Oboya’s Grand Stage

By Gilbert Wandera

Champions League football beckons for Kenyan international Patrick Oboya, who is set to join Czech champions SK Slavia Prague on a three-year contract.

Prague have been following the progress of the Harambee Stars midfielder since he joined FK Most a second division Czech side two years ago and have officially put in a transfer request.

Oboya will link up with Slavia this weekend after which terms of the transfer will be made clear, according to the player’s local manager Robert Muthomi.

Muthomi said the midfielder has been valued at Sh78million by his club and this is the fee Slavia may pay for the player’s signature.

By joining the club, Oboya is poised to become the first Kenyan to play Champions League football.

Muthomi said the Czech champions have been watching Oboya since 2007 when he played against them in a top division tie before Most went down.

"They have been tracking Oboya since 2007. Ever since they have been following his every move waiting for an appropriate time to put in a transfer request," said Muthomi.

He said Oboya also prefers to continue playing his football in the Czech Republic because he is already used to the culture having been in the country for the last two years. Muthomi added, "He has adopted to their culture and way of play and can speak the language. It is just fair that he continues his football in the Czech Republic."

Oboya, who featured prominently for the national team during the two World Cup qualifiers in June is already back in the Czech Republic.

Last season

He has been playing second division football the whole of last season after FK Most was relegated two years ago.

He scored four goals for Most to help them finish 12th out of 16 teams in the second tier division.

Oboya has also drawn the interest of various European clubs. Apart from Slavia there has also been interest from Turkey, Germany, Belgium and the Middle East.

Belgium Calling

In Belgium, top division side Germinal Beerschot had offered to take him on trials but he declined.

Slavia won the Czech league last season for the first time in 66 years.

Slavia coach Karel Jarolim, well aware of the expectations next season is quoted on the club website saying his desire is to assemble a team made up of powerful and quality players.

"We are going to enjoy this year’s success for a while but I am already thinking of next season. We have to compose such a team that would be able to get through to the group stage of the Champions League and to defend our title," he says.

Slavia Prague is one of the oldest clubs in Europe having been founded in 1892 and contribute many players to the Czech national team.