David 'Messi" Owino is determined to make his mark at Bandari FC and revive his Harambee Stars ambitions after beginning life at the Mombasa club with an explosive performance.

The versatile midfielder announced his arrival in style when he scored just 39 seconds into Bandari’s SportPesa Premier League match against 3K FC on October 19, firing a powerful strike after William Wadri’s corner was poorly cleared.

Despite his early brilliance, Bandari were denied victory when Cameroonian forward Sally Yipoh headed home deep into stoppage time.

Ambulu is keen to return to the Harambee Stars setup after making his international debut against South Sudan in March 2021.

“Every Kenyan player wants to represent the country. I believe consistent performances at Bandari can put me back in contention and I will keep working towards that ,” he said.

He believes taking Bandari to title contention will be key.

“I want to help Bandari compete at the highest level. I have joined a club with ambition and my responsibility is to give everything whenever I step onto the pitch,” Ambulu said.

The 28-year-old, who can operate at left-back, in midfield and in advanced attacking positions, brings considerable experience to the coastal outfit following his spell at Kenya Police FC, where he won the 2024 Mozzart Bet Cup and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

He previously featured for Mathare United and KCB.

“Being versatile is an advantage because it gives the coach different options. I am comfortable playing in different positions, and I always focus on doing the job the team needs from me,” he said.

“We cannot be satisfied with draws when we have the quality to win matches. We have to remain focused, take our chances and learn from every game."

The former Kenya Police player also hopes to use his experience to inspire young footballers from Kibera, where his football journey began.

“I know where I have come from, and I want young players to understand that talent, discipline and hard work can open doors. I want to encourage them to believe in themselves and keep pushing,” he said.