Sporting KC midfielder Lawrence Olum will join the Kenya Men's National Team on Sunday for the second leg of their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series against Lesotho. The Harambee Stars lost 1-0 in the first leg on July 20 and will host Lesotho in the second leg on August 3 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Olum has two international appearances for Kenya, starting each of their first round matches against Comoros. The versatile midfielder played 69 minutes in Kenya's 1-0 win at home, before playing 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw at Comoros.
"This is a big game for our country," Olum said. "We are down 1-0, but we believe that we can get through it. I'm just excited to get there and do everything I can to help Kenya advance and give my country something else to be happy about."
Should Kenya overcome the deficit and defeat Lesotho on aggregate, they will advance to the main draw of the Africa Cup of Nations for the sixth time overall and the first time since 2004. The winner of the Kenya/Lesotho series will be placed in Group C alongside Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon.
Olum has been an important member of Peter Vermes' club in 2014, making 15 appearances with 11 starts. The 30-year-old veteran has featured as both a central defender and defensive midfielder this season and has two goals, both game-winning tallies.
Olum will miss Sporting KC's August 1 match vs. the Philadelphia Union, but will return ahead of the club's August 10 match at Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
