The Gor Mahia defender played the entire match and even though the end result was the elimination of Harambee Stars from the tournament, he says the match was a manifestation of the work he has put in over the years.##NAJAVA_MECA_8625160##“This wasn’t just an honor for me but a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering support of everyone involved in the process,” he added.The 22-year-old has been a constant figure in the national team, especially since joining Gor Mahia at the start of the season and has been deployed both as a right back and a center back, a testament of his versatility.Kenya was using the Mapinduzi Cup as part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which the country will co-host alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania as from Saturday 1 February 2025 to Friday 28 February 2025.Omija will be working hard and hoping to make it to Kenya’s CHAN squad and get the opportunity to showcase his talent in a much bigger platform.”CHAN is coming to Kenya”: Mvurya officially confirms
