NAIROBI, Kenya, March 15 – Denmark Under 23 player Daniel Anyembe and Norway-based Alfred Scriven are among new faces who will report to camp alongside other players called up for Harambee Stars’ upcoming international friendly against Iran in a fortnight in Tehran.
Anyembe plays as a right-back for Danish Superliga club Viborg and has made 27 appearances for the club, having joined them in July 2021 from his hometown team, Esbjerg IF.
The 24-year-old, son to a Kenyan father and Danish mother, has also amassed 20 appearances for the Danish national team at the youth level beginning with the under-17s before gradually transitioning to the Under-23s.
His playing career began at Esbjerg’s academy in 2009 before promotion to the first team in the 2017/18 season for who he made his European debut in a 2-0 loss to Belarussian side Shakhtyor Soligorsk in a UEFA Europa League qualifying round.
Kenyan-born Norwegian, Scriven, currently plies his trade for IL Hodd for who he has so far scored 13 goals in 44 appearances since he joined from Mjondalen in August 2021.
The 25-year-old is comfortable playing across the front three, including as a centre forward, right and left winger.
He boasts 24 goals in 112 appearances since he first started his professional career at Hallingdal FK in January 2018.
Speaking after unveiling the provisional squad, Harambee Stars Engin Firat expressed optimism that the two players, along with other foreign-born players, will help improve the overall technical level of the team considering they received their footballing education in some of the most modern and well-developed infrastructure.
“We need a better scouting system to ensure that we identify players who are available to play for the country and convince them early enough. These players have an advantage because some of them have played even in European national teams at junior level and are therefore tactically and mentally ready,” Firat said.
The 30-man squad also comprises players who featured in Stars’ last match against Rwanda in November 2021 as well as those who have shone in the current season of the FKF Premier League.
The league’s top scorer, Benson Omalla of Gor Mahia, as well as his closest competitor, Elvis Rupia of Kenya Police, have been rewarded with call-ups and will be expected to help captain Michael Olunga shoulder the goalscoring burden.
Nzoia Sugar’s excellent form this season has seen the duo of Joseph Mwangi and Hassan Beja earn their first invites to the national team whereas AFC Leopards’ custodian Levis Opiyo gets onto the list by virtue of keeping the most clean sheets this season.
The team will enter camp on Friday to commence training ahead of their departure on March 26 for the tie in the Iranian capital, two days later.
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi (Police FC), Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Bryne Odhiambo (KCB), Levin Opiyo (AFC Leopards)
Defenders
Joseph Okumu (Gent, Belgium), Brian Mandela (South Africa), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela, Portugal), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Andrew Juma (Bandari), David Ochieng (Mathare United), Maurice Owino (KCB), Collins Shichenje (AIK, Sweden), Mohamed Siraj (Bandari), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), Abud Omar (Kenya Police)
Midfielders
Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Richard Odada (Philadelphia Union, USA), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Joseph Mwangi (Nzoia Sugar), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Abdallah Hasan (Bandari), Duke Abuya (Kenya Police), Wilkims Ochieng (FC Koper, Slovenia), Moses Mudavadi (KK Homeboyz), Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police), Hasan Beja (Nzoia Sugar), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards)
Forwards
Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia), Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Morocco), Alfred Scriven (IL Hødd, Norway)
