Olunga, Okumu & Omurwa's arrival date confirmed for Harambee Stars camp in Turkey

Harambee Stars defender Johnstone Omurwa is gearing up to reinforce the Kenyan national football team's lineup as they prepare for an upcoming friendly against Russia.

Omurwa, who currently plies his trade with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Estrela da Amadora, is scheduled to join the squad in Turkey on Thursday, October 12th, along with China-based winger Ayumbe Timbe.

This dynamic duo will be the final foreign-based players to arrive at the camp, adding their skills to an already impressive lineup.

Captain Michael Olunga, who represents Qatar Stars League side Al Duhail, is set to grace the camp earlier, arriving in Turkey on Tuesday.

Olunga will be accompanied by a cadre of talented players, including Joseph Okumu, Brian Mandela, Collins Sichenje, Erick Ouma, Rooney Onyango, and Masud Juma.

Engin Firat's team arrived in Turkey on Tuesday, where fourteen players from the first batch, who had traveled the day before and held their inaugural training session.

"The Kenya National Team, Harambee Stars, kicked off preparations today, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, for the scheduled friendly match against Russia," the statement from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) revealed.

These first-wave players include Patrick Matasi, Brian Bwire, Bryne Odhiambo, Daniel Sakari, Vincent Harper, Amos Nondi, Richard Odada, Anthony Akumu, Kenneth Muguna, Alpha Onyango, Ovella Ochieng, Alfred Scriven, Cliffton Miheso, and Moses Shummah.

With this stellar ensemble, Harambee Stars is primed and ready to take on their formidable opponent, Russia, in a high-stakes showdown set to take place on Monday, October 16, in Antalya, Turkey.

This much-anticipated friendly match will serve as the ultimate litmus test for Harambee Stars as they fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of the forthcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, slated to commence in November this year.

Drawn into Group F, Kenya will face a challenging journey as they compete against the likes of Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles in their quest to secure a coveted spot in the global football spectacle.