Several eyebrows were raised when Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy named his provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and The Gambia with one peculiar name featuring – William Lenkupae.Just who is William Lenkupae, the little-known player who has received his maiden call-up to the national team? Australia-based Lenkupae in as McCarthy names Harambee Stars’ squad for World Cup qualifiersMozzart Sport dug deep to bring you all that you need to know about the latest inclusion to the Kenyan team.William Lenkupae Wilson, popularly known as Will Wilson, was born on 23 December 2001 in Australia and plays as a central midfielder in the A-League, Australian top tier for Central Coast Mariners, which is based in the central Coast of New South Wales.##NAJAVA_MECA_8773598##Lenkupae began his youth career at Box Hill United in 2017 before moving to Melbourne Victory Academy.The 24-year-old would later be promoted to Melbourne Victory FC Youth on 23 October 2019, where he continued to hone his skills until 13 January 2021, when he was promoted to the senior team.Inter Milan reunion – Mariga elated after reuniting with Eto’o in Cairo (VIDEO)The 5.5ft midfielder then joined the senior team in May 2021 in the A-League. He won the Australian Cup in 2021 and went on to stay until 26 August 2023 when he was released.Lenkupae, who can also play as an attacking midfielder or a left winger where he cuts inside to his favourite right foot, then joined his current club, Central Coast Panthers, on 26 August 2023 for a two-year deal.He is described as ‘a strong and quick midfielder who has an eye for goals’ and could be an asset to McCarthy as Harambee Stars has struggled to produce prolific wingers. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8773590##In the 2023/24 season, the midfielder, who also has Australian citizenship, played 10 of Mariner’s 27 league games and scored one goal as the club went on to lift the A-League.This season, it has been tough for both Lenkupae and Mariners as he has only made five appearances out of the club’s 20 fixtures even as the team finds itself in the 10th position with 21 points, 20 shy of league leaders Auckland FC.Seven Gor Mahia stars included in Harambee Stars squad ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiersOf Lenkupae’s five appearances, he has only started one match and accumulated a total of 116 minutes throughout the season.The Kenyan midfielder will be hoping to get some minutes when the club makes a trip to league leaders Auckland on Saturday, March 16, before he departs for international duty.
