DREAMS OF TEEN STAR: Kakamega High rising star Otieno dares to dream

Kakamega High School Joshua Otieno, one of the 47 SportPesa Allstar players. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

When prep time ends at 10pm at Kakamega High School, many students retire to bed straight away, but not 16-year old Joshua Otieno.

The rising football star, who started playing professionally last year, after impressive displays at high school competitions where he was noticed by Sony Sugar coach Salim Babu, has to work extra hard to ensure he does not lag behind in school work as he pursues his hobby. “I have to study for another hour after prep just to catch up and if not, sometimes I have to sacrifice my free time to study,” reveals the form three student.

Otieno who started playing for Sony’s under 20 team last year before earning a call-up to the main team in December, after coaches noticed his football talent, acknowledges that balancing football and school work is not easy.

However, he adds, owing to a promise he made to his parents, he has to put in extra effort so that he will not have to let go of his favourite sport- a move he may be forced to take if he dares drop the ball education-wise.

“I love football. I started playing when I was a little boy attending Sony Sugar Primary School,” Otieno says.

So good are his skills that he dazzled visiting English Premier League club Hull City’s coaches last November when they were in the country on a scouting mission.

For catching their eye, Otieno earned a spot in the SportPesa AllStars initial list of 47 players deemed as the best among the SportPesa Premier League clubs.

“I was very happy to learn that I had been picked to be part of this AllStars team. I pray to God that I get a chance to get noticed by an EPL club,” says Otieno.

As the pro footballer has to balance school and football, he was not immediately available when the AllStars team converged at Kasarani Stadium on January 15 ahead of the opening of the team’s training camp the following day, a Monday.

“I had to stay in school first to finish my work. I reported to camp on Thursday but this is after my club Sony obtained permission from the school management for me to join the camp,” he explains.

While his parents at first had reservations about their son venturing into professional football, they are now supportive, says Otieno, wowed by his achievements within just one year of going pro.

“At first they did not want me to play but they came to realise that I really love football and I was not about to give up. They have since given up and are now my biggest fans,” a chuckling Otieno says.

Otieno, the fourth child in a family of five children – three boys and two girls- says his parents are now praying seriously for him to earn a slot in the final 18-member AllStars team so that he may play his first international come February 27 – the D-day for the Hull v Kenya match.

So eager is the young lad, that he has made his maiden application for a passport in anticipation of the trip to Hull City’s home ground KCOM stadium in the UK, should he make it to the last 18. “It will be a dream come true. I have never gone outside Kenya before,” he adds. As he eagerly awaits for Saturday January 28 when the final team will be named, Otieno says whatever the outcome, he is happy to be part of the AllStars project. His advice to fellow budding footballers: “Football is a talent.

If you have this talent exploit it because you never know where it can get you. You may surprise yourself as to just how far your talent can take you.”