Sofapaka’s Edward Omondi eyes final squad spot after first National team call-up

Sofapaka forward Edward Omondi, has expressed his excitement and gratitude after earning his first-ever call-up to the Harambee Stars' provisional squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.

The midfielder, who is in his debut season in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League, attributed this milestone to the support of his teammates and the guidance of his coach.

“I feel great to be in the provisional squad; it shows that hard work has a reward. I want to thank my teammates because it's their support that has seen me clinch this level. I cannot say I did something out of the norm. I'm just grateful to my coach and my teammates,” Omondi told The Eastleigh Voice.

Omondi is optimistic about learning from the newly appointed head coach, Benni McCarthy, and aims to secure a spot in the final squad. He also looks forward to gaining valuable experience from his more seasoned teammates.

“What I can say is I expect to gain a lot from the new coach and also from the experienced players, who are now my teammates rather than my opponents in the league. I expect to come back a more experienced player than when I joined, and I hope to make it all the way to the final squad,” Omondi explained.

Sofapaka’s CEO, Ronald Okoth, hailed Omondi's call-up as a significant achievement for both the player and the club.

“The inclusion of Omondi in the national provisional squad is a massive achievement, and it's a two-way statement. It is not only a success for him as an individual but also for the club. Again, his call-up does not only boost his confidence but also lifts the morale of other players in the team,” Okoth said.

Okoth further emphasised that Omondi’s selection validates Sofapaka’s commitment to nurturing young talent and highlights the success of their strategy in signing and developing inexperienced players.

“His call-up validates the work that the team, the technical bench, and the staff are doing, and it shows that the measures we put in place to ensure we sign young, inexperienced players are working. Again, it was a gamble that we took, and it is turning out well,” Okoth added.

Kenya will kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away fixture against Gambia on Thursday, 20th March 2025, at Stade Alassane Ouattara in Ivory Coast. The team will then return home to face Gabon at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, 23rd March 2025, with kick-off set for 4 PM.

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