NAIROBI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's senior football team head coach, Stanley Okumbi, has brought back George Odhiambo to the squad that will play Mozambique in a FIFA International friendly on Sept. 2.
Odhiambo alias Blackery, nicknamed after one of the most popular smart phone of the past decade that is no longer in production owing to his silky skills has shown the riveting form that made him crowned Kenya's Player of the Year in 2010.
Still 25, Odhiambo exploded to the scene as a teenager, winning the hearts of local fans when his wing play helped his club and Kenyan giants Gor Mahia FC finish second in the domestic top flight.
He secured a move to Danish side Randers FC in 2011 where he endured a disastrous spell, playing only twice as he fell out of favour with the club management.
Then a staple of the national team known as Harambee Stars, Odhiambo was capped for the last time by his former coach at Gor, Zedekiah Otieno over six years ago but Okumbi has been impressed with his performance this season to hand him a recall.
He returned to Gor in 2014 after spells at Kuopino (2012/Finland), Azam FC (2013/Tanzania), Shirak (2013), Ulisses (2013) and Nairobi City Stars (2014).
The winger has scored twice in the last three Gor games and set the winner in the other as he enjoys a renaissance under new English boss at his club, Dylan Kerr.
Stars will travel to Maputo for the encounter hoping to atone for their 1-2 defeat to Sierra Leone in their opening 2019 AFCON qualifier in June.
Okumbi, whose 11-match unbeaten run at the helm was halted by Sierra Leone, has kept faith in a chunk of the select league side that recently toured Spain.
Boniface Muchiri and Jackson Macharia were the biggest beneficiaries after being included in his team to face the Mozambique O Mambas (The Crocodiles).
Striker Kepha Aswani and Omar Mbongi are also among those earning recalls with the latter set to provide more options for Okumbi at left back where he has been in fine form for his club side Ulinzi Stars FC.
Ulinzi teammate Daniel Waweru has also received the nod from Okumbi who is looking to use this friendly match to prepare for the 2018 Africa Home Nations Championships that Kenya will host in January.
The surprise inclusions are Mathare United FC's youngster Chris Ochieng' and second-tier National Super League side Wazito FC's Joe Waithera who will contest for a spot in the final squad.
