Tusker goalkeeper Brian Opondo is the epitome of resilience and patience, drawing from his first ever call-up to the national team, Harambee Stars, this week.Opondo, 23, on Tuesday, 11 March, made coach Benni McCarthy’s provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, a feat he at some point thought was near impossible.McCarthy impressed with quality as he takes charge of first Harambee Stars training sessionHaving featured for the Kenya Under-20 as recently as 2021, Opondo’s journey to making a step up to the senior team was not without its fair share of challenges.One moment that sticks out for Opondo is in 2022, when the shot-stopper joined Tusker from Bidco United, but just could not find his way into the first team.“When I joined Tusker, I stayed for almost one season without playing,” Opondo told Tusker media on Wednesday. “But I didn’t lose my head, and I kept working, knowing that anyone who passes through coach Dunco’s (Duncan Ochieng) arms always ends up successful. I always motivated myself that everyone has their own time and mine will come.”🗣️| Brian Opondo speaks of his first ever senior national team call up and what it means to him.#KenyaMilele #GameNiYetu pic.twitter.com/iREvsODQ6J— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) March 12, 2025 True to his words, a time—2023—finally came for him to play more consistently, when Brian Bwire was his only competition in goal.With Bwire moving to Polokwane City a few months later, Opondo elevated himself to be the regular starter at Tusker, while also battling injury concerns to stay fit and in contention for an unfulfilled dream.England-based star snubs Harambee Stars for The Three LionsThis season, Opondo started the season slowly, but managed to work his way up, keeping six clean sheets in eight league matches, and only conceding twice.“It was really difficult and quite a challenging time, especially with injury coming that early in the season,” Opondo said.“But I never lost hope; I kept working hard to recover and come back to good shape. I always pushed myself, and my teammates always pushed me as well.” It is through his resilience and remarkable comebacks that his name is now up in contention for a start for the national team.##NAJAVA_MECA_8773586##“It feels great to get this call up. This is a massive challenge, and I believe it is the product of what I have been doing,” Opondo, who has been called up alongside Bwire, Faruk Shikhalo, and Ian Otieno, added. “I want to work hard to make the final squad.”“It will be a great feeling for me to remain in the team, and I am going there to work harder. I know competition will be tough, and it will be great competing with such good goalkeepers.”Kenya’s first game against Gambia comes up on Thursday 20 March at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast.Tusker FC coach praises quartet after earning national team call-ups
