Engin Firat picks Harambee Stars captain in absence of Michael Olunga
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 05.09.24. | 18:42
The defender was part of the Harambee Stars squad that featured in the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt
Stade de Reims central defender Joseph Okumu will skipper Harambee Stars in their first 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Zimbabwe on Friday.
Kenya head coach Engin Firat revealed that he settled on the defender, who plies his trade with French Ligue 1 side Reims, in the absence of Michael Olunga.
The latter, who has been skipper in the team since 2021, will be unavailable for the match, set to be staged at the Nelson Mandela Stadium (Namboole) in Uganda, due to an injury.
Okumu was ushered into the new, albeit interim role, with the task of addressing the media in the final training session held at the facility on Thursday evening.
Before the media session kicked off, Firat had a conversation with both Okumu and Anthony Akumu, about what could have sent the clearest signal of who the assistant will be.
"Joseph will be our captain. It is the reason he was at the press conference," revealed Firat.
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Firat's decision to hand the former Elfsborg defender the armband does not come as a shock considering that he was part of the Stars team that featured in the 2019 finals.
Besides that, Okumu is quite experienced as far as club football is concerned given that he has played football in South Africa, the United States of America, Sweden, Belgium and now France.
The former Chemelil Sugar man returns to the team after missing the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and African champions, Ivory Coast.
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Okumu will not only skipper the team but anchor the defence that has also been dealt a blow following the withdrawal of Johnstone Omurwa.
For a long time, Firat has preferred Okumu and Omurwa at the heart of the defence.
