Mathare United centre back David Ochieng is among the players whose call up to the national team Harambee Stars triggered backlash from a section of fans who felt the defender had unattached for a while to warrant a place in the team.Ochieng, who is commonly known as Cheche was drafted in the provisional Squad that is gearing to take on Iran in a friendly match later in the month in Tehran.Harambee Stars head coach Engin First, his assistant Kennedy Odhiambo and centre back David Ochieng are ready for the briefing pic.twitter.com/qsZAX1rHA3— Meshack Kisenge (@kisengemeshack1) March 19, 2023 Prior to the call up, Cheche had just played three league matches for the 2008 league champions who acquired his signature in the mid-season transfer window.When put to task to defend his inclusion in the team, Cheche, while acknowledging that it is not his responsibility to name the squad,said he was fit enough to don the national team colours.##NAJAVA_MECA_7108508##”Those who have been following local action know that i have played four league matches for Mathare United and therefore, the issue of match fitness shouldn’t be a bother. I am a senior player who can decline if I feel I am not ready,” he said.The former Posta Rangers player, went on to assure that he was well conditioned and ready for the battle ahead.Cheche, who was involved in Stars last assignment against Rwanda also, weighed in on the return of the country to international matches after more than a year in the cold.Harambee Stars head coach lays four clear objectives ahead of Iran friendlyThe former Tusker luminaire conceded that it was agonising to play at the club level and be locked out of the grand stages that includes; the regional, continental and global.”We had been starved of international action for a while.Everyone in the team is happy and looking forward to playing Iran. It felt bad to express ourselves at club level yet we couldn’t do the same at international level,” he added.
