FEASSSA: Green Commandos star reveals how indiscipline nearly ended his football career

The Kakamega County and Western Region winner played a key role in the school's journey back to the regional showpiece, finishing as the top scorer at the KSSSA national games in Thika with six goals.

However, his journey to the top has not been straightforward, with the youngster revealing that he once stopped playing after being chased away from the Green Commandos youth team for indiscipline.

"My football life started very early as a young kid. It got to a place where I did not want to play again, so I got a guardian who held my hand and returned me to football.

I trusted myself and said, If I come back, I must perform and ,I will make it," he explained.

After taking a break from the game, the youngster returned to the Under-12 setup following guidance from his guardian, apologised, and continued playing.

"I had left football because a lot was going on. The first time I was in, I was chased because I was indisciplined, but I came back to the team and apologised and continued to play," he added.

The experience became a turning point for the versatile player, who can operate on either flank as an attacker and also play as a left-back.

Since then, the KSSSA top scorer says he has placed greater emphasis on football and education while using every training session to improve himself.

"That was at the Under-12 team. The thing that has changed me a lot is that I decided to focus more on football and education, so I need to train hard, and the training is what is helping me to gain a lot."

His transformation was soon reflected in his performances.

In 2024, while still a Form One student, the Kakamega County winner made his debut for the school team and scored more than five goals during the sub-county games, helping the side progress to the county level.

His performances also earned him promotion to the Green Commandos senior team, which was competing in the FKF Division One league at the time.

He went on to make his debut in the third tier while still in Form One before receiving a call-up to the Talanta Hela Under-19 team.

The biggest change to his game, however, came through his experience with the Kenya Under-17 national team.

The Green Commandos star was deployed as a left wing-back during the CECAFA Under-17 AFCON qualifiers in Addis Ababa, a role that gave him a different understanding of the game.

He played every minute of the campaign without being substituted, combining his defensive duties with overlapping runs that helped initiate attacks from deep.

For the player known for his dangerous crosses, corner kicks, powerful runs and shooting ability, the national team experience has proved particularly valuable.

The Western Region winner says working under the national team coaches and playing in a different position has improved his ability to read the game and make decisions quickly.

"At the national team, I used to play as a wing-back. I did not play as an attacking player.

So the experience I got there was valuable when I came here. I was pushed to play offensively, and so I used the experience I got as a left-back and brought it forward," he said.

The experience has helped him become a more complete player, with the defensive lessons picked up at national level now complementing his attacking responsibilities for the Green Commandos.

Despite the difficult start to their FEASSSA campaign, the KSSSA national winners still have one opportunity to finish the group stage strongly.

The Green Commandos have lost their opening two matches against Uganda's Kyadondo Secondary School and Tanzania's Urambo Secondary School and will face Bukedea Comprehensive of Uganda in their final group fixture.

The school's top scorer is now hoping to help his side sign off with maximum points.

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