EYEING EPL: Kenyan youngster Duba set to attend trials at Queens Park Rangers

Since Kenyan captain Victor Wanyama joined English Premier League (EPL) side Southampton, there has been a lot of interest in the premiership.

Another Kenyan, Liban Bagajo Duba, could follow in the footsteps of Wanyama after being invited for trials by Queens Park Rangers.

The 15-year-old boy is among 100 players worldwide who have been invited for the two-week trials which commence next month.

Duba, who is nicknamed ‘’Sanchez’’ by colleagues, is a Form Two student at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil.

He landed the invite after putting up an impressive performance in a number of matches he has taken part in and put up man of the match shows.

An agent spotted Duba while playing in last year’s Copa Coca Cola Championship at Fedha Estate. During the time, he scored two goals to help his side Barca Junior Academy win the tournament.

Duba, the second-born in a family of three, is a right-footed striker who poses a great threat to defenders, marking him by his goal scoring prowess.

‘’He is swift with good speed work, disciplined and makes the right decisions at the right time. He is hard to be marked,’’ said his coach Fredrick ‘’Bobby’’ Oyugi.

CROWNED BEST PLAYER

Duba discovered his talent at the age of nine at Brightrose Academy in Meru South where he was crowned the best player after helping his side win the Inter-School tournament in 2008 where he used to live with his parents.

After noticing the talent in his son, his father Mohamed Duba took him to Ujuzi Soccer Academy in Parklands for more exposure and then to Mathare United youth academy before joining Barca Junior Academy in Embakasi.

Despite strict school programme, Duba manages to get time to attend to training sessions on time before everyone else.

‘’I wake up very early in the morning and jog to the training grounds 5km away then go swimming before I go for tuition. I want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo. I like his footballing skills. My ambition is to play for Manchester United,” he told FeverPitch.

Duba has promised to work hard and excel while in the UK, keeping in mind that if he impresses in the trials he will be awarded a scholarship both in his academic and football career.

The annual event is organised by Manchester United and targets talented youths between the ages 15 and 28.