Abud Omar named Harambee Stars captain for Mapinduzi Cup
Abud Omar has been appointed as the new captain of Harambee Stars for the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup. The Kenya Police FC defender is ready to lead the national team in their quest for success at the tournament in Pemba, Zanzibar.
Kenya Police FC defender Abud Omar has been appointed captain of Harambee Stars for the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup, set to kick off this weekend in Pemba, Zanzibar.
Omar, 31, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having been part of the national team for several years. Speaking after the announcement, Omar expressed his pride in being named captain and highlighted the team's ambitions for the tournament.
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“It’s a privilege and honour to be named captain. Having been part of the national team setup for a long time, I understand what this role means. Winning the Mapinduzi Cup is our bare minimum. I’ll demand more from the players, but above all, I must lead by example as an experienced player and a veteran of the team,” Omar said.
Regarding the team's preparations, Omar said the squad is in good shape heading into the competition, with a mix of experienced players and emerging talents.
“We have prepared well, and the team is in good shape. There’s a perfect blend of senior players and young talents who have shown immense potential and worked hard to make the final squad. We are not underdogs, and the target from the onset is to win the Mapinduzi Cup. Anything less would be a failure,” he added.
Omar also addressed the challenges Harambee Stars have faced in recent months, particularly the absence of home support during away games. He urged the Kenyan fans to continue supporting the team as they look to build towards future competitions.
“It hasn’t been an easy ride for the national team, especially with most of our games being played away. We’ve missed the support of our fans. I urge them to keep standing by us. We are building a strong team for CHAN, and we’re excited about finally playing in front of our home fans after such a long time," Omar said.
On a personal note, Omar is excited to be back in the national team fold and is looking forward to continuing his career. After spending five years in Europe with stints in Greece, Belgium, and Romania, he returned to Kenya to join Kenya Police FC. Omar has set his sights on making another move to a top club abroad.
“I feel stronger and better now, and I know if I keep working hard, I’ll get another opportunity to join a bigger club abroad. That’s always been the dream for any footballer, and I’m no different,” Omar concluded.
Harambee Stars will begin their campaign on Saturday against Burkina Faso before facing Kilimanjaro Heroes on Tuesday. The final group stage match is set for Friday evening against Zanzibar Heroes.
