Marvin Nabwire: How Kenya Police Midfielder Convinced Benni McCarthy to Hand Him Late Harambee Stars Call-Up

Kenya Police FC midfielder Marvin Nabwire has earned a late but well-deserved call-up to the Harambee Stars squad ahead of the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament set for to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August.

The decision came after Nabwire’s standout performance in a friendly match held on Tuesday, where he faced the national team as part of a select side of former Kariobangi Sharks players.

The game was played at the Kasarani Annex and saw Harambee Stars take on the Sharks alumni in an unconventional format of three halves.

The scores over the course of the match were (1-0), (0-0), and (0-2), reflecting the competitive nature of the contest and allowing coach Benni McCarthy to test multiple players in different conditions.

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Nabwire's poise in midfield, vision, and ability to control the tempo stood out during the friendly match, catching the eye of Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy.

Despite being on the opposing team, Nabwire demonstrated exceptional composure under pressure and a keen understanding of match dynamics, attributes that reportedly impressed the South African tactician.

The match saw Gor Mahia's Austin Odhiambo score the only goal for Harambee Stars in the opening third, before the second half ended goalless.

The final segment saw the former Sharks side respond strongly, with Eli Asieche and Shaphan Siwa finding the back of the net to secure a 2-1 comeback win.

Impressed by his performance, McCarthy wasted no time in extending a late invitation to Nabwire to join the national squad.

The move has been widely praised as both bold and forward-thinking, signaling the coach’s commitment to rewarding in-form local talent regardless of timing or prior squad lists.

With CHAN focusing exclusively on players based in domestic leagues, Nabwire’s inclusion is not only timely but also symbolic of the growing competitiveness in the Kenyan Premier League.

As he joins camp, all eyes will now be on how quickly he adapts and what impact he can make on the continental stage.