Newly acquired Tusker midfielder itching to make Harambee Stars debut

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FKFPL Newly acquired Tusker midfielder itching to make Harambee Stars debut

Mark Kinyanjui 05:00 - 09.08.2023

The midfielder has been part of the last two Harambee Stars squads but is yet to make a single appearance.

Newly acquired Tusker FC midfielder Joseph Mwangi has revealed he is determined to earn his debut for Harambee Stars and use it to build on more national team caps.

Mwangi, who signed for the Brewers after a stellar season in a Nzoia Sugar shirt where he scored 14 goals and registered 17 assists, was part of the Harambee Stars setup that traveled to Mauritius for the Four Nations Tournament in June but never made an appearance in both games against Pakistan and Mauritius.

The 26-year-old’s stellar season for Nzoia earned him a call-up to the Harambee Stars provisional squad in March ahead of the friendly match against Iran, but he was left out of the final traveling party to the Middle Eastern country.

He has revealed he is grateful for being part of the squad twice but is now determined to earn his first cap sooner rather than later.

“I want to thank God for being there, and my family for sticking with me and supporting me to make the cut and become part of the national team setup,” Mwangi said.

“When I went there the first time, I trained with the side during camp before they departed for Iran, but I was left out with the promise that I will make the final squad for the next assignment.

“I managed to make the final cut for the second assignment to Mauritius, but I did not manage to play, but they assured me that I would play next time.

“Now I am working towards getting playing time and earning caps moving forwards.”

Mwangi has revealed his ‘hurt’ at seeing Kenya drop from 102nd in the FIFA World Rankings to 105 after losing 1-0 to Mauritius, and feels making his debut will play a part in helping the nation abate the drop and improve.

“If you look first, it has been hurting me being part of the setup but not playing. We were ranked 102nd but dropped slightly, which infuriated me.

“My aim is to work towards becoming a key player for the side by earning the coach’s trust through the next friendlies, then from there, work towards qualifying for the AFCON, CHAN, and then the big one, the World Cup.”