Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has reconciled with midfielder Austin Odhiambo and included him in the national team squad for the June World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and the Ivory Coast in Lilongwe, Malawi.Firat’s earlier decision to exclude the Gor Mahia player during the March international break sparked criticism across the football community, as Odhiambo was not only having a good season but, was arguably the best player in the league at that time.##NAJAVA_MECA_8109803##The coach later explained that his decision was necessitated by Odhiambo’s actions last September. After not making the squad that travelled to Qatar to play the hosts, Odhiambo claimed to be ill and ruled himself out of the subsequent game against South Sudan. Austin Odhiambo, Engin Firat reading from same script at long lastHowever, he played in a friendly for Gor Mahia against Mathare United shortly afterwards.“…The next day at 2 pm, our team manager received a message from Austin saying he had malaria and was starting to recover. I wondered how he could recover from malaria in two days; it is not easy,” Firat said.“A few hours later, Gor Mahia played Mathare, and who scored the goal? Austin. So, I was surprised when everyone in the federation knew this, and the next day I told the truth to the press. It is no secret, but I am surprised how someone can write these insults online.”Weeks later, Odhiambo indicated that the issue had been resolved and expressed his desire to represent the national team again.”I think it has been resolved, and I am working hard to earn a call-up to the national team,” he said. “My main aim is to put on the national team jersey, and I keep on working hard to achieve it as it is every player’s dream to do so.”Gor Mahia’s Omondi eyes Harambee Stars call up after sealing 2023-2024 FKFPL Golden GloveOdhiambo has now earned a call-up to the national team for next month’s games in Malawi. The team will enter camp on Tuesday to commence preparations for the matches against Burundi and the Ivory Coast.Other Gor Mahia players in the team include Rooney Onyango, who is now an undisputed starter, and the league’s top scorer Benson Omala.
