CHAN 2024: Meet Felix Oluoch – The Late Call-Up Ready to Rock Group A With Harambee Stars

Often, football gives us surprise heroes, players who burst onto the scene like fireworks at a goat’s wedding, loud, bright and absolutely unmissable.

This time, the story of Kenya’s latest golden boot whisperer begins not with glitzy headlines or social media hype, but with a quiet storm on a sunny afternoon at Kasarani Annex. Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up – Felix Oluoch has entered the chat.

The Posta Rangers striker, previously missing from national team mentions like a chicken from a vegetarian menu, finally landed in the Harambee Stars’ African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad – and not by luck.

According to head coach Benni McCarthy, the man wasn’t just good – he was too good to ignore.

In a friendly that was more secret than your crush’s Instagram stalking habits, a hybrid team of local and foreign players humbled the national side 2-1. One name lit up the turf – Felix Oluoch. He dazzled. He dizzied defenders. He did things. That single performance punched his ticket to the 25-man CHAN squad like a VIP pass to a sold-out gig.

“We missed to select him during the regular season but what we saw during that friendly game was more than enough to convince us that we can add another player to the squad. He really stood out during that friendly,” McCarthy admitted, with the wide-eyed awe of someone who just discovered fried chicken for the first time.

Felix Oluoch is new to stardom. He first caused a stir back in the 2021/22 season with Kariobangi Sharks, netting 12 goals in 24 matches – a ratio any striker would tattoo on their thigh.

Despite a couple of unfortunate injury hiccups and a quiet spell that saw him land at Posta Rangers, he reignited his fire just in time. Call it fate. Or just good old striker’s hunger.

When Rangers were desperately clawing their way back to the top-tier league, Oluoch stepped up like a superhero in cleats. He bagged a stunning brace against Naivas FC in the promotion playoffs last month. No pressure – just two goals, a win, and a league return sealed.

If mailmen delivered letters like Oluoch delivers goals, we'd all be pen pals again.

With CHAN around the corner, Oluoch’s inclusion couldn’t come at a better time. Especially now that Moses Shummah and Emmanuel Osoro have packed their boots for Zambian giants Power Dynamos. Enter Felix – not just as a replacement, but as the entertainment.

Joining him in McCarthy’s attacking circus are Masoud Juma, freshly signed to the NSL, goal-poacher Ryan Ogam of Tusker FC, and crowd-favorite Boniface Muchiri. But let’s be honest, all eyes will be on the man of the moment.

Whether it is his powerful runs, his no-nonsense finishing, or just the way he pops up at the right time like your mum during a Zoom date – Felix Oluoch is the gem you didn’t know you were missing.

So next time someone asks you who to watch at CHAN, skip the usual suspects. Smile knowingly. And say it with your chest: Felix Oluoch. The mailman who delivers goals – with express service.