Mara Sugar head coach Benedict Wanjala has urged the national team technical bench to closely monitor the performances of left-back Joseph Okwenda, who has been exceptionally impressive for the club and deserves to be called up to the next squad.
Okwenda, who is making his debut in the top tier alongside the club after helping them secure promotion this season, has contributed to four of the 26 goals they have scored so far.
He netted a goal against Shabana FC, scored a brace against FC Talanta, and most recently, he scored an equalizer against Sofapaka on Saturday to earn a 1-1 draw, securing a point away from home.
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Reacting to his goal and overall performance, Wanjala stated that it is high time the national team technical bench considers him for selection, describing Okwenda as a remarkable and influential player.
“Okwenda, it is high time the national team should start looking for his services. If you look at his performance in the National Super League, he was among the top scorers, and he is just a defender. Currently, his performance is among the top defenders in the league,” Wanjala explained after the Sofapaka match.
Wanjala, who took over from George Mindenyo, did not hesitate to praise Okwenda for his versatility in playing various defensive roles.
“He is a very humble and hardworking player. Today, I played him as a left-back, but he is accustomed to playing right-back. He was highly effective in the game.
In terms of maturity, his gameplay is top-notch. He scored a brace in the last match, and today he scored again, which shows his consistency,” he added.
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He further encouraged the national team coaches to consider Okwenda, emphasizing that his skillset could be beneficial for the national team.
“I urge the national team coaches to consider him, as he will be a huge asset for us,” he said.
As Mara Sugar continues to fight for survival in the top-tier league with 11 matches remaining, Wanjala acknowledged that inconsistency has been the main reason for their current struggles.
However, he is working to ensure they secure points in the remaining matches.
“I must say, inconsistency has been our major challenge. This league is a marathon, and every point is crucial right now.
We are focused on that, and I want to eliminate any losing mentality from my players. It’s better to secure one point than leave with none, so we’ll plan carefully for our home matches,” Wanjala concluded.