Harambee Stars Midfielder Ready to Prove Himself to Benni McCarthy After Five Years Away

Grimsby Town midfielder Clarke Oduor has opened up about making a return to the national team, Harambee Stars, since 2020.

Clarke Oduor made his debut for Harambee Stars on October 9, 2020. He appeared as a late substitute in a friendly match against Zambia, which Kenya won 2-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

At the time of his debut, the Harambee Stars midfielder was playing for the English Championship side Barnsley. He officially left Barnsley on June 30, 2023, following the expiration of his contract.

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He had spent four years with the club after joining from Leeds United in 2019. Shortly after his departure from Barnsley was confirmed, Clarke Oduor signed a three-year deal with Bradford City on June 7, 2023, before moving to Grimsby Town on a season-long loan for the 2025–26 campaign.

Despite the paperwork technicality, he made his debut for the club just one day after signing, on August 27, 2025, coming on as a substitute in a notable Carabao Cup match against Manchester United.

Speaking during their final training session before departing for Rwanda for the FIFA Series, Clarke Oduor said it was a proud moment for him to be considered for a return to the Harambee Stars setup, especially after being away from the national team since 2020.

He explained that his conversation with Benni McCarthy gave him a sense of encouragement and renewed motivation, as he was informed that he was being considered for selection to the camp.

The Harambee Stars midfielder added that over the years, he believes he has developed in several areas of his game, even though he acknowledged that he has not had as much playing time at the club level as he would have liked.

Despite this, he emphasised the importance of staying disciplined and continuing to work hard in training, trusting that opportunities will come with persistence.

Clarke Oduor stressed that his focus now is on being fully prepared to seize any chance he gets, showing his abilities and making a meaningful contribution whenever called upon.

“It's an honour. When I spoke to the gaffer, and he told me that they're considering taking me for the camp, yeah, I was excited, really excited to just get going and just show him and show all the boys what I can do. I think in certain aspects, I have grown,” he said.

“Also, in other aspects, I don't think I played as much as I wanted to play, but I think that just comes. It's just about continuing to train as hard as I can. I'm going to get the opportunity to play, to just be ready.”

Kenya has been drawn in Group A alongside Estonia, Grenada, and hosts Rwanda, with matches scheduled to take place in Kigali from March 23 to 31, 2026.