Job Ochieng: Setback for Harambee Stars Winger as Return Timeline Remains Uncertain

Spanish club Real Sociedad B has announced that Harambee Stars winger Job Ochieng is sidelined indefinitely after sustaining an injury during international duty.

The 23-year-old was forced off the pitch just 42 minutes into Kenya's friendly match against Estonia on Friday, March 27.

In a statement released on Tuesday, March 31, the La Liga 2 side described the issue as a "muscular injury to the back of his left thigh." The club did not provide a specific timeline for his return to action.

The Real Sociedad Medical Service noted on their official website: "His return to the team will depend on the progress of his recovery process."

Job Ochieng picked up the injury while representing Kenya in the FIFA Series 2026 friendlies held in Rwanda. After a promising start to the match, he went down holding his left hamstring and was subsequently substituted.

Ahead of Kenya's second friendly against Grenada, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy confirmed that Ochieng had returned to Spain for a thorough assessment.

"I think Job came off. He had a little bit of a strain on his hamstring," the Harambee Stars coach stated. "We sent him to medical, he did a scan, and it came out fine. It’s nothing serious, just a little rest and a lay-off."

However, with his return date now uncertain, Job Ochieng's impressive run of form, which saw him score six goals in his last six club appearances, has been brought to an abrupt halt.

The former Ligi Ndogo forward already missed Real Sociedad's 5-1 defeat to Almeria and is expected to be absent for the upcoming clash with Eibar at San Sebastian.

If Ochieng's injury results in a prolonged absence, Real Sociedad B could be eligible for substantial compensation through the FIFA Club Protection Programme.

The program stipulates that if a player is sidelined for more than 28 consecutive days due to an injury sustained on international duty, their club can receive a daily pro-rata payment.

This compensation is capped at €20,548 per day, with a maximum payout of €7.5 million for a single injury, providing significant financial support for long-term absences.