Michael Olunga Gets the Nod as Harambee Stars' Best Player

Harambee Stars left-back Erick Marcelo Ouma has revealed that he considers Michael Olunga his best teammate in the national team.

The two have played together for several years, with Erick Marcelo Ouma noting that the captain consistently stands out on the pitch.

Their strong connection, often highlighted through social media interactions and shared celebrations, developed long before they became key figures for Harambee Stars.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Speaking on the Studio AIK Live podcast, Erick Marcelo Ouma spoke about his admiration for Michael Olunga, describing him as the best player he has played alongside.

He noted that Michael Olunga, who currently plays for Al-Arabi SC in Qatar, faced some initial challenges adapting to Djurgårdens IF in Sweden as he was starting out his career.

Erick Marcelo Ouma highlighted that during the first few games, Michael Olunga struggled to find his rhythm, but he gradually began scoring consistently in the final stretch of nine matches.

At the beginning of that period, Erick Marcelo Ouma revealed that the two did not communicate much, but as Michael Olunga's form improved, they started talking more, and their connection both on and off the pitch strengthened.

Erick Ouma emphasised Michael Olunga's quality and how his development over that season demonstrated his status as a top player.

“He plays in Qatar, actually. He was in Djurgårdens IF, Olunga is the best player. He was good, but for the first games, it was difficult for him, and he started scoring in the last nine games, I think. We never used to talk much at that time, but after that, we started talking,” he said.

Erick Marcelo Ouma reflected on his experience with Harambee Stars, recalling the pride and excitement of qualifying for AFCON 2019.

He described playing at the continental tournament as a special moment, competing against top teams and enjoying the spotlight that comes with representing Kenya.

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the future, noting that the national team is currently in a rebuilding phase with a very young squad, and he hopes that this development will eventually lead to another AFCON qualification and possibly a World Cup appearance.

He emphasised the passion within the team and the ambition to achieve greater success on the international stage.

“It is a big dream. I remember we qualified for AFCON, and you play with the big boys and enjoy football. You know everyone is watching,” he revealed.

“Playing there for me was actually very nice. You never know, maybe in the future we shall qualify for the World Cup. There is a lot of passion because, at the moment, we are rebuilding and we have a very young squad.”

Erick Marcelo Ouma’s reflections underscore both the talent within Harambee Stars, particularly Michael Olunga, and the bright future ahead for the national team, with optimism that their rebuilding phase and youthful squad could pave the way for future AFCON and World Cup successes.