REVEALED: Former Australia youth international Bruce Kamau approached Harambee Stars to consider calling him up

REVEALED: Former Australia youth international Bruce Kamau approached Harambee Stars to consider calling him up

Mark Kinyanjui 12:00 - 23.05.2024

The Perth Glory speedstar approached the Harambee Stars about a willingness to represent them, having played for the Australia U-23 side on five ocassions.

Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has revealed Bruce Kamau approached his camp to express a willingness to play for the national team.

Kamau, 28, was born in Kenya but relocated to Australia in 1999 at the tender age of four, and he ended up embracing Australian culture and football.

His formative years in Oceania facilitated his assimilation and provided him opportunities in football that he believed were superior to those available in Kenya.  

His journey in professional football saw him playing for Adelaide United and later becoming part of the Australian U23 team that competed in the 2018 Asian Cup.

“It was a hard decision to choose Australia over Kenya, but I still have my roots and a lot of pride in Kenya. 

“But opportunity-wise, for myself in football, I think Australia has better opportunities for me, to maximize my career and achieve some of the things I want to achieve," Kamau noted on Daring Abroad back in 2019.

However, his career has not hit the heights he hoped, and time is running short on his international prospects. It was therefore no surprise to see him end up accepting a Kenya call up.

Firat insists that he did not even convince him that much, considering it was his camp that approached Football Kenya Federation themselves.

“The secret behind why everybody now wants to come is because we have played good games against good teams and it has become a family where everyone wants to be with us,” Firat said.

“With Bruce, I did not invite him. He asked for it and it came from his side. There is no secret. At this moment, everyone wants to be with us. If someone is out, he calls me and I explain to him why I left him out.”

Firat has revealed that the camaraderie that his players have formed since resuming international football in 2023 has created a winning environment that has allowed them to persevere through against all odds.

“The last year was very difficult for us. We had so many problems but you will never hear me of the players speak about them which makes us united given all the sacrifices we make as a family.

“We do not get affected if anyone writes bulls**t, we do not get affected, and that is why even the boys from outside are now ready to come and play.”

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