McKinstry: What Omala and Onyango’s Harambee Stars call-ups mean for Gor Mahia

Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry hopes Benson Omala and Alpha Onyango’s Harambee Stars call-ups will open doors for many players from the club to join the National Team.

From the 19 local players that made it into the provisional squad named by Engin Firat on Wednesday, only two were from K’Ogalo.

Gor Mahia’s fiercest rivals, AFC Leopards, also contributed two, and the minimal number of players from both sides is a contradiction to what has been the tradition.

Since the 1980s, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards – and to a lesser extent, Tusker - have been dominating the national side.

But analyzing Firat’s latest squad, Police lead with seven players, followed by Bandari, whose three players received call-ups.

However, McKinstry - in charge of the 19-time Premier League giants – hopes Omala’s and Onyango’s call ups will open the door for many of their teammates going forward.

"Congratulations to Benson Omala and Alpha Onyango on their call-up to the Harambee Stars squad," the coach tweeted.

"We know they will represent Kenya well and will be the first of many of this new Gor Mahia generation to wear their national colours."

Omala was rewarded with a national team call-up following his sensational form in the league, where he has scored 19 goals already.

Onyango is among the other seven who received their maiden call-ups. Others are Bryne Omondi of KCB, Daniel Ayembe of Viborg of Denmark, Nzoia Sugar’s Joseph Mwangi and Hasan Beja, Alvin Mang’eni of Police FC, Leopards’ Omune, and Alfred Scriven, who features for IL Hodd in Norway.

The friendly against Iran will be the first engagement for Kenya since FIFA lifted a suspension on the CECAFA nation.

Harambee Stars were initially scheduled to play Burundi, but a change of plans means Kenya will travel to Tehran for the Tuesday 28 March game.