New Harambee Stars star admits 'lucky charm' behind rapid rise from Div.2 to international stage

Crispine Erambo (R) with Alphonce Omija after Harambee Stars won the Malawi tournament in March

New Harambee Stars star admits 'lucky charm' behind rapid rise from Div.2 to international stage

Mark Kinyanjui 14:00 - 10.04.2024

Erambo has admitted to being 'lucky' after earning two caps in just his first ever international window with Harambee Stars.

Tusker midfielder Chris Erambo has admitted he has been lucky enough to make the starting line ups of all teams he has played for immediately after joining after his heroics helped Harambee Stars clinch the Malawi Four Nations tournament trophy during the March international break.

Erambo earned his first call-up to Engin Firat’s side before making the final squad and subsequently, the starting line up for the tournament in Lilongwe. 

He played a pivotal role in the first game which they won 4-0, but played only 25 minutes in their second match against Malawi, but gained invaluable experience which he will use to better himself as a player.

However, the former Mombasa Elite midfielder has insisted that there was an element of luck behind his rise to prominence as a footballer. Other budding players tend to bid their time before being trusted with many minutes, but Erambo is a started for every team he has payed for.

“I think I am just lucky. When I signed for Div.2 straight from high school, I made the first 11 at Kenya Saints (previously Kibera Saints,” Erambo told Sports Eye Sports.

“From there , I moved to Mombasa Elite, where the same trend continued. Made the starting line up on my debut. Same thing happened at Tusker this season, where I made the starting line up on my debut.

“When I got called up to the Harambee Stars set up, I wondered, ‘could the trend continue’? I kept praying and working hard and that is how I made the starting 11.

“I think I am just lucky. Luck and hard work goes hand in hand.”

Last September, Erambo was still literally a National Super League player who had never kicked a ball in the top flight, let alone playing for the national team.

Many would naturally expect a national team call up to come that soon after just over 20 games of career top-flight football, but Erambo has insisted that he was expecting the call up.

“I saw myself getting called up, because that was one of my goals. In top level football, you have to work hard and there is a high chance you can get called up because you are playing there.

“A 50 percent chance.The other 50 is about filing it yourself.”

The youngster's commitment to maintaining his form and spirit in the team suggests that this call-up is just the beginning of what promises to be an illustrious career.

Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates.

Tags: