Lovely Scenes As Kenyans in Qatar Turn Up in Large Numbers to Watch Harambee Stars, Video

• Kenyans living in Qatar turned up in huge numbers to support Harambee Stars this week
• The Michael Olunga-captained side beat the 2022 World Cup hosts on their own home turf
• Olunga urged fans to attend the next game, with support in stadia for local games a challenge

A quick glance at the Qatar versus Kenya friendly match on September 7 and one might think it was a home game for Harambee Stars.

Every pass, every show of skill, and every attempt at a goal by a Kenyan player was celebrated wildly - let alone the two goals that were scored.

Every now and then, the camera angles would pan to people draped in white robes - presumably Qatar fans - before moving to a section of the crowd that proudly swung the red, black, white, and green colours of the Kenyan flag.

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Arguably, the last time the national football team - and correct me if I am wrong - enjoyed such a reception was during the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ethiopia were the opponents that day with the task at hand simple - win and book a ticket for your first appearance at AFCON for the first time since 2004.

Just like against Qatar, the home team delivered against the Walia Ibex. The only difference was that the Ethiopian game was staged on home ground at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, while their latest 2-1 triumph over Qatar came at the Al Janoub Stadium in the outskirts of Doha - the main host city of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

To say the Kenyan contingent living in Qatar turned up would be an understatement. As sports journalist, Jeff Kinyanjui reports, out of the approximately 15,000 fans that attended the game, Kenyans bought 11,000 of those tickets.

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Qatar versus Kenya: match report

Engin Firat's boys certainly did not disappoint. As soon as centre referee, Abdulrahman Al Jassim started off proceedings, Harambee Stars exhibited a different class of football to what fans have been accustomed to in recent years.

From a gallant Daniel Anyembe debut to the rapport between Anthony Akumu and Richard Odada to the never-tiring work rate of Eric 'Marcelo' Ouma - Kenya was everywhere.

Coupled with Firat's tactical nous of choosing who to play and in which position, plus the leadership and ingenuity of Michael Olunga, Harambee Stars ran out deserved winners with a goal apiece from Joseph Okumu and Amos Nondi, as Sports Brief also reported.

Qatar is 46 places higher than Kenya in the FIFA rankings, by the way.

Captain, Olunga uploaded a video on social media, thanking the fans for their support. The striker, nicknamed 'Engineer', went a step further and asked Kenyans - the ones living in Kenya now - to replicate the same attendance when they play South Sudan on Tuesday afternoon.

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The scenes in Qatar were refreshing to see, given that Kenyan Premier League matches struggle for attendance. Of course, it doesn't help that organisers at times schedule matches at midday during weekdays, but the sights in KPL matches have always been disheartening to see.

The presence of the 12th man is often a boost to any team. Kenyans in Qatar turned Al Janoub into their home and brought their cheering voices as if it was a World Cup final - and the boys responded in kind.

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Such is the effect fans can have on our local game. In a sector still desperately crying for proper infrastructure, good governance and adequate financial help, among other things, fans can always play their bit by just turning up.

Imagine if Harambee Stars would play in full stadiums in their home games against the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and the Seychelles in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

It wouldn't guarantee good results but just imagine. But first, we answer Olunga's call and show up on Tuesday, right?