Gor Mahia centre back Sylvester Owino has revealed the role, the France-based, Joseph Okumu played in helping him handle stage fright and pressure in his Harambee Stars debut. Owino made his Stars bow in the, 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, barren draw against Zimbabwe on Friday at the Mandela Stadium in Namboole. He partnered Okumu, who doubled up as the team’s skipper in the absence of Michael Olunga, at the heart of the defence. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8318134##Being his first match at the rather big stage, Owino was obviously expected to be nervous but he says, he never experienced such thanks to the support he got from the Stade de Reims man. He disclosed that Okumu acted just the way a big would have, by offering direction in the defence and ensuring that the Warriors did not squeeze the ball past Bryne Omondi. “He has played a crucial role for the success I had on my pitch. He was helping me in positioning, marking and reading of the game. The coordination was good and I must admit, I enjoyed playing alongside him,” he opened up after the game.Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat confident Murkomen will excel as Sports MinisterCoach Engin Firat would have, most likely, paired Okumu with, his preferred partner, Johnstone Omurwa in central defence but the absence of the former Wazito skipper saw him pick Owino. Omurwa was part of the provisional squad but did not make it to the final one amid reports that he pulled out to finalize a club deal. Having marked his debut with a clean sheet and a solid individual performance, Owino, who is among the few right-footed defenders who plays on the left side of central defence, hopes to cement his place in the team. The former Kakamega Homeboyz defender, however, acknowledges that he has to work harder to beat the competition from the rest of centre backs.” The competition is good and benefits the team. I would like to play more for the senior team,” added Owino. Ugandans already anticipating booming businesses ahead of CHAN, AFCON tourneys
