Harambee Stars winger Mohammed Bajaber has revealed the tough call he had to make when he withdrew from Kenya’s CHAN 2024 squad just days before the tournament began, admitting he felt “bad” about stepping away but needed to prioritise his long-term career.
Bajaber rose to national prominence after finding the net in the 3-3 draw with Gambia during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Abidjan — a match that also marked Benni McCarthy’s first game as head coach.
His impressive run with Kenya Police FC, which he joined only a month earlier and helped steer to a league title, secured his place in the CHAN squad, with many expecting him to play a central role in the team’s creativity.
However, a hamstring injury sustained in June ruled him out of friendlies against Chad in Morocco. Although he continued individual training in hopes of being ready for CHAN, he acknowledged he was still short of full fitness.
At the same time, a KES 12 million offer from Tanzanian giants Simba SC landed on the table — presenting him with the chance to join one of East Africa’s most successful clubs.
Speaking during his unveiling in Dar es Salaam, Bajaber told Simba’s official YouTube channel that the passion of the fans was a big factor in his decision.
“Simba is a big club and it is a huge opportunity for me to get to play in front of a lot of fans regularly. I have only done that once before — in front of Harambee Stars fans against Gabon,” Bajaber said. “As much as I was disappointed to leave the national team set-up before CHAN, I felt it was best for my career to have a full pre-season and not to rush my recovery phase.”
The 21-year-old noted that his family fully backed the move, with his father among those urging him to make the switch.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy also supported the decision, pointing out that Bajaber would have missed the entire group stage.
“We had to decide whether to keep one of our better players and hope he’d recover in time for the knockout stages. In the end, it was better to let him go and recover fully,” McCarthy said.