When Javan Omondi opted to defer his studies at Kenyatta University in favour of a football scholarship in the United States, the winger believed the gamble would inch him closer to one of his childhood dreams: playing for the national team, Harambee Stars.Omondi made the bold call to defer his studies in June 2025 after securing a football scholarship at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe move later saw him join USL League Two side Hickory FC.AFC Leopards chairman Bonface Ambani's remedy to league resumption standoffBefore moving to the United States, the Kisumu-born player was one of the most sought-after wingers in the FKF Premier League.However, he decamped from Ulinzi Stars and shelved all offers lying on his table, halting his education at one of the country's prestigious tertiary institutions for a move to the US.True to his instincts, the gamble paid off as his rapid rise in the United States earned him his maiden Harambee Stars call-up in early September.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980413##Omondi was named in the provisional squad after head coach Benni McCarthy announced his team for the opening rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Eritrea and Guinea.He was later included in the final squad, putting him in line to make his Harambee Stars debut during the extended FIFA international window, which will see most leagues take a three-week break.While the call-up is a moment to savour for the 21-year-old, Omondi knows he must now repay McCarthy’s faith with a strong showing in training as he looks to earn his Harambee Stars debut.Anthony Akumu sets ambitious 2027 AFCON target after bitter 2019 snub“Securing my first call-up to the senior team is a dream come true for me. That was one of my many wishes when I decided to take up the football scholarship programme in the United States of America. The call-up is now behind me. I am fully aware that I have to give my best to earn game time,” he told Mozzart Sport.Ahead of Saturday’s clash against Eritrea, Omondi is hoping to bring his best wing play and make the most of any opportunity that comes his way.Harambee Stars secure friendly to make it 3 matches in 9 daysThe 21-year-old wants to use his pace and creativity to create chances for his teammates while providing an attacking threat from the flank."I promise to bring my best game and create as many chances as possible. There has been a challenge with our wing play, and I hope to be part of the solution," said the St. Anthony's Boys' Kitale old boy.Meanwhile, having featured for the national U20 team at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt, Omondi is pleased with his transition to the senior squad.Kenyan midfielder suffers late heartbreak against Arsenal in UEFA Women’s Champions LeagueThe former Bayern Youth player believes the future of the senior team depends on a smooth transition of several players who formed part of the U20 squad at the AFCON finals.“There is a lot of talent in last year's U20 team, and I believe many of those players have what it takes to step up. If given the right opportunities, they can become important players for Harambee Stars in the future," he added.Other Rising Stars who have since made it to the senior team are: Suleiman Manzur Okwaro, Aldrine Kibet and Amos Wanjala.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978809##
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