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Although the side has faced a myriad of problems off the pitch that partly contributed to their failiure to qualify for AFCON 2025, the Gor Mahia defender has admitted that the players should also have shown more desire and fight.
Harambee Stars defender Sylvester Owino has urged his teammates to show more fight and determination when called up for international duty, as the national team grapples with poor performances and dwindling fan morale.
Under the guidance of head coach Engin Firat, the Stars have endured a difficult stretch, failing to secure a single win since October. Back-to-back losses to Cameroon, followed by draws against Namibia and Zimbabwe, ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The team also suffered elimination from the 2025 CHAN qualifiers, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Kenya Police FC.
These setbacks have seen Kenya drop to 108th in the FIFA rankings, overtaken by regional rivals Tanzania, who now rank 107th and have secured back-to-back AFCON qualifications.
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17:40 - 25.11.2024
Gor Mahia & Harambee Stars defender Sylvester Owino vows to avoid unofficial matches amid A Mosquito FC controversy
Sylvester Owino was among the Gor Mahia players that landed in angered fans' hot soup after featuring in unsanctioned friendly matches for A Mosquito FC.
The results have put Firat under immense pressure, with Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen threatening to halt funding for the national team and hinting at Firat’s possible dismissal.
Speaking on the Tiki Taka show, Owino, who played in three of Kenya’s six AFCON qualifiers, emphasised that while criticism of the coaching staff is valid, the players must also take responsibility for their performances.
“Imagine you representing 50-plus million people. You can imagine the weight. It is heavy, but if you have the right people around you to guide you, it becomes much easier,” the Gor Mahia stopper shared.
He expressed pride in representing the national team, describing it as the pinnacle of a player’s career but acknowledged that improvements are necessary.
“There is always room for improvement, but given another chance, I will want to do much better. The fans expect the best from us. They demand results. Sometimes, disappointments happen, but the national team can do better with the right conditions and resources. The talent is there,” he said.
Owino also highlighted the systemic challenges facing Kenyan football, particularly inadequate preparation and limited investment compared to other African nations.
“Sometimes, preparation is not adequate. In these competitions, we compete against some top teams in Africa, and the investment they put in football is remarkable. That is where we go wrong in the country, but we hope things will get better,” Owino remarked.
He called on his teammates to step up and stop letting down fans, whose support he described as both demanding and inspiring.
“We should not let down the fans when we get called up. If something is recurrent every game, it attracts negativity, which demoralizes the player,” Owino added.
As Harambee Stars face mounting pressure, Owino’s reflections underline the need for a holistic approach to revive Kenyan football. Beyond individual effort, addressing systemic issues like funding, infrastructure, and preparation could help transform the team’s fortunes.
For now, the national team must find a way to channel the weight of expectation into a renewed sense of purpose, both on and off the pitch.
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