Anest Karegi: One-handed man baffling villagers with soccer pitch exploits

 Anest Karegi from Ndeiya in Limuru shows his dribbling skills , Karegi hand was cut off by a poshomill, he however plays football to the amazement of many. [George Njunge, Standard]

When a posho mill crushed the hand of a young man in Ndeiya Limuru, the world seemed to have come to a stand still to a man known for his exploits on the football pitch, unbeknownst to many, the young man's heart was pegged to football, and without one hand, he went back to the field.

The young man has shocked villagers and teammates after going back to play soccer without one hand, drawing admiration and disbelief as he dribbles and scores for his team.

Anest Karegi, 22, from Ndeiya village in Limuru, Kiambu, had his hand amputated by a posho mill machine as he attended to a customer.

Karegi wore loose clothing, a mistake that would almost kill him, as he pushed maize into the machine and part of his clothes were violently pulled. In a split second, his right hand was crushed from the fingers up to a few inches below the elbow.

It is by his quick action using the left hand that he managed to stop the machine, and as the electric engine stopped, Karegis's hand had been severed irreparably, and the doctors had no other option apart from amputating the hand.

“It was an ordinary day at a posho mill where I worked occasionally before going to practice with my team mates and as I milled maize my hand was pulled and in a split of a second the machine had crushed my hand, I did not even have an opportunity to scream, it happened very fast, I called in for help later with a bleeding hand and rushed to hospital where the doctor amputated my right hand,” Karegi said.

Karegi told The Standard that at one time he thought that his football days had come to an abrupt halt, but he recollected himself and resolved to get back to the field and even play better, which has moved the village.

“I stayed in the hospital for three months before recuperating, and immediately after, I went to join my teammates for practice and eventually for competitive soccer matches. It was an unbelievable moment for my teammates, and to my teammates, my coach tried to dissuade me, but I told him that I would make it,” Karegi said.

 Anest Karegi speaks to his Dragon football club in Ndeiya in Limuru. Karegi is an inspiration to the team. [George Njunge, Standard]

The young man added that his playmates would not want to tackle him as they did previously when he had both hands, and at one time, he stopped the game and told them not to fear him and tackle him just like any other player.

“I wanted them to harden me with good tackles to also help me tackle opponents during competitive games, and their continued handling me with kind and soft grooves was irritating me; they agreed, and before long, I was back in form,” Karegi said.

The standard caught up with Karegi during a game between his team the Dragon FC and Mabroukie Fc, to our surprise the one handed man was the biggest inspiration to his team mates and to cap the game he shot the opening goal after dribbling Mabroukie Fc defence and firing a net cracking shot, the shot was greeted by year deafening applause by Dragons Fc fans who had thronged the field.

“No man is limited and there is nothing that can stop a willing heart, my heart is in soccer and my resolve is to play, score for my team, motivate them and even the youngsters who would want to play soccer in future, I have turned this misfortune to a great lifeline, I have not allowed this predicament to halt my dreams,” Karegi said.

Karegi baffles many when a pass is made to him, he is a gifted splinter with the ability to pull stunts before making hattricks and when an opportunity to fire a long shot presents itself, Karegi will send the opponent's goal keeper diving for a miss.

Karegi's exploits on the soccer pitch got noted by the amputees' football club in Kamukunji, situated in California ward, where he was enrolled. Karegi brings in a rich expertise as a striker, but what baffles his teammates is his goalkeeping ability.

“We truly have great talents in the village and it pains me that the sports ministry in this country has never thought of scouting and developing talents from village, if they did so they would be surprised by what they would find, siting in air conditioned offices in Nairobi and conducting press conferences will never help this country we shall remain to have a laughing stock of a national team,” Karegi quipped.

Paul Kabucho from the same village said that Karegi is such a great inspiration to young men and women in the village who look at him and also make certain resolves.

Echoing Karegi's words, Kabucho challenged the government through ministry of Sports to consider moving out of Nairobi to scout young talents and nurture them if the government is really willing to make sports, especially football, a national pride.

Peter Kamau, the Dragon FC coach, told the standard said that Karegi has a great talent and is a great scorer, and he is part of our first 11.

“We pride in him, he has shown that with a willing heart, anything is possible. In the field, he has shown exploits and mastery of the game to our surprise; despite having one hand, his teammates do not treat him as an amputee, and that has helped him hone his skills,” Kamau said.

In the future, Karegi said that he would want to become a football coach so that he can help the young and talented in the villages.” I, too, would want to play in the national soccer team to prove to the world that limitation is in the brain and anything is workable with a clear vision,” Karegi said.