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The Bandari wonderkid earned his maiden Harambee Stars call up for the upcoming COSAFA Cup in South Africa despite the fact he is still only in High School.
Bandari FC head coach John Baraza has expressed his admiration for the club’s teenage forward, William Gitama, following his first-ever call-up to the Harambee Stars national team.
Gitama, still in high school, has shown remarkable maturity and skill in his appearances for Bandari in the top flight of Kenyan football, earning praise from his coach and attracting national attention.
Gitama's standout performances at the Costa Daurada Cup, where he was part of the Talanta Hela U-19 side, showcased his exceptional talent.
He won the golden boot by scoring three goals in five matches, helping his team clinch the title.
This impressive display caught the eye of Harambee Stars assistant coach Ken Odhiambo, who included Gitama in the preliminary squad for the upcoming COSAFA tournament in South Africa.
Speaking to the media after Bandari's goalless draw against Kenya Police at the Police Sacco Stadium on Wednesday, Baraza highlighted Gitama's potential and qualities that led to his national team call-up.
“He is a young kid with a lot of potential,” Baraza said.
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“He is a special player who will become a huge deal for Kenyan football. He is only a teen, but the speed at which he plays the game with is incredible.
Despite his young age, Gitama has already shown that he can hold his own against established internationals, as seen in his performance against Kenya Police.
“If you look at how he played against Police, a team full of established internationals, I feel he is a kid that will do great things for Kenya. I think coach Ken has gold on his hands, and he will be incredibly integral in South Africa,” Baraza added.
It is crazy to imagine that the teenage sensation is still in high school, where he plays for Serani Boys High School, a side he is also trying to help reach the nationals. He also studied at St. Anthony’s Boys in Kitale for a while before transferring there.
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Gitama's commitment to both his education and football is evident, as Baraza mentioned the club had to excuse him to return to Mombasa to participate in school games.
Despite his young age, Gitama has already shown that he can hold his own against established internationals, as seen in his performance against Kenya Police.
As Bandari prepares to face FC Talanta in their last league game of the season this Sunday, they aim to consolidate a fourth-place finish with a win, hoping that other results will go in their favor.
The Dockers currently sit in fifth place with 49 points, just one point behind Nairobi City Stars, who will be playing KCB on Sunday.
With Gitama’s rising star, Bandari and Kenyan football enthusiasts have much to look forward to as this young talent continues to develop and make his mark both domestically and internationally.
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