Why talismanic midfielder Charles Ouma ditched Harambee Stars for South Sudan

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FOOTBALL Why talismanic midfielder Charles Ouma ditched Harambee Stars for South Sudan

Mark Kinyanjui 11:00 - 12.03.2024

Ouma, an AFC Leopards academy graduate, was part of the Harambee Stars squad four the Mauritius Four Nations tournament in June, but has declared for South Sudan, who even called him up.

Kenya Police midfielder Charles Ouma has explained why he ditched Harambee Stars in order to represent South Sudan at international level.

Ouma is among six Kenyan-based players who have received the honor of being called up to the South Sudan national team for the preliminary round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe.

The 20-year-old midfield dynamo first caught the eye of the national selectors in July 2023, when he was called up to the Kenya national team, Harambee Stars, by coach Engin Firat for the Four Nations tournament in Mauritius.

Despite not making an appearance in the tournament, Ouma's potential was undeniable, leading him to switch allegiance to South Sudan, where he aims to make a substantial impact.

Before his rise to international recognition, Ouma's journey began at Sindo United, from where he moved to Kenya Police in 2020. 

“I want to play and build my CV,” Ouma told Pulse Sports when quizzed about why he opted to make that decision.

“Going there is a decision I made and they needed me, so I could not say no.”

At Police, Ouma has fellow South Sudan internationals Tito Okello and Rashid Toha who could have played a part in convincing him to make the switch, something Ouma has vehemently denied.

“No one convinced me. It was a decision I made. I actually do not know how to speak Arabic, but they were convinced by how I want to play my football.”

Ouma’s desire to go pro also played a part in his decision to play for the country, as he believes more caps will give him a higher chance of moving abroad.

“The more caps I earn, the more I will earn a chance to go professional and I am optimistic things will go well.”

Before his rise to international recognition, Ouma's journey began at Sindo United, from where he moved to Kenya Police in 2020. 

Standing tall in midfield, he possesses the versatility to play both defensively and in a central attacking role. 

His contributions were pivotal in helping Kenya Police secure promotion to the top flight, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure and contribute to his team's success.

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