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ZANZIBAR HEROES
MUGUNA,
AKINYI and the
European Dream
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EUROPEAN DREAM
Muguna,
Akinyi
And the European Dream By Fabian Odhiambo
T
here was a time Kenneth Muguna idolised Italian legend Andrea Pirlo. He still does actually- only that at the time he was a relatively unknown figure even in his own birthplace of Kisumu City. In his 22 years of existence the lad has broken down barriers no one believed he would. From failing trials in lower league clubs to struggling for playtime in the same amateur leagues, Muguna’s rise has been from scratch- one borne of determination and aimed at only one goal- success.
The move did happen though, the youngster only had to win the 2017 league for Gor Mahia before being let go. He had done his part they said, and off he left for Albania. Has he even been in such a situation before? He thinks he has.
Having made the big money move to KF Tirana, Muguna will be glad to know that he is only 17 hours by road from Brescia- Andrea Pirlo’s birth province and 18 from Milanthe very place Pirlo’s legend manifested itself. The old anchorman may have finished his calcio career at Juventus but here in Milan, is where Muguna watched him play on TV and fell in love.
Accompanying him to Tirana was his captain at Gor Mahia Musa Mohamed whose contract had ran out with the Kenyan champions. By the time everything was sorted and their travel arranged, they didn’t travel to Albania but went to Turkey instead.
Currently coached by his former manager at Kenyan champions Gor Mahia FC, Muguna’s influence wherever he goes never goes unnoticed and this will be perhaps best explained by Jose Marcelo Ferreira’s insistence that Muguna follows him from Gor to Tirana when the Brazilian left Kenya. Of course a tug of war would ensue between his new club and the Gor Mahia management, after all who wants to let go of such an acquisition after only six months of acquiring him?
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‘’I have always been a patient man. Keeping calm and knowing what to do at the right time. If you look back at my journey you’ll see that I never rushed to make any decisions,’’ says Muguna who has so far turned out for the national team Harambee Stars three times.
Tirana was here for pre-season friendly matches and it was expected that they join their new teammates straight away. Something happened here. It has happened many times before, but Muguna reiterates that his patience has always eventually paid off. It is always any player’s dream to finally land in any of the top five European leagues- the English Premiership in fact is the upcoming player’s ultimate dream. The path may look simple but anyone who has been there will tell you
it is not- Victor Wanyama’s wander through the lesser leagues in Europe before finally making the break into the EPL is a perfect example. While in Turkey for the pre-season camp and friendlies, European scouts only needed to see the lanky midfielder in one friendly match to spot huge potential in him. An approach was made but the boy hadn’t even arrived in Albania yet. He wanted to play there first. ‘’I was quite surprised but somehow these are things you get used to in the professional football world. I was on my way to Albania and I wanted to at least get there and play. Know where I stand as a young player wanting to make a mark in Europe. That was my response, and it was good for both us because personally I need the European experience first before making any move around,’’ he says. It’s not the first time Muguna is potentially shelving deal in his career. While at his debut season in the Kenyan top flight with Western Stima, six months into the league- Bandari Football Club came with everything
they could offer; Money, the promise of a job and such like stuff. A confident Muguna declined the offer and six months later when the league ended- Gor Mahia came with a deal three times better than what their compatriots had offered a few months earlier. What’s more is that Muguna was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2016 KPL season- the first time a new player has ever walked away with the award. ‘’Some things take time you know, but first you have to know what you want. Someone may look at you and think you are stupid but it is only you who knows what you want. I thank God for leading me through those very tough decisions and He has never failed to reward me with an even better opportunity,’’ adds the Kisumu Youth Football Association (KYFA) product. It hasn’t been long since Kenneth Muguna played- sometimes barefoot-
at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground during the KYFA youth league battles. While turning out for Real Kisumu and Urussy football clubs at the junior level, Muguna’s stature as a lean boy did little to deter him from getting into tackles from his peers. There may have been better players in these matches, but none more determined than Muguna. Paul Ogai met the lad at as he was about to complete his O’ level education at St Ignatius Loyola Magadi Secondary school, a coach whose influence in the boy still resonates with him even to date. While coaching the now defunct Palos Football Club in the third tier,
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Airo’s Plateau Queens celebrate a goal during the Chapa Dimba tournament
Ogai’s squad depth in the league was unrivalled such that even Muguna had to be at his best to be able to get on the match day squad. Part of the team that finished second to Vihiga United in the 2016 third tier league, both were promoted into the second tier National Super League, but Muguna had already been spotted by the big boys in Kenyan football and would not taste second tier football. He headed straight into the Premiership with Western Stima at the start of the 2016 campaign. Ogai insists he was not surprised. ‘’Why should I be? The boy was good. If you look at the kind of midfielders I had in that team all of them are in the Premier League now. So for Muguna to always be on top and start in my matches shows you the kind of player he was. That is a player whose star will continue to rise. Discipline and focus have had a huge impact on his growth,’’ says Ogai. While Muguna’s brief sojourns at Palos, Western Stima and Gor Mahia eventually added up to making him
a fully baked product ready for the European Market, another- a girl this time- and three years younger than Kenneth intends to take a different patch to Europe. It’s only a couple of months since Mercy Airo Akinyi traversed the county with the Palos Ladies (Currently Kisumu All Starlets) team while on the lookout for friendly matches. With a little funding from Makini Schools, Coach Juma Saidi had
country had seen, matter of fact- there is little evidence that it was played at all. No champion, no relegation et cetera. So when Juma’s side got the invite to participate in the 2017 Premiership campaign, luck was clearly staying by their side- and a team that just a few months back only relied on friendly matches, would rub
I intend to use my talent to the fullest. I started playing a long time ago and it has taken me places ~ Airo rounded up a number of girls from around Kisumu whose footballing talent were on the brink of collapse upon finishing school. There 2016 season of the Kenya women’s premier league wasn’t the best the Airo poses for a photo with their 1st place trophy after the Chapa Dimba tournament
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shoulders with experienced players in the women’s league. Airo- though still in school, was one of them.
