Ruto issues Harambee Stars rallying call ah**d of South Sudan frien*ly
President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to turn up in huge numbers and cheer on the Harambee Stars during their friendly against South Sudan on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
While lauding Harambee Stars for their win against Qatar, the head of state said it is now the turn of home fans to fill Moi International Sports Complex during the match against the CECAFA rivals.
Ruto's call
"Congratulations, Harambee Stars, for winning against the Qatar national team last week. I am happy that so many Kenyans showed up in Qatar to cheer up our team.
"As you are aware, today at 4 p.m., Harambee Stars will be playing against South Sudan, and I want to ask all Kenyans to show up at 4 p.m. to cheer on our champions," Ruto said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga also lauded the Kenyans based in Qatar who cheered them during the 2-1 win.
"The Kenyan community in Qatar did an excellent job supporting us, and we hope those back home can do the same. There's a growing interest among Kenyans to support the team, and we're working hard to prepare ourselves," the Al Duhail SC striker said.
Harambee Stars' positive steps
According to Olunga, Harambee Stars making positive steps in regard to development, and the game against the Bright Stars is an opportunity to test themselves further.
"The team is making positive strides under the coach's guidance, focusing on a mix of experienced and young players. We're maintaining our focus and not getting carried away.
"Facing our neighbors is always a challenging matchup, requiring us to adjust our approach accordingly. We are confident of achieving a favorable outcome.
"Each game presents a new opportunity and challenge. While our past performance has been good, we approach this match with the same determination and dedication as any other.
"Playing against a neighboring country brings unique challenges, especially in terms of their physicality. We anticipate a tough contest. We've made substantial progress, and the coach deserves credit for seamlessly integrating youth and experience into the team," the former Gor Mahia centre-forward said.
Head coach Engin Firat will be forced to tinker with his starting XI given that Johnstone Omurwa, who started at the heart of defence alongside Joseph Okumu, will not be available.
