Give me the chance to don a Harambee Stars jersey, pleads Mulumba

For a man who has given absolutely everything to the dockers’ mean defence, helping them to a runners-up position in the 2018 Kenyan Premier League, a national call-up should be a reward!

Not so though for the towering soft spoken Bandari skipper Felly Mulumba who has for the past five years dominated the Kenyan Premier League like a colossus.

On and the pitch, his discipline has been top notch, while on it his game has been splendid so much so that he’s the bookmakers favouritte to clinch the Defender of the Year Award at this year’s KPL gala ceremony as well as that of the football writers.

At the KPA Sports Club, Mbaraki, the home ground of Bandari, Mulumba is an adored man largely due to his stellar performances.

In the ended campaign for instance, he starred as the dockers finished at position two on 62 points, just 13 points behind champions Gor Mahia.

But the secret to this performance was making their home ground a fortress so much so that only Tusker, who finished behind them at position three, on 56 points, earned a point from them. Not even champions Gor Mahia who had their league unbeaten run halted at this venue!

And the man who played the integral role behind the meticulous run is not letting the success get into his head.

Standing at around 6.4ft, the gentle Congolese with an easy smile remains as humble as ever; his dream being to one day done the national colours of his native Congo.

But aware that time is quickly catching up on him, and that the goal may never be realized after all, Mulumba is open to the prospect of donning a Harambee Stars jersey should he be accorded the chance.

In a heart- to- heart conversation with Citizen Digital at the weekend, Felly, popularly known by his moniker name “The Stopper” among the Bandari faithful said: “I cannot refuse to play for Kenya if they call me; I’m a player like any other. In DR Congo, there are many players and I have been struggling to get through in the team but if an opportunity comes my way to represent Kenya for sure I won’t hesitate to accept it. To represent Kenya would be just an amazing opportunity for me.”

Calm and sober, Mulumba’s impeccable campaign got the thumb of approval from amongst others; his youthful head coach Bernard Mwalala who is credited with turning around the team so much so that they became unbeatable in the second leg.

Mwalala said: “I just wish he would be a Kenyan. He’s such a great talent but all in all this is just a start for him. He is the reason behind us having an outstanding defence this season, not forgetting that his discipline on and off the pitch shows how good a player he is.”

Whether Harambee Stars coach Sebatian Migne and FKF honchos heeds to  Mulumba’s call the  undeniable fact is that he has stood heads and shoulders above everyone.

And should his dream be realized, Mulumba will be the second Congolese to represent Kenya after Bob Mugalia who got a Kenyan passport though naturalization at the trigger of then Stars coach Jacob Mulee.

Additional reporting by Isaac Swila