Sweden-based striker wants to play for Harambee Stars

Sweden-based winger, Chris Mbamba, has expressed interest in playing for Harambee Stars just as Kenya prepares to feature in the African Cup of Nations.

Even though he is born to a Zimbabwean father and a Kenyan mother, the 26-year-old played for Sweden in their Under 17 and Under 20 teams. This however does not bar him from playing for Kenya as he has never featured for the Swedish National team.

Mbamba features for a Swedish second tier side, Oskarshamns AIK, as an attacking midfielder and in other occasions a winger. He can be a very good option for Harambee Stars in the event Sebastian Migne gives him a call as he is a very skillful and fast paced attacker.

Having moved to Sweden at the age of eight to get his football education, the Oskarshamns AIK attacker’s experience in the game can prove to be beneficial to Kenya despite never playing for a top ranked first tier club. As he looks for International football, Mbamba has said that he as always had the option to play for Kenya and wishes to explore it now.

“Playing for (Kenya) has always been an option for me because of my roots. I am closest to my Kenyan relatives and it is always been home to me despite the fact that I have not lived there. My mother is from Meru, where I have spent most of the visits apart from Nairobi of course,” he told Goal.com.

The fact that he was raised in Zimbabwe until the age of eight, could make the winger easily adapt to African climate if given a chance to feature for Harambee Stars. He looks at his football career as a dreams come true despite facing challenges as he tried to make it to a top level.

“ It’s been challenging but stimulating. A dream come true but very demanding of course, which I like. Some of the successes that stick out are memories like my professional debut for IFK Gothenburg and my professional debut on English turf,” he added. He played in England for League two side Port Vale.

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However, should he be called to the Harambee Stars side, Mbamba is not definite of getting first team football as he will be contesting for play time against Kenya’s talented attackers such as Eric Johanna, Clifton Miheso, Ayub Timbe, Paul Were and Ovella Ochieng.