Manzur Okwaro Makes Bold Promise to Harambee Stars Fans Ahead of CHAN 2024 Quarters Against Madagascar

Harambee Stars defender Manzur Suleiman Okwaro has made a bold promise to Kenyans as the side prepare to take on Madagascar in the quarter finals of the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) 2024 on home soil. 

Kenya upset the odds to finish top of group A, which included DR Congo, Angola, Morocco and Zambia, and now know they are three games away from lifting the title for the first time in their history.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Sunday night, Okwaro, a former Kenya U18 and still an active U20 international, admitted the pressure the team was under to deliver in front of the home crowd from the opening game of the season.

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“There was alot of pressure for me personally. I had never said at such a level before, as did alot of the other players, but we pushed ourselves,” Okwaro said.

Okwaro highlighted the resilience the team has shown throughout the group stage, including two matches where Kenya played almost an hour with 10 men—yet still managed to secure vital results against Morocco and Angola.

“In the games where we had to play nearly 70 minutes with 10 men, against Morocco and Angola who are good at keeping the ball, you can imagine how hard it was. But I thank God the team pushed itself hard.”

The young defender also credited President William Ruto’s incentives and the passionate support from Kenyan fans for driving the team forward.

“The president also motivated us. As did the fans, and we are grateful for their overwhelming support,” Okwaro said.

With millions of shillings in bonuses already earned, and the possibility of even greater rewards if the Stars go all the way, Okwaro insists the team’s focus is not just on money—but on fighting for their country.

As they prepare for Friday’s showdown at Kasarani Stadium, Okwaro issued a rallying cry to Kenyans to fill the stands and back the team.

“The fans should turn up in large numbers against Madagascar. It will be good for us to push ourselves hard. We cannot promise anything—it is football—but we will fight as hard as we can, and with God’s grace, we will win this trophy at home.”

Kenya is now just three games away from making history and lifting the CHAN trophy on home soil. For a young defender like Okwaro, who has already shown remarkable maturity and grit, the challenge is clear: fight with everything, lean on faith, and trust in the power of unity.