Harambee Stars ace Job Ochieng earns Real Sociedad first-team pre-season call-up
By Joel Masibo, July 3, 2026Harambee Stars striker Job Ochieng has taken a significant step in his European football journey after being included in Real Sociedad’s senior squad for the club’s 2026/27 pre-season preparations.
The Kenyan forward earned the opportunity following a string of impressive performances for Real Sociedad B, where his consistent displays caught the attention of the club’s first-team coaching staff. His promotion to the senior pre-season squad is viewed as a reward for his rapid development and a chance to prove he is ready to compete at the highest level.
Real Sociedad will officially begin preparations for the new campaign on Saturday, when players report to the club’s training complex at Zubieta for medical examinations and physical fitness tests. The team will then hold its first training session on Sunday, with supporters invited to watch as preparations for the new season get underway.
”As in previous years, several young players will participate in pre-season training with the first team. This year, twelve youngsters will train with the senior squad during the summer preparations. The players are: Fraga, Kita, Beitia, Balda, Lebarbier, Aguirre, Mikel Rodríguez, Carbonell, Dani Díaz, Ochieng, Marchal, and Carrera. ”The club said in a statement on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
For Ochieng, the pre-season represents a crucial audition. Training alongside established first-team players will give the Harambee Stars attacker an opportunity to showcase his talent, work ethic and ability to adapt to the demands of top-flight football.
A strong showing during the pre-season could convince the coaching staff to hand the Kenyan international a permanent place in the senior squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. Such a breakthrough would mark another major milestone in his career and further strengthen Kenya’s growing presence in European football.
How it starts
Meanwhile, the Real Sociedad squad is making the most of the final days of the summer break before the start of a demanding yet exciting preseason. Pellegrino Matarazzo has planned the start of training with a day of physical tests next Saturday. The first training session on the pitch will be held with the support of the fans on Sunday. The season, with four competitions, is going to be demanding, and what better way to begin than with your supporters? The schedule for the first week is as follows:
Saturday: Testing.
Sunday: 11:00, Zubieta (door open).
Monday: 11:00, Zubieta.
Tuesday: 11:00, Zubieta.
Wednesday: 11:00, Zubieta.
Thursday: 11:00, Zubieta.
Friday: 11:00, Zubieta.
Saturday: 11:30, Zubieta (joint training session with Pau FC).
Sunday: rest.
The sessions will be held behind closed doors.