Kenya’s Harambee Stars squad is determined to make Kenyans proud in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, Michael Olunga has assured.
The striker who is expected to lead the line for the Stars in the tournament to be held in Egypt insisted the team is building their game around teamwork.
“It’s great that we are being rated among the teams that conceded few goals in the tournament and as a player I will really like to give my input to the team and make sure we have a fruitful tournament that will make Kenyans proud,” said Olunga, who was part of the team that beat Madagascar 1-0 in a pre-afcon friendly match last Saturday.
He added, “There is so much talent in our country but due to lack of participation in these major tournaments most of the players have not had that opportunity to play abroad so it’s our prayer that during this competition they will get spotted.”
The 25-year-old striker who plies his trade in Japan for Kashiwa Reysol said that he is under no pressure even as Harambee Stars returns to the competition after 15 years.
“I’m not under any pressure to perform. It’s not about individual effort, its teamwork that will win us games. Personally, I will give everything to my country in all the games that I’ll play and that has been the spirit in the camp ahead of the tournament,” Olunga told reporters from the team’s training camp in France.
“This squad has a balanced mixture of players from the Kenya Premier League to those who play abroad. There is so much potential in the squad and we are determined to succeed and make Kenyans proud when then tournament begins.”
“It has been a long journey for the team to reach here and when we will step into that pitch, for the opening match, we are going to do our best,” he added.
The national team will take on DR Congo in another friendly on June 15 before coach Sebastien Migne names his final 23-man squad for the tournament.
