Ben Stanley Omondi: Facing Chelsea at 13, Impressing Benni McCarthy and Chasing Harambee Stars CHAN 2024 Glory

At just 21, Ben Stanley Omondi is living out the dream of many Kenyan youngsters—representing the Harambee Stars at the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024). 

The Gor Mahia midfielder has started Kenya’s last two matches against Morocco and Zimbabwe, after coming off the bench in the opening games.

As he prepares for Friday’s quarterfinal clash with Madagascar at Kasarani, Omondi admits his journey has been one of perseverance and learning. 

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Omondi’s journey was never straightforward. Born in Mathare, he honed his early skills in the Nairobi slums before his family relocated to Migori when his mother secured a job. 

By the time he was eight, football was already his passion, even though his father opposed the idea, urging him to focus on school instead.

“Most people know I have honed my skills in Migori for Migori Youth but don't know that I also have a background in Mathare, having been raised there until I was in class four and  my mom found a job there,” Omondi told Pulse Sports back in 2023.

“ I played for the Under 8s and 9s at MYSA, before leaving for Migori.”

At Migori, he attended Good Samaritan Academy, where Coach Aol Omondi took him under his wing—paying for his school fees and accommodation. 

He later moved to St. Peters Mumias High School after being rejected by Dagoretti High. “Rejection is something I had to embrace,” he told Citizen TV recently. 

“I do not take it personally. Another coach after Benni might come in and not deem me good enough to play how he wishes, so it happens.”

Omondi’s talent was evident early on when he played for Kenya U14s at the 2017 Southampton Challenge Trophy, facing Chelsea and Porto academies. 

That exposure reinforced his belief that he could compete at the highest level.

Omondi broke into senior football with Migori Youth FC, making his National Super League (NSL) debut at just 16. By the time he left high school, he was already a key player, even earning a nomination for NSL Young Player of the Season.

His breakthrough came when he joined Sofapaka in 2022/23. In his debut FKFPL campaign, he scored three goals and assisted seven more, helping the side survive relegation. It was also a season of maturity—shedding bad habits, hitting the gym, and learning defensive discipline under coach David Ouma.

“The coach (Ouma)  insists that you have to defend as a team. It is a team game. You have to be in the right shape and the right position without the ball. When I left the NSL, I was poor without the ball but the coach  helped me improve that.”

He also grew in discipline. 

“I have learnt a lot over the season. I was not as lazy as I was in the NSL. In the NSL, It would have been easy to just wake up and go to a match but in the KPL, every game is hard. 

“You have to work hard even at home. I have been going to the gym to try and work on my physicality and more. There is no time to be complacent.”

Omondi’s path wasn’t without turbulence. He was loaned to Ulinzi Stars but played only half a season due to registration issues. A move to Kakamega Homeboyz followed, where clashes with coach Ken Kenyatta set him back—until Francis Baraza arrived.

“He saw a bit of quality in me and made me a key player for my team. As a football player, it is hard to do your daily workouts and routines when you aren’t playing, but he did in the eight games I played for him, before offers to join KCB and Gor Mahia came up.”

Though he initially preferred KCB, Omondi eventually joined K’Ogalo, despite the “massive pressure” attached to the club.

“They like dominating games, which suits my style. It was the right decision,” he admitted.

It was at Gor Mahia that then coach Sinisa Mihic gave him his break—on the same day Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy was watching.

“The first time he gave me the chance happened to be my lucky day, because Benni McCarthy actually attended that game and watched me play. 

“I must have impressed him because I was given my first call up before the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, and the rest is history.”

Since then, he has earned two official FIFA caps and is now part of Kenya’s fairytale CHAN run. Naturally, Omondi is forever indebted to McCarthy for trusting him to finally fulfil his dream of representing Kenya.

“He is a legend of the game as a player, and now as a coach, he also has experience, having coached at Man United, so he understands football in a different way. 

“We are not just learning from him as a coach, but also as a player and person. He makes us express ourselves on and off the pitch.”

For Omondi, the next chapter is clear.

“I want to play in Europe. I am doing everything possible to achieve that dream. I am also surrounded by people who believe in me which has pushed me to push forward,” Omondi told Pulse Sports back in 2023.

"I want to do it while I am still young which will give me time and resources to prepare myself in the long term. I hope to get an opportunity to go to Europe very soon. If not, I hope to become consistent enough in this league next season.”

This is an update on a story originally written in May 2023.