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Goalkeeper Arnold Origi dumps Harambee Stars after picking Norwegian passport


Goalkeeper Arnold Origi has formally quit the Kenya national football team after changing nationality to become a Norwegian.

Football Kenya Federation confirmed this development to Nairobi News on Wednesday.

“We have been in contact and he confirms he is no longer available for call-ups,” said FKF’s media liaison Barry Otieno.

Consequently, the 33 year-old has turned down an invite by Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi to be part of his squad ahead of an international friendly against Mozambique on September 2.

This decision brings to an end the 12 year national career of Origi after he made his debut aged just 16.

Origi, currently attached to top flight Norway club Lillestrom, made 32 appearances for Harambee Stars.

HEROIC PERFORMANCES

His heroic performances versus Uganda at the Nelson Mandela stadium in Kampala during the 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers stands out as arguably his best in a Kenyan jersey.

But his goof against Eritrea at Kasarani in 2007, when his goal-line “clearance” ended up in his own net, without doubt ranks as one of his forgettable moments in a Harambee Stars shirt.

Origi, son of former Gor Mahia’s captain Austin Oduor, joins his younger cousin Divork in dumping Kenya.

Divork chose to play for Belgium in 2014 despite several overtures by then Stars coach Adel Amrouche. He went on to star for the European nation at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, performances that eventually earned him a move to top English side Liverpool.