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OM
Harambee Stars defender continues to divide opinions regarding his best role in Benni McCarthy’s squad.
has been a mainstay in McCarthy’s two matches in charge against Gambia and Gabon, with his deployment on the left flank becoming a topic of discussion.
Ouma, who started both games, showcased his attacking prowess with constant overlapping runs down the left wing.
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His offensive contributions were crucial, as he assisted
offering hope for a comeback, though Gabon ultimately held on to their 2-1 win.
While Ouma’s attacking output has earned praise, concerns have been raised about the defensive gaps left when he pushes forward.
His overlapping runs often leave the left-back position exposed, making Harambee Stars vulnerable when they lose possession.
Harambee Stars had a much-improved performance in their 2-1 loss to Gabon at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday and here is how the players performed.
This has fueled speculation about whether Ouma should be deployed as an outright winger, with a more defensively sound left-back taking his place in defense.
However, former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani has dismissed this notion, arguing that Ouma’s defensive weaknesses can be addressed through tactical adjustments and training.
“I wouldn’t go for that. Marcelo—let him play in his position,” Ambani said on when asked about moving Ouma further forward.
Ambani emphasized that defensive discipline is something that can be instilled on the training ground.
South Africans continue to send mixed signals regarding Benni McCarthy' appointment as Harambee Stars coach.
“It’s done in training. You just need to train the central defenders or the defensive midfielders. When this guy is up, you have to teach your role. So automatically, when Marcelo goes forward, the two central defenders have to cover. The issue of deploying Marcelo forward and maybe on the wing—that’s training ground stuff,” he explained.
In Ambani’s assessment, the central defenders should provide cover whenever Ouma surges forward.
However, in both matches, the defensive pairings struggled to offer that support.
Against Gambia, Daniel Anyembe and Brian Onyango were deployed at the heart of the defense but failed to find cohesion.
Harambee Stars coach has Benni McCarthy has expressed confidence in Michael Olunga's ability to find the back of the net following a plethora of missed chances in Gambia and Gabon fixtures.
In the Gabon match, Anyembe was paired with Johnstone Omurwa, but the two struggled to contain the pace and movement of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored both goals for Gabon.
A key absentee in both fixtures was who has often played alongside Ouma in defense.
His composure and leadership at the back were noticeably missed, further exacerbating Harambee Stars’ defensive woes.
Asthe debate over Ouma’s best role will persist.
His attacking threat is undeniable, but ensuring defensive stability without compromising his forward runs will be key in shaping Harambee Stars’ tactical identity moving forward.
