Young lads whose Kenyan blood rocks soccer abroad

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Forget Victor Wanyama. Move over engineer Michael Olunga! This new relatively new brood is flying Kenya’s football flag beyond our borders — and they are doing just fine.

The Nairobian profiles Kenyan talent — beyond known stars like Divock Origi, Ayub Timbe, McDonald Mariga and other firebrands — who continue to feature in different leagues in America, Europe.

Here are some great talents from Kenya to take note of:

 

Handwalla Bwana

Handwalla Bwana is a forward. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer in America. He was born in Mombasa in 1999, but spent six years of his childhood at a refugee camp in Kakuma — kicking ‘garbage balls’ to nurture his talent.

His family was resettled in the United States in 2010, initially in Atlanta, but later in Seattle, where he attended Ballard High School.

The 18-year-old joined the Seattle Sounders FC Academy in 2015 and graduated through the ranks to play his first MLS game against FC Dallas on March 18, this year.

 

Amos Ekhalie

This is another great talent from Mombasa. He currently plies his trade as a midfielder in Finland with IFK Mariehamn in the Finnish Veikkausliiga.

The 29-year old Kenyan footballer who joined IFK Mariehamn in 2014, has so far gained the status of an international player having featured for Harambee Stars once.

The national team debut came during a friendly match played against Liberia on November 15, 2016.

 

Ismael Athuman Gonzalez

Ismael Said Athuman González is a Kenyan footballer who plays for Spanish club CF Fuenlabrada, and the Kenya national team Harambee Stars. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Athuman was born in Maspalomas, Las Palmas, to a Kenyan father Said Ali Athuman Mbaga and a Spanish mother. Before making his debut for Harambee Stars in May 2016, the 22-year old centreback, had played youth football with UD Vecindario and UD Las Palmas. At some point he tried his luck at English Premier League champions Manchester City but he was unsuccessful.

Interestingly, his father, popularly known as Billy, is a Kenyan contortionist and acrobat, who lives in Gran Canaria.

Joshua Lelan Kemboi

The 23-year-old, is a Kenya international. He made his Harambee Stars debut in 2016 against Uganda. He began his career in England’s Rams’ Academy and in 2014 made five appearances on loan in League One with Swindon Town, having played four times in the National League for Gateshead on loan in 2013. After he was released by Derby County in 2015, Joshua signed for Northampton Town and was part of the Cobblers’ squad which won promotion to League One. He made 13 appearances for Northampton and played in both games against Reds. He currently features for Crawley Town FC.

 

Lawrence Olum

Lawrence Olum is 33-years-old Kenyan professional footballer who plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer of America.

Magdaline Ojuro’s son turned professional with the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division in 2007, before moving to the Minnesota Thunder in March 2009. He later played for the Austin Aztex and Orlando City, before moving to Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer in September 2011.

Notably, on February 3, 2017, he was traded back to Portland Timbers, now of MLS, in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money and a first-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He made his international debut for Harambee Stars in a 1–0 victory over Comoros in May 2014.

 

Jonah Ayunga

Jonah Ananias Paul Ayunga is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Brighton & Hove Albion’s development team in England. He is also a Kenyan international forward having received his first call up to Harambee Stars on August 5, 2016. Born in Beaminster, England, the 20-year-old Started his career at Bridport Youth in 2007 then gradually advanced to his current club.

 

Christian Bwamy

Born in Nairobi, Christian Mwenelwata Bwamy is a Kenyan winger. He currently plays for Follo FK in Norway. While in Kenya, where he started his career before going overseas, Bwami played for The Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA).

He later moved to Follo in 2008 as a pro while pursuing studies before moving to other clubs in the country. He has so far rejoined his parent club in addition to earning a number of Harambee Stars call-ups.

 

Kamau brothers (Ian and Bruce)

These are two brothers who fell in love for football at the same time. Ian is now 26 while his younger brother Bruce is 23. They are both playing football in Australia, where their parents migrated to, from Nairobi years back. Schooling in Australia, further provided conducive environment for their football dream-a thing whch was realized when they joined different successful clubs in the country. Ian started his career at Oakleigh Cannons in the Victorian Premier League while Bruce kicked off his dream at Adelaide United.

“We settled in to life in Australia quite easily ... it was just a big adventure for us,” Ian, an attacking midfielder, was quoted as saying.

“Our parents were simply searching for a better life for us and they happened to choose Australia,” he added.

Today, Bruce plays for Western Sydney Wanderers in Australian top flight league, Hyundai A-League.

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