Vincent Harper Focused on Walsall Fight After Shock Exclusion from Harambee Stars

Harambee Stars defender Vincent Harper insists his full attention is on Walsall’s crucial league fixture against Newport County this weekend, as the Saddlers aim to continue their strong form. 

Despite a whirlwind period that has included FA Cup success and complex developments on the international stage, the defender remains grounded. 

The Saddlers are buoyed by a "professional performance" from last weekend, which saw them victorious in the Emirates FA Cup. 

The match was a significant one for Harper, as it pitted him against his former club, Eastleigh. Walsall ran out 3-0 winners, booking their place in the second round and continuing their positive momentum.

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Reflecting on the cup win, Harper was pleased to advance and to see familiar faces, but remained analytical about the team's performance.

“It was nice to go back and see some familiar faces,” he said. 

“I was lucky to see some fans, staff and others that were there. Going into it, we got the job done, but reflecting back on it, I don’t think we started well enough. Second half, we showed what we can do and we still had a lot left to give second half.”

The reward for that victory is a trip to Tyneside to face National League side Gateshead in the Second Round.

 Harper, who has experience playing against them, is not taking the non-league opposition lightly and expects a difficult match.

“I’ve played them before and they’re a decent side,” Harper commented. 

“They like to play, they don’t just kick it long, so it will be a tough game. We need to go into like any other game, but start the game a lot better than we did the last.”

Before that cup tie, however, is the immediate task at hand: Newport County. Harper mentioned that preparations in training have been sharp. 

“Although they’re towards the bottom, that’ll probably give them more hunger to want to be top of the league,” he said.

 “We just need to go into it with the right mindset. You’ve got to respect them but not give them too much respect. Hopefully, get an early goal, or early first half goal and dominate the game.

“The lads have been at it and ready to go. We want to go there, stay top of the league and get the three points.”

Away from the domestic grind, Harper also reflected on his recent time with the Kenya national team, which he described as a proud moment for his family.

“Being part of the World Cup qualifiers, although we didn’t qualify, it was surreal,” he said.

 “Playing in big stadiums, playing against big players and seeing players you wouldn’t normally see on a Saturday, it was incredible.”

Following those qualifiers, Harper was named in the initial Harambee Stars squad set to play two international friendlies in Antalya, Turkey, during the upcoming November FIFA window, with matches slated against Madagascar and Comoros.

In his interview, he was looking forward to rejoining the squad.

“We’ve got two friendlies coming up and it will be good to fit in with the squad and to cement my spot if I can.”

However, in a recent development it was noted that Harper, along with Manzur Okwaro and Adam Wilson has since been dropped from the final Harambee Stars squad.

The friendly fixtures were also changed to matches against Equatorial Guinea and Senegal. 

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has not yet publicly explained the omissions, leaving Harper to focus fully on his club duties as Walsall fight to remain at the top of the table.