Arnold Origi’s arrival boost Harambee Stars

The national team Harambee Stars was boosted yesterday following the arrival of first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi ahead of the crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia at the Nyayo National Stadium tomorrow.

Stars coach Bobby Williamson termed the arrival of Origi as crucial ahead of the top of the bill clash.

“His arrival is very important to the entire team considering that he is our top goalkeeper. We have a crucial fixture and need all our best players at this time of the campaign,” he said.

Williamson was also not concerned that the Norway-based keeper arrived just two days before Stars take on their opponents.

“He is not late. This is the time we had agreed with him to arrive. We will take time to look at him on Friday (yesterday) and Saturday before making a decision on his suitability,” the coach said.

Origi’s presence is certain to be a big boost to the team considering that he has hit top form at his club Lillestrom in Norway.

The Kenyan custodian has broken into the first team in the last one year and is now the preferred goalkeeper at the club.

Origi missed the opening 2017 qualifier against Congo Brazzaville in June after the federation allegedly sent a request for his release late.

Earlier, the federation had claimed that the reason Origi was not coming was because his passport had been deposited at the Norwegian embassy as the player was allegedly trying to change his citizenship but this was dismissed by Origi. Despite his status as a top goalkeeper in the team, Origi has not been consistent in coming for qualifier matches over various reasons.

The last time he played for Kenya was in 2014 against Comoros. In his presence Gor Mahia custodian Boniface Oluoch seemed destined for a place in the bench.

Apart from Origi, Sudan based Teddy Akumu also linked up with the team on Thursday giving the coach more options in midfield.

Elsewhere, Kenyan midfielder Ayub Timbe says he wants to play more matches for the national team.

Timbe who plays for Lierse in Belgium said it is regrettable that due to various reasons he has not had an opportunity to play more matches for the team.