How Facebook DM Earned Alfred Scriven a Harambee Stars Callup

Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat called eight new faces in his provisional squad to face Iran in Tehran on March 28, 2023, and Norwegian-based Alfred Scriven managed to make the cut.

Scriven is attached to Norwegian Division two side IL Hodd and joined two other foreign-based players who earned their maiden calls - Daniel Anyembe (Viborg Denmark) and Wilkims Ochieng (FC Koper Slovenia).

He is 25 years old born to a Kenyan mother and a British father. Scriven spent most of his childhood in Kenya before he relocated to Norway with his parents when he was 17 years old.

Harambee Stars forward Alfred Scriven. /FKF

In an interview with the media, he revealed that the call, which started via a Facebook direct message surprised him.

“I was honestly caught by surprise. The coach sent me a message on Facebook and then called me on WhatsApp. He was straight to the point and asked me to join the National team.”

Firat believes that Scriven brings something different to the Kenyan side and he will be crucial for the team in the future.

When asked about his decision to call Scriven to the squad, the Harambee Stars coach said that “He is a very hardworking player – very aggressive and good on high balls. He brings in something that I am yet to see in the Kenyan league. The Kenyan league is very soft with almost every contact being given as a foul.”

The Turkish coach is also intentional about bringing in foreign-based players who have played in youth sides abroad as he believes that they can sail the national team to greater heights.

“We need a better scouting system to find players who are available to play for Kenya and convince them early to do so. These players have an advantage because some of them have played even in European national teams at junior levels so they are tactically and mentally ready. Other African countries are doing this and we need to do the same,” said the tactician in an earlier interview.

Scriven joined IL Hodd from Mjondalen in august 2021 and has scored 13 goals in 44 games for his parent club.

He started his professional career at Hallingdal FK and has made 112 appearances scoring 24 goals.

The IL Hodd forward can play across the front line and he trained with the national team for the first time after resting from a long journey while jetting in.

“It was a long travel from Norway to Kenya so I had to rest first. The focus now is to adapt and get to know the people in the camp. The boys have been good and very kind so far. The next step is to score the goals but I would say I am not a selfish striker, if someone else is in a better position to score I will always pass the ball,” he said.

Harambee Stars will continue preparing for the international friendly against Iran today.

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