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Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has suggested that Gor Mahia full-back Rooney Onyango seems to flourish more in the national team than at club level.
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has hinted that Gor Mahia full-back Rooney Onyango may not be getting opportunities to show his true attacking qualities at club level.
Onyango is one of Firat’s most trusted players, having handed him his maiden call-up last September ahead of a friendly match against Russia, and he has since become a mainstay.
What has been different is how Firat has utilised the youngster, playing him in a more offensive position in the national team, when he made his name as a right-back for Gor Mahia.
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15:47 - 22.05.2024
Zambia-based prodigy thrilled by Harambee Stars call-up for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
The Zanaco midfielder has expressed his excitement over his first Harambee Stars call-up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
While outgoing Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry resisted the temptation to play him higher up the pitch, the Harambee Stars boss feels it is where he is best at since his output has been great since being deployed as a right winger.
“Look at the last matches, let’s only take the last three matches. Against Seychelles, he scored one goal and made one assist, against Malawi, one assist and one penalty and against Zimbabwe also one assist,” Firat said on Wednesday.
“This is in three matches, now look at his score data in the whole season for Gor Mahia and you get the answer. Everything is so clear, there is no discussion about it.”
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16:58 - 22.05.2024
Harambee Stars: Firat reveals how Kenya plans to neutralise Ivory Coast & Burundi’s threats
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has described how he plans to tackle the different challenges that will be presented by Ivory Coast and Burundi in the World Cup qualifiers.
Onyango has rarely put a foot wrong since his Harambee Stars debut despite his young age, playing all four matches since his first against Russia, and is set for another test in June when Kenya face Burundi and Ivory Coast in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
With Firat insisting on playing him offensively, it remains to be seen if whoever replaces McKinstry at Gor Mahia will follow in the Harambee Stars coach’s footsteps or keep faith with what his predecessor thought about the 23-year-old.
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