Stars report to camp
After a five-year hiatus, Kakamega Homeboyz towering defender Robinson Kamura is jubilant after making a huge comeback into the national football team Harambee Stars.
The former Mathare United and AFC Leopards skipper was part of more than 20 local-based players who reported to the national team’s residential training camp in Nairobi ahead of the four-nations tournament to be held in Mauritius.
The defender was last called for national team duty in 2018 under French coach Sebastien Migne but failed to make the cut to the final team that travelled to India for the Hero International Cup where Harambee Stars lost in the final against hosts India.
Kamura has struggled with injuries and form and all was not rosy at the ‘Den” with his former coach Patrick Aussems who is believed to have forced his exit.
He would then land at KCB but only for one season before joining Kakamega Homeboyz where he is getting a life-line in his promising football career that seemed to be going under the drain.
“To back at the national team means a lot to me, I am really humbled and excited to be back and I can say it is through patience and hard work. My ambition is to work hard again to impress the coaches so that I can make it to the travelling squad. I am delighted for the call up and I am ever ready to serve my country, this a dream for every player,” Kamura told People Daily Sport.
Kamura has eight caps for Kenya.
Foreign based players are expected to join the residential camp today as the team steam up preparations for the four-nation invitational tournament set for Mauritius from 12-20 June.
The competition will involve hosts Mauritius, Kenya, Djibouti and Pakistan.
Head coach Engin Firat says for Kenya to deliver something meaningful in the next Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup matches then they must feature in as many build up games as possible.
With Kenya out of 2023 AFCON that will be staged in Ivory Coast in January next year, the focus for Harambee Stars coach would be to ready the team for 2026 World Cup qualifiers with its Group’s qualifying draw set for July 12.
