Foreign figures named in Harambee Stars squad

Bruce Kamau, Kenya-born Australian footballer playing for Melbourne City FC. [PHOTO: INTERNET SOURCE]

As part of his efforts to strengthen the national Harambee Stars, head coach Stanley Okumbi has invited two foreign players.

The invitations to Spain-based Ismail Gonzalez and Bruce Kamau, who plays in Australia, comes at a time that Harambee Stars are preparing to play two international matches.

The first match will be on May 27 against Sudan, with the other one, two days later against Tanzania. Both matches will be played at Kasarani.

According to Okumbi, Gonzalez, who was born to a Spanish mother and Kenyan father, has accepted the invitation and will link up with Harambee Stars next Monday when they go to camp.

But Okumbi revealed that Kamau, who recently joined Australian league side Melbourne City is yet to confirm his availability as he is also considering playing for Australia.

The Kenyan coach said it is important for him to have a look at all the available players as he continues to strengthen the team.

“I think it is important for us to look at all players available, including the two,” he said.

He added: “The talk with Gonzalez has been very positive, while Kamau is yet to make a decision as there are interests for his services elsewhere. I remain optimistic that we will have both of them available for selection in the upcoming friendlies.”

Okumbi, at the same time, has revealed he will field a squad of emerging stars for the May 27 match against Sudan.

“In the first match, we will field a young squad aged between 20 to 23 years, whom we feel have great potential, but still need to develop, while the second match against Tanzania, will be a full international friendly with all the players available for selection,” he said.

The Kenyan Under-20 side will play their Sudan counterparts as a curtain raiser for the match involving their senior teams.

Kamau, 21, moved to Australia when he was just four years old. He made his senior professional debut for Adelaide United in the 2014 FFA CUP.

One year later, he made his A-league debut against Brisbane Roar and scored his first A-league goal for Adelaide in a 1-0 win away to Melbourne Victory in 2016.

At the end of the season, after winning the Premiership and Championship with Adelaide United, Kamau joined Melbourne City, a club he still plays for until today.

Ismail Said Athuman Gonzalez was born in the Canary Island, Spain on February 1, 1995 to a Spanish mother and a Kenyan father.

He joined the CD Las Palmas Academy at the age of five, where he has developed into an admirable player. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder, is currently at Second Division (Segunda B) CP Cacereno, on loan from his parent club.