The Life Cycle of a Soccer Player in Kenya

+throughMylens. #SoccerLandScapeInKenya 

During our time we were left to educate ourselves especially on off the field matters and I think that shouldn't be the case with any soccer club from grassroots to the top professional levels. This confusion of pandemic has made me to reflect on my soccer journey 20 years ago and I believe sharing this insights will help current soccer players to reflect on their soccer journeys.

Currently I'm offering master sessions in life skill, personal branding, creative entrepreneurship and technical skill in different spaces and soccer clubs are part of my targeted spots. Here are my top 10 things to note, thank me later. 

1.  Know when you're at your best and make those necessary moves to that ideal team that can pay you well and help you build your career. (Timing and top performance).
2. Sometimes you must consider a stable job offer at a stable club not at the top league than to be in top league and face endless challenges like salaries, insurance etc. (Think Sustainability). 
3. No matter how creative and skillful you are, age will catch up with you and you will no longer be attractive for any signing. 
4. Think beyond the game, invest and acquire next level skill. You don't necessarily need to go for degrees, but also the technical skills (TVETs) comes very handy in your life during and after soccer. 
5. Your dream career can be abruptly be cut off due to relegation, termination, pandemic, injury, funding etc. 
6. You can be a star in club A and end up at the terraces at club B. Learn how to deal with different situations. 
7. Not everyone who plays soccer has a happy ending story. Just craft your meaning of success and own your story. Remember, playing for clubs abroad might also be a tall order and it isn't clear or no information is shared in open public on how someone can make it abroad through a trusted system unless I'm missing something. Learn what's required at the early stages of your career and work towards that. 
8. Not everyone will play for the national team and there are many great players at club levels but they haven't played for national side. Be patient, be consistent and focus on building a brand that people can relate with on and off the pitch. 
9. There are many great stars of your generation who didn't make it to expect levels due to known and unknown factors. Learn from others people's success and mistakes. 
10. Think of your transition at an early stage for example from a player, coach, team manager etc. Some people made it through random engagements but you can make yours a deliberate vision by defining the end game. 

Just note, soccer legends in Kenya are somehow easily forgotten and so far there are no statue of the greatest, a stadium or a road named after them unless I'm forgetting something. So aspire to mentor and coach the next generation in your own ways and God's reward is the greatest of all. 

More inspiration and teaching www.wilsenx.blogspot.com ex-soccer player and community coach Credit photo @2019 +throughMylens Mathare North Festive Season Soccer Tournament (MNFSST-2019)