With a day remaining till the Kenya national football team make their international football return from what has been over 500 days in the cold, the team skipper Michael Olunga is feeling pumped ahead of Tuesday’s friendly fixture against Iran and believes the game will be a good test for them.“I would say we’ve had a good camp. Since we all came in as the provisional squad to where we are now as the final team,” the Al Duhail center forward said. “Everyone is doing well and what is most important is that they are all giving their best. We all seem ready for the challenge ahead.”🇰🇪🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/PGknUbSlGA— MICHAEL OLUNGA (@OgadaOlunga) March 27, 2023 The challenge ahead – one against a team ranked 77 places above Kenya in the FIFA standings- and as Olunga stated, he believes the game will be one where they will take much lessons from.“First, I want to thank the Football Kenya Federation for lining up such a fixture and against a very good opponent,” Olunga said. “These are the kinda games we need as a team so that we can size up against the best nations and pick up lessons from them.“I watched a couple of their games during the World Cup and they are a really good attacking side with good strikers. They played Russia a few days ago and drew 1-1. That just shows you how improved they are. These are the games we want to play.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7126058##When asked about the long break without national team action, Olunga expressed the moment as ‘not easy’ not only for the players, but for all stakeholders in various football departments in the country.Also for him, Olunga admitted it being ‘tough watching’ witnessing other players compete in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers but was quick to not rest on that topic – opting to focus on the task ahead.Harrison Mwendwa, Ouma join KCB“Some things that happened were beyond our control and so it would be best to make the most of the moment now and prepare for our upcoming matches in any tournament we will take part in,” the former Gor Mahia striker added.The Kenyan contingent arrived safely in Iran on Sunday and conducted their first training session on Monday in Tehran, ahead of the 2000 EAT kickoff on Tuesday at the Azadi Stadium.“This game will help us know where our level is at and all I can say is that we are ready to do what it takes,” Olunga concluded.
