Gor Mahia's Sylvester Owino on How Representing Harambee Stars at CHAN 2024 Could Change His Life

Gor Mahia’s towering center back Sylvester Owino is eyeing the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) as a springboard to launch his career to the next level — potentially overseas.

The 24-year-old, who has been a rock at the heart of K’Ogalo’s defence since joining from Kakamega Homeboyz in October 2022, has played a pivotal role in delivering back-to-back FKF Premier League titles for the record champions.

Owino's breakthrough moment on the international stage came during the 2024 COSAFA Cup in South Africa, where his performances with Kenya’s Emerging Stars turned heads. He soon earned his full senior debut in September against Zimbabwe and has since added three more caps to his name.

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Now, selected in Benni McCarthy’s final 25-man squad for CHAN 2024, Owino hopes the home tournament will be the platform he needs to turn aspiration into reality.

“There are several players who would have been picked but I was the one selected, so I am grateful and hope to take full advantage,” Owino told Pulse Sports.

“For us as a country, it is a great opportunity for local-based players like us to market ourselves. It will be ideal for most of us to earn moves abroad in order to take our lives to the next level.”

Despite consistently strong performances for both club and country, Owino revealed that interest from abroad has not yet materialized.

“I haven't received any proposals yet. Maybe something will come on the table; until then, I will continue to work patiently toward such an opportunity,” he told Mozzart Sport in an earlier interview.

Owino’s current contract situation remains unresolved, and speculation is mounting that this could be his final season at Gor Mahia. Still, he remains focused and grounded.

“It is any player's wish to move abroad to further their careers, and certainly that is my aim now, though I am currently committed to Gor Mahia until such an appropriate moment,” he added.

As Kenya prepares to host CHAN for the first time in its history, Owino urged fans to turn out in large numbers to support the Harambee Stars.

“The tournament is drawing closer. The fans should turn up in large numbers. Even those on the fringes need to support us.”

Owino is among several local-based players eager to make an impact during CHAN 2024 and attract interest from clubs abroad. With Kenya hosting the tournament and placed in Group A alongside Angola, Morocco, Zambia and DR Congo, the stage is set for local talent like Owino to shine.

Whether this tournament becomes the stepping stone to an international career remains to be seen — but for Sylvester Owino, the opportunity is clear, and the stakes have never been higher.