Kenyan national football team captain Michael Olunga has made a heartbreaking statement ahead of their international friendly match against Iran in Tehran.
The Harambee Stars were omitted from the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Zimbabwe, due to suspension by FIFA for government interference.
Olunga expressed his disappointment at missing out on participating in these major competitions, especially after watching other national teams play in the qualifiers.
“It is tough watching other teams play the qualifiers. Of course, it is a dream of any player to play in these major competitions,” Olunga said.
The Harambee Stars were supposed to play against Burundi on Match Day four of the qualifiers but were left out due to the suspension. However, they are set to face off against Iran in an international friendly match on Tuesday.
Olunga sees the upcoming match against Iran as a brilliant opportunity for the players to measure their level against a technically skilled and tough team. Iran played at the last World Cup in Qatar and are known for their equally gifted players.
“Technically and tactically they are a good side, and we saw their last result when they played in a draw against Russia,” Olunga said.
As players, they want to compete with the top teams and play matches against teams that have reached the top. Olunga sees the friendly match as a positive step towards achieving their goals.
“It is a good test for the boys. When you want to compete with the top, you have to play with teams who have reached the top. It is a good test for the boys,” Olunga added.
The Harambee Stars captain is glad to be back with the national team after a 17-month break, which has not been easy for everyone involved. He believes it is time to put everything behind their backs and get back to where they left off.