It however been done though, and there being no extra time- their fate would be decided by penalties.
Mercy Airo is the 2018 Chapa Dimba na Safaricom top scorer in the girls’ category, an accolade she bags after plundering in 7 goals in just three matches for Plateau QueensNyakach Girls High School. In the national finals held at Kakamega Town, Airo’s four-goal in one match against Limuru Starlets performance was perhaps the best underlining of a talent coming up so fast anyone should take notice.
Clearly Queens’ player of the tournament- and charged with lifting the team up when they were down, Airo would be called upon for her team’s fifth penalty, one which if she scored- they would head to London. Tar Tar had missed two kicks of their own and Queens had only missed one, so Airo’s last kick was to virtually settle the tie. She did. She settled the contest with a fierce right-footed drive that now gifts the Nyakach Girls a ticket to London. For Airo though, she wants to remain in London after the camp. It’s never easy and will take tonnes of hard work but she has firm belief that where she is isn’t by fluke.
Having scored a brace in their quarter final clash against Ngakaa Talent Academy- Airo’s four against Limuru helped her side to a 7-1 semi-final victory that then set them up against Tar Tar Girls in the ultimate clash. The two winners (boys and girls teams) of the Chapa Dimbareincarnation of Safaricom’s Saklata Ball a couple of years ago- will head to London for a one week professional training camp and get the chance to meet Kenyan International Victor Wanyama face to face. Of course having made the final, Airo and company wanted nothing but with the trophy- and trip to London. That was well on course after Airo had sent Plateau Queens into the lead against Tar Tar. Everything seemed to be headed their way until the additional time board was raised and it indicated two minutes. She admits to having seen the London dream disappear a few minutes after this board was raised. ‘’I was injured during that last minute and so was one of our defenders. While being treated, our team played with just nine players and as we rose to go back to the field, Tar Tar equalised. I almost cried,’’ recalls Airo.
Muguna in action with the national team Harambee Stars
‘’It’s a one in a million chance that’s why I will be taking it with all the seriousness it deserves. In that one week of training I will learn everything I can and should we be given any friendly matches- do my best because I hope scouts may be around,’’ says the 17 year old who has already had stints with the Kenyan national team Harambee Starlets. Starting her football at St Mark’s Nyabera Primary School in Nyalenda Kisumu, Airo would feature in the national games long before she even joined high school. It is from the Copa Coca Cola games that Nyakach Girls spotted her and made an effort to lure her to their school the moment she was though with Primary School. Her mother she says, wasn’t for
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EUROPEAN DREAM
the idea but would relent after it was agreed that her school fees at Nyakach be paid in full by the school. In other words, Airo earned her high school education through footballand if she did, why not earn a living with it? ‘’I intend to use my talent to the fullest. I started playing a long time ago and it has taken me places. My parents too have seen what it can do even though they wanted me to focus more on school when I was in primary. We however agreed on how I would be involved in the sport so I made a training program for myself and still did well in school. It is my prayer that doors soon open and I am able make the most from my ability as a footballer,’’ says Airo. The two- Kenneth Muguna’s and Mercy Airo’s stories may have a few differences in the way of the paths they charted for themselves but ultimately have one goal. Both wanting to one day feature in England. For players borne of humble beginnings- one in Kondele and another in Nyalenda, surely one day it must come true. Muguna’s encounter with Wayne Rooney for example when Gor Mahia played Everton in July 2017 brought him closer to this dream- that it is possible. The only player from either teams to have played more than seventy minutes on that day, Muguna’s nutmeg on Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is perhaps testament to the levels of confidence this kid can attain.
Muguna being unveiled at Tirana Pic
Follow Fabian Odhiambo on Twitter: @Fabian_Odhiambo
Airo wheels away during the Chapa Dimba tournament
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Kenneth Muguna (second from left) celebrates winning the league with Tirana KF.
Mercy Airo (Extreme left) has a rare moment with Kenyan International Victor Wanyama in London.
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ZANZIBAR HEROES