Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has named 25 players in his provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast next month.
Has it has been a norm with his call-ups, Firat has once again included new faces in the team. While Zambia-based John Ochieng is known to Kenyan fans owing to his stints with Chemelil Sugar FC and Gor Mahia, little is known about Tobias Knost.
Another unknown player is Bradford City’s Adam Wilson with Bruce Kamau having flirted with the national team previously where he snubbed a call-up in 2021. The other new face is Police FC defender Brian Okoth who would want to make an impression with Stars regulars like Joseph Okumu out with injuries.
So how have these new faces fared in their teams?
Tobias Knost (SV Verl, Germany)
Tobias Mbunjiro Knost is naturally a right-back but can play as a left back too. Born in Berlin, Germany 24 years ago, he started his career with Tebe Youth and LFC Berlin before moving to the Hamburg U17 side in 2017 where his stars showed and was promoted to the club’s senior side in 2020.
He had been in the books of FC Magdeburg before moving to his current station Verl in 2022. He managed 22 games in his first season with Verl and chipped in with two goals. In this season, with his side currently placed 12th in the German third tier, he has managed 16 appearances and featured for his side last Saturday where he was withdrawn in the 42nd minute in their 4-2 loss to Ulm. Their last game of the season will be on Saturday 25th May away to Arminia Bielefeld.
John Ochieng (Zanaco, Zambia)
John Ochieng moved to Zanaco at the start of the current Zambia Super League campaign and has been a consistent figure. Known for his no-nonsense approach, he has been a darling of the Zanaco fans who have their team placed 7th with 42 points after 32 games. He missed the club’s weekend clash against Red Arrows (one of the seven games he’s missed) after the club allowed him to sort his travel plans ahead of joining the national team. He is seen as a replacement for Richard Odada who hasn’t been called; though he is expected to be an understudy to Anthony Akumu in the games.
Adam Wilson (Bradford City, England)
Adam Ayiro Wilson joined Bradford at the start of this season from Wales side The New Saints FC. He has only managed 10 games as a winger and chipped in with a goal. He should know a thing or two about Harambee Stars and coach Firat since Clarke Oduor, who is his teammate, has been in the same environment but is no longer called up due to a previous misunderstanding between their club coach and the national team coach.
He has just helped Bradford to 9th place finish in the English League Two table but last featured for them in March this year when he came on as a 63rd-minute substitute in their 3-0 loss away to Harrogate Town.
Wilson is a graduate of the famed Newcastle United academy where he featured prominently in their U18 and U23 sides until 2022.
Bruce Kamau (Perth Glory, Australia)
Kamau isn’t a new guy among Kenyan fans. He has been linked consistently with the national team and even turned down a call-up in 2021 when he still harboured ambitions of playing for Australia and thought he would be called for the summer World Cup in 2022.
Since breaking into the limelight with Adelaide United in 2014, Kamau has only spent a season out of Australia when he represented OFI Crete on a season-long loan from Western Sydney. He is currently in the books of Perth Glory, where he moved last summer. His goal contribution isn’t something that one can be proud of as he has only one goal in the last four seasons but his trickery and dribbling skills are something that Harambee Stars might need on the wings. His last appearance for Perth came in April against Sydney where they were beaten 7-1.
Brian Okoth (Police FC, Kenya)
Brian Okoth has been called up to help shore the Stars’ defence which has a lot of injuries. His call-up might have come late since most believe he has been one of the best defenders in the FKF Premier League currently. The left-footed centre-back joined Police from Talanta during the midseason transfer window and despite having to be contented with a place on the bench in the first game, he has been a key figure for the law enforcers forming a solid partnership with Musa Mohammed. They’ve only lost once under Salim Babu and its not hard to see why Patrick Matasi is one of the keepers with the most clean sheets.
Also Read: Harambee Stars provisional squad for Burundi and Ivory Coast tests
