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Firat has explained why he called up Ronney Onyango to the national team amid his disciplinary woes at Gor Mahia, also clarifying why he benched Patrick Matasi against Zimbabwe and Namibia last September.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has justified his decision to include Ronney Onyango in the national team setup despite the player's ongoing disciplinary issues at Gor Mahia, which saw him suspended indefinitely by the club.
Onyango's suspension followed his refusal to play as a center forward during Gor Mahia’s CAF Champions League clash against Al Ahly in Cairo last month, insisting on being deployed as a flanker.
This defiance led to coach Leonardo Neiva excluding Onyango from the squad that faced the African champions, imposing a suspension until the matter could be resolved with Gor Mahia's management. Reports suggest this wasn’t an isolated incident, as Onyango had displayed similar behaviour during the CECAFA Club Championship in Tanzania.
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"Ronney missed the game due to a lack of commitment, behaviour, and discipline. We are a team, and teamwork is essential. This is an internal matter that we will resolve," Neiva had commented after the Cairo incident.
Despite having missed Gor Mahia’s last two matches, Onyango remains part of the Harambee Stars squad preparing for the upcoming AFCON 2025 double-header qualifiers against Cameroon. The first leg will take place this Friday in Cameroon, with the return fixture set for next Monday in Uganda.
Firat, defended his decision to call up the defender during a press briefing last wednesday.
"Rooney has never had any discipline problems here. He is working hard, and this is purely a Gor Mahia issue, not one for the national team," Firat stated.
Onyango, who made his national team debut under Firat last year, has since become a regular starter for the Stars, often featuring as a right-winger. He is expected to start in the crucial AFCON qualifier against Cameroon.
In addition to addressing the Rooney Onyango situation, Firat also shed light on the state of the goalkeeping department ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
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Byrne Omondi, who returned to the squad during the September matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia, retained his place in goal for the first time since suffering a leg injury in a friendly match against Russia.
Patrick Matasi, who had been the preferred goalkeeper, was mysteriously dropped from both September fixtures, raising speculation that he might be excluded from the squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
However, Firat clarified that Matasi remains in contention, but emphasised that there is no first-choice goalkeeper in the national team setup, stressing the importance of competition for places.
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"There is no cementing in this team. You have to understand that if I don't have enough rivalry, we will not progress. Everybody has to know that their place is not safe," Firat explained.
"Maybe last time Patrick thought his place was secure. No, I must do what's best for the team, regardless of the names involved," the coach added.
Firat’s comments signal a competitive environment within the squad as they prepare for the vital AFCON qualifiers, with no player guaranteed a starting spot, ensuring that every position remains up for grabs.
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