A bright new chapter in Kenyan football flickered into view on Sunday as Harambee Stars forward Job Ochieng edged closer to a La Liga debut, named among the substitutes for Real Sociedad in their 3–1 victory over Celta Vigo at the Reale Arena.
The bench call-up is a landmark moment in Ochieng’s rise, a step toward joining McDonald Mariga and Michael Olunga as only the third Kenyan to feature in Spain’s top flight.
A milestone moment
Ochieng’s journey from Sociedad’s reserves to the fringes of the first team has been steady and determined.
Although he did not enter the game, being included in the matchday squad for a high-stakes La Liga fixture signals growing trust from the coaching staff and brings him tantalizingly close to a historic debut for Kenyan football.
Sociedad ride resilience to victory
On the field, La Real extended an unbeaten run to five matches and climbed into the top eight with a gritty 3–1 win.
Mikel Oyarzabal set the tone with a fizzing left-footed strike in the 17th minute, his second in as many games.
The hosts were rocked in stoppage time of the first half when Duje Caleta-Car was sent off for a studs-up challenge, leaving Sociedad to navigate the second half with ten men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sociedad held firm.
Borja Iglesias levelled for Celta in the 72nd minute, but Oyarzabal’s second strike restored the lead before Brais Mendez sealed the result from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. The win also marked Sociedad’s first run of three consecutive league victories since March 2024.
What’s next
Real Sociedad now head to the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao next Sunday, while Ochieng will wait and prepare — one more strong performance in training could see him step onto the La Liga stage and into the history books for Kenya.
Other Kenyans abroad
• Brian Bwire started in goal for Polokwane City but could not prevent a 1–0 defeat to Durban City FC at Chatsworth Stadium; Bokang Mokwena scored the decisive goal.
• In Zambia, Levis Opiyo was an unused substitute as Zesco United fell 1–0 to Kaizer Chiefs in a CAF Confederation Cup tie, with Pule Mmodi netting early.
Job Ochieng’s name on the bench in San Sebastián may have been brief, but its significance is anything but small — a promising prelude to what could be a landmark debut for Kenyan football on Spanish soil.
