Jonah Ayunga: St Mirren Striker Looks to Impress for Harambee Stars in Four Nations Tournament

• Jonah Ayunga hopes to represent Kenya for the first time this month
• The St Mirren striker has been raining with the team at Utalii Grounds
• Harambee Stars will participate in a Four Nations tournament in Malawi

St Mirren striker, Jonah Ayunga, has joined the Kenya men's national football team.

The 26-year-old striker linked up with Engin Firat's squad in Nairobi as they gear up for the upcoming Four Nations tournament in Malawi.

Scheduled to face the hosts on March 23rd at the Bingu National Stadium, Ayunga is eager to debut for the national team.

Since recovering from injury last November, he has scored two goals in 18 Scottish Premiership League matches.

Describing his style of play at the team's training camp in Utalii Grounds, on March 18, Ayunga stressed his pace upfront and teamwork.

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“Fast, powerful striker. I try to help the team through hard work, and running with the ball, shots and try to score as many goals as possible,” he remarked.

Former Stars head coach, Stanley Okumbi, first called up the tall centre-forward during his time at Brighton and Hove Albion. However, passport issues prevented him from representing the national team, as reported by People Daily.

Despite another call-up in 2018 under coach Sebastien Migne, a match against Sierra Leone was cancelled due to FIFA's suspending the opponent.

“I came in 2017 and 2018, but because I didn’t have a Kenyan passport the first time and the Kenyan camp was cancelled the second time, I never got a chance to train properly with the team or play in a match. This is a great opportunity for the first time and hopefully, I will get to impress the coach and play in the tournament,” he explained.

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For Ayunga, earning his first international cap would be an honour to his Kenyan father. Born in Beaminster, England, to Sammy and British mother Lisa, he values his heritage. He has donned the colours of Bristol Rovers, Dorchester Town, Sutton United and Havant & Waterlooville before signing for Morecambe in 2021., as reported by St Mirren's official website.

Ayunga expressed satisfaction with the team's efforts, noting everyone's determination to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

“Its good. Everyone has helped me out of the pitch, everyone I working hard and fighting to be in the team when the tournament arrives,” he concluded.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga confident

Sports Brief reported that team captain Michael Olunga expressed confidence in the new players selected by coach Firat.

They include Dhofar Club's Alphonce Omija, AFC Leopards assistant captain, Kayci Odhiambo, Tusker FC defensive midfielder, Chrispine Erambo and Murang'a Seal's goalkeeper, Bonphas Munyasa.

Gor Mahia winger, Shariff Musa and Bandari striker, David Sakwa, are also new faces in the squad.