Coach Firat on Rooney’s Debut, “We Now Have One More Quality Player”

Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Gor Mahia’s right-back, Rooney Onyango, who made his national team debut during Monday night’s friendly match against Russia in Turkey.

Onyango, who joined K’Ogalo at the beginning of the season, played an offensive role during the game and put in an 86-minute shift before being replaced by Tusker’s Daniel Sakari.

Firat emphasized that Onyango’s opportunity was well-deserved due to his hard work and dedication to football, highlighting his potential as a valuable addition to the team.

Onyango’s performance provides more options on the right side of defence for Firat. Danish-based Daniel Anyembe has shown promise in recent matches, while midfielder Amos Nondi has also filled in capably in the position. With Sakari returning from injury and gaining valuable minutes in Antalya, Firat’s defensive options appear to be well-stocked for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Seychelles in November.

Reflecting on Monday night’s match, Firat commended the team’s performance, noting that they displayed organization and skill.

Despite conceding an early goal due to nerves, the team demonstrated maturity and composure throughout the match. Firat also expressed his belief that, with better finishing, his team could have secured a more significant victory.

He praised the players for their ability to control the game, particularly after falling behind early, and expressed confidence that the team is on the right path to compete effectively in upcoming matches, including the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers.