Goalkeeper Brian Opondo believes that his call up to the Harambee Stars squad for the first time ever is a product of hard work and determination.
Opondo has earned a place in coach Benni McCarthy’s provisional squad that starts preparations for the forthcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Gambia and Gabon.
The 23-year old has already donned national team colors, turning out for the Kenya Under-20 team in 2021, but this will be the first time he will be getting in to the senior team.
Speaking after learning his call up, Opondo says he is chuffed at the opportunity.
“It feels really great to get this call up. This is a massive challenge and I believe it is the product of what I have been doing; hard work pays. This is an opportunity that everyone wishes they got and I don’t take it for granted,” Opondo says.
The shot stopper started the season on a slow, battling injury and a fight for a place in the team. However, he managed to work his way up and has so far kept six clean sheets in eight league matches, conceding only twice.
“It was really difficult and quite a challenging time especially with injury coming that early in the season. But I never lost hope, I kept working hard to recover and come back to good shape. I always pushed myself and my teammates always pushed me as well,” he explained.
Opondo joined Tusker from Bidco United in 2022 and even then, didn’t quite manage to break into the first team. He started playing sparingly in 2023, with stiff competition from Brian Bwire, who has since moved to South Africa.
For him, it was a test of patience and resilience.
“When I joined Tusker, I stayed for almost one season without playing. But I didn’t lose my head and I kept working knowing that anyone who passes through coach Dunco’s (Duncan Ochieng) arms, always ends up successful. I always motivated myself that everyone has their oen time and mine will come,” Opondo reflects.
And now, as he heads to a tougher competitive zone with four top keepers called in for national team, including Bwire as well as former Tusker man Faruk Shikhalo and Ian Otieno, who also plies his trade in South Africa.
Opondo’s dream is clear; “I want to work hard to make the final squad. It will be a great feeling for me to remain in the team and I am going there to work harder. I know competition will be tough and it will be great competing with such good goalkeepers.”
