Football fans in Kenya were elated on Monday, December 12, when President William Ruto announced strategies that would help Kenya qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Though, for that dream to become a reality, the country must have brilliant footballers at its disposal.
Bernard Mwarome, is one of the players who are likely to lead Harambee Stars to the most-watched tournament in the globe.
Also Read: Meet Monaco Star Who Is Eligible to Play for Kenya
For this to happen, football stakeholders in the country would have to convince Mwarome to play for the country of his birth before he ends up serving other nations such as Divock Origi who plays for Belgium.
Mwarome, who was born in Mombasa currently plays for Pipinsried, a German-based football club.
The 25-year-old began his career at 31x Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. He has also previously featured for Bonner SC, SV Heimstetten and Augsburg II.
During the 2016/2017 season, the highly-rated defensive midfielder helped Bayern Munich to finish second in the Under 19 Bundesliga title race.
Recently, Musa Otieno, Harambee Stars most capped player, argued that despite Kenya possessing numerous gifted players, the lack of proper management lets the country down.
“It’s all about football structures and youth development. I’m amazed to learn that there is a Kenyan in Bayern Munich youth team, but it’s a big plus for us because playing for Bayern Munich at any level shows that Mwarome is a big player.
“There is talent in Kenya but we do not have that serious development structures from the lower stages. The success stories of Origi and Mwarome explain it all,” he told Citizen Digital then.
Mwarome is not the only player who is eligible to play for the national team.
Eliot Matazo, who is contracted with French Ligue 1 side Monaco is also eligible to play for Kenya. Matazo’s mother is from Western Kenya, precisely Nyanza region.
However, he has already played some games for the Belgium under-18 side and he is very close to making his debut for the Red Devils.