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Much is talked of role models. No doubt every child grows up absolutely idolising a sports personality that inspires them.
On many occasions, local soccer players get bad press because of the things they do in the heat of the battle on the pitch, as well as their conduct away from the field. Sometimes this can be quite unjust — human beings are all different and nobody is perfect. Nothing is truer than this.
It is important for aspiring players to find role models.
These can help shape them technically through watching and learning visually, as well as preparing their emotive reactions to events on and off the pitch.
Swedish based Kenyan international Michael Olunga or Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama are no doubt suitable role model candidates.
Mind you even these elite guys have breaking points, strengths and weaknesses. Which is why you should borrow only good practice — in play on the field and making the right technical decisions.
These thoughts passed through my mind recently as I thought about my childhood hero, my cousin Dr Zacheus Omondi — a hard grafting young footballer who forged his way into the professional game with Kenya Breweries and won many titles.
Coming from BuruBuru— not known to produce athletes leave alone footballers, he found himself squaring up with the best available, the likes of Henry Motego, Sammy Shollei, Paul Onyiera and others.
A student at the Nairobi University medical school, Zacheus eventually became a doctor and is now practicing in Ireland.
He was my inspiration to join Tusker FC, compete with the best, win championships and retire early to focus on education — “there is life after football”, was his advice then.
“Engineer” Michael Olunga as he’s famously known serves as a role model to many aspiring soccer players. His cool demeanor on and off the pitch is second to none.
At 22 years of age, the lad has more maturity than many experienced players locally and continentally. At the beginning of the 2016 Swedish league, the Djurgardens IF striker had to face obstacles in his new home after being sidelined for months.
His mental ability had to prove him right.
He stayed his ground, working hard in training while facing a different culture, harsh cold weather conditions, new training methods, food and home sicknesses.
The lad fought his way into the first team banging twelve goals in twenty seven matches. He has been nominated for the 2016 Swedish Allsvenskan end of season award.
Suffice to say this isn’t the first time the striker may be stepping on the podium to receive an award. At 19 years, while at Tusker (great players seem to have roots from this club) he was awarded the Youngest Player of the Year.
The following year he was the second top scorer in the KPL while at Thika United. His career blossomed at K’Ogalo becoming the 2015 Most Valuable Player of the Year and second top scorer with 21 goals.
Olunga’s success trajectory is proof that young footballers can make it.
Those at Liberty academy where he was tutored by Jacob “Ghost” Mulee know very well that with the factors of success present: hard work, great mental ability, good mentorship, ambition, a listening ear and God’s blessing, nothing is impossible.
Lest we forget that Olunga is also studying his engineering degree in Sweden.
There will be life after football for him.
