I have achieved many recognitions, exposure and accolades, but my top most satisfaction is achieved when I pass the acquired knowledge and skill to the next generation, especially through training, coaching and mentorship on matters on and off the pitch.
Every soccer star has their own stories on how they started, the majority if not all soccer stars in Kenya didn't start their soccer journeys at a more professional academies like those in developed countries.
The general tale of the stories is that from the onset, players engage in soccer activities that doesn't have clear roadmaps of mobility towards a more professional level in soccer as a career.
The light of turning professional is dimmed from a distance and many players hop from one club to the next one in search of better contracts while hoping that 'lady luck' will come to their rescue to connect with oversee clubs of their desire.
Due to all this unpredictability and uncertainty, many don't make it to the desired level and it's unfortunate to see the number of talents aren't nurtured to the next levels at their prime age as per soccer standard where it is expected that at that time a player should have gained meaningful engagement with a professional soccer club.
Some of the challenges that I did experience 25 years back that still exists within the system at the earliest stage of initiation into soccer starting at the grassroots are:-
- No professional academies that can match what we see overseas.
- No clear roadmap that can assure and encourage parents to invest in soccer as a career.
- Lack of adequate resources like transportation, uniforms, soccer shoes, tracksuit, balls etc.
- Lack of of professional leadership, starting from grassroots clubs or initiatives.
- Top clubs not having enough resources to sustain operation as a business model that would create an ecosystem that effectively support their academies tapping talent from the grassroots.
- Limited safe spaces for young stars to play and a lot of ad-hoc approach in transferring skills and knowledge.
- Sports injuries that are unattended that force many to drop their dreams.
- Inconsistent approach by federation and other stakeholders that are expected to lead ways of building a sustainable soccer economy.
- Lack of players training and mentorship especially on matters that deals with off the pitch that are vital to their well-being into turning pro or even leaving a better life after they retire.
- Corruption allegation and infighting from different stakeholders in soccer.
The Untold Stories
The untold Stories There are many untold stories in our soccer journeys that hasn't been either been told or documented and if well told I believe our past undoing would usher in a new mindset to start thinking globally while implementing sustainable initiatives that would over the best environment for our soccer players starting at home.
The ripple effect would be diverse from encouraging many to play, our national team sourcing for the best at the local levels, exporting best talent abroad, attract the ideal investors and a more competitive / professional league from the grassroots to the top league.
The Advise
In case you're playing active soccer in Kenya the time is now to get smart in documenting your gear more importantly, learn how to combine Soccer + Education and Business.
Currently I offer training Bootcamps for soccer players and clubs to help them build their brands in a more sustainable way at an early stage.
On the flip side, if we need to amplify our voices and usher a new beginning for change and better livelihoods for soccer players.
We need to create forums and platforms to celebrate our journey, account for the mistake done never to be repeated, build systems and structure that would offer soccer as a career of choice in Kenya as opposed to how it is currently done where there are no clear roadmap to visualize the journey and commit at an early stage in life.
"Generally a great coach recognizes that there are some things he/she can't change on how a player plays, but he /she taps into those individual unique talents and skill in every player to form a winning combination that can adjust to any situation." - Wilson Masaka - Ex-Coach Mathare North Rangers/Metro Sports
In celebration of my journey below is my short soccer resume (Highlights). I still have the passion of becoming a professional soccer coach and I believe I can do better than some of the coaches.
If I was still playing soccer, which team, would I be playing for in Kenya?
Team played for at different stage;
- De La Rue (Super league) - Pumwani Sportive (Super Two league)
- Otto-benecker F.C (Community grassroots soccer).
- Helges Sports (Community grassroots Soccer).
- Mathare North Villas F.C (MYSA Community League - U12)
Local and international tournament.
- Coca cola-cola tournament
- MYSA championship
- Norway cup 1997, 98 and 99.
- National team Call ups - National team U17.
Workshop and training
- Dekeyser fellowship in Hamburg, Germany. Fellowships for the sports coaching project, with Jens Lehman.
- FIFA Futuro workshop and clinics held in Kasarani
- KNVB soccer clinic with Mysa team heading to Norway cup
- Metro Sport F.C
- Mathare North Rangers F.C
- Mathare North Rangers F.C - Resource Mobiliser. - Soccer Boots and Balls campaign under Wilsen Initiative (Wi) - Annual U12 soccer tournament Mathare North
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