Dropped Oduor positive over Stars future

Clarke Oduor is positive about his future in the national team Harambee Stars, despite being dropped just after his first call-up.

Oduor, who features for English Championship side Barnsley, earned his first Stars cap in October 9, playing 20 minutes in the friendly against Zambia which Kenya won 2-1.

Former Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi had shown admiration for the player, telling Citizen Digital he would be retained in the team for the two African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros in November.

However, with sudden change of guard in the Stars’ technical bench, new coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee dropped the 21-year old left-back as he named a 40-man squad for the qualifiers.

“He has taken it quite graciously. He knows there is a new coach and believes he knows what he is doing. When there are players picked ahead of him, he understands it’s all about competition.

“Like he says, he is a big fan of Harambee Stars- we are all big fans of the national team so we have also taken it positively,” said his father Charles Oduor, from his London base.

Oduor was instrumental for the Zambia call up, as little was known about his son who they moved with to the UK in 2000, when he was just a year old. Just like the father, Oduor was thrilled to earn his maiden Stars’ call up.

“We were all excited, he was particularly. When he came back he told us he saw zealous and professional players. With latest development, he is focusing on his club duties waiting for another opportunity to play for Stars.

“We will keep encouraging him because he’s got the love for the country as well. He sounds pretty sure he will return,” Oduor Sr added.

The former Leeds United player was in action when Barnsley thrashed Queens Park Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday in the Championship.