After a splendid season in the Kenyan Premier League with Kariobangi Sharks, striker Eric Kapaito is keen to replicate his golden boot-winning performance with the national team during next month's World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda.
Kapaito had set a target of 17 goals in his quest to see Sharks win a maiden domestic title. His ambition for the title fell through but he was rewarded with 24 goals which set him well ahead of AFC Leopards’ Elvis Rupia (18) and Sofapaka midfielder Lawrence Juma (15).
His splendid goal-poaching accolades saw Harambee Stars coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee call him the provisional squad a week ago.
“I really appreciate the opportunity I’ve been given to play for the national team and we are looking to some positive results in the forthcoming qualifiers," he said.
“My hope is that we shall replicate the marvelous performance we exhibited in the Premier League when we don the national team jersey.”
“I feel so happy. I had set a target of 17 goals this season and I managed 24, far beyond the 16 that I netted in 2017,” Kapaito told the Star exclusively on Monday.
The glory Kapaito is basking in at the moment is reminiscent of the windfall he experienced in 2018 when he emerged as the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
In that glorious season, he bagged the ‘new player of the year award’ and capped off a stunning debut campaign in the top tier with the ‘golden boot award’.
But Kapaito is quick to point out that a lot of determination and hard work has gone into showering his flower to blossom.
“It would have been impossible to attain such success without the amazing support I received from my teammates and coaches," he said.
“Their fighting spirit enabled us to perform exceptionally well and attain a far much better position than we did in the previous season.”
So lethal has Kapaito been this season that a good number of Kenyan goalkeepers had to contend with goosebumps at the slightest mention of his name.
Their trepidations were justified. The striker has been instilling awe and fear in equal measure and his enviable work rate on the pitch.
It's not surprising then that the mercurial striker who boasts of an exceptional knack for scoring goals from the tightest of angles was handed the armband.
He has all the leadership credentials and his abilities have been evident throughout.
Born on December 24, 1995, at Maili Tisa in Namanga, Kapaito attended Engapoli Primary School in Namanga, where he fired his teammates to the Kajiado district title.
He later joined Kuluani Secondary School briefly before transferring to Laiser Hill. His goal-poaching prowess fired Laiser Hill to the 2018 national school ball games title, effectively securing them a slot at the East African school games.
He marked his entry into club football with a bang, scoring 21 goals for Eastleigh Youth in the Nairobi Provincial League. It wasn't long before National Super League side FC Talanta came chasing after his signature.
He ended up scoring 18 goals for the Communications Commission of Kenya-sponsored outfit in his debut season.
Just a year later, an opportunity to make a giant leap to the big stage was placed right at his feet when Kariobangi Sharks dangled a deal right before him.
