Inside the rise of Kenyan striker Lawrence Okoth and why he could be McCarthy’s trump card

 The Harambee Stars will have a fresh face in rookie Lawrence Okoth when they face Burundi on October 11 and the Ivory Coast on October 15, 2025, in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Okoth is among the new names in Coach Benni McCarthy’s squad for the twin qualifiers and veteran coach George Owoko Oduor who quietly helped shape the young forward’s career believes his protégé is ready for the big stage.

Owoko, a three-time Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national champion with Ambira High School and title winner with both Barding and St. Anthony’s Boys, Kitale, carries an enviable résumé.

Owoko, a CAF B licensed tactician also holds a FIFA High Level Certificate and a Diploma in Guidance and Counselling. For over a decade he has had coaching stints at Bandari, Tusker, Talanta, MOFA, among others.

He said of the talent, “Lawrence’s father is a very close friend,” Owoko told Citizen Digital in an interview. “I’ve known Lawrence since he was barely a year old. His father always hoped one of his sons would become a professional. I enrolled him under the Aspire Football Programme, and when he finished secondary school, I took him under my wing to sharpen his skills at Vihiga Bullets and later in Nairobi.”

Owoko recalls a reserved but highly intelligent player who could take two months to open up but always listened and learned. “He even scored a B in his exams,” the coach added, emphasizing Lawrence’s academic ability.

Early on, Owoko focused on refining his finishing, first touch, and positioning. “He had to learn to hold the ball as a target striker, to create angles from the blind side, and to use both feet. He’s now a true finisher who can shoot from distance and involve teammates in the build-up.”

That meticulous grooming bore fruit when Lawrence, who has been compared to Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga, became the first Kenyan to score at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, netting twice in the 2025 group stage. His performances for the Kenya U20 Rising Stars, MOFA FC, and a bold move to Finnish top-flight club SJK Seinäjoki caught the eye of Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, earning him a maiden senior call-up for the October qualifiers.

Owoko is confident the young forward will seize the moment. “I can tell the national team coach to be patient with him. He may look slow, but Lawrence knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s smart, he’s clinical, and he can use both feet,” he said.