It’s not everyday that a top flight debutant scores against the reigning champions. So for Talanta forward Francis Kahiro, it was a good piece of history on a personal and club level as his two goals gave Ken Kenyatta’s charges their maiden victory in their first appearance in the FKF Premier League.
“First I thank God for everything in my career so far. I have always been confident in my abilities. So when we came up against Tusker, I was very confident that I will score against them. It felt so nice to score twice and even better that we won. I like those kind of games. These are the challenges I want to face and challenge myself too though it feels so awesome,” enthused Kahiro.
Kahiro was part of the squad that led Talanta to their historic place among the 18 elite top tier clubs in the country and it’s a feat that he still revels in.
“It was a positive step in my career. Again it was the best feeling ever being among the players who contributed much to our promotion. It is an achievement I will cherish for the rest of my life. For now though as players, we have to move on swiftly to more targets as a football club,” the versatile 22-year-old forward said.
Like most of his team-mates, helping Talanta gain promotion elevated their status in the football world. Suddenly, interest from other clubs skyrocketed.
“Before the promotion, I was known but not that much, but after the promotion, I became popular in such a way that I started getting offers from different top clubs in Kenya. However, I wanted to remain with Talanta and get an opportunity to play regularly in the Premier League as that, I believe, is the best way to enhance my career,” said the Passenga Boys alumni.
Another reason that convinced Kahiro to rebuff interest from seasoned Premier League clubs was his relationship with ‘father figure’ Kenyatta.
“To play under coach Ken Kenyatta was a reason I wanted to stay here because he trusted me and he still has the faith in my abilities and he motivates me every day,” explained Kahiro. The Gatundu-born attacker started playing football when he was young and still in Primary school.
“I started being serious when I joined Passenga High School, where we managed to be Kenya Secondary Schools champions in 2015. I knew I was capable of playing at the top levels and so I kept going for trials until coach Ayub Hungai signed me in his team that’s FC Talanta,” he noted.
Though he took almost a season without playing, Kahiro never gave up nor was he impatient to want to move to a club where he would immediately start playing.
“In this sport, you need a lot of patience and self discipline. For me, I stayed put at Talanta despite not playing. From there, I thank God I was given playing time in the seconds season,” he said.
Kahiro grew up admiring legendary striker Dennis Oliech even though he was a toddler when Oliech netted the memorable goal in 2003 that earned Kenya a return to the African Cup of Nations after a 12-year hiatus.
“Even though I was young, Oliech was on everyone’s lips those days. To me, he was a hero because he was admired by people I looked up to. I wanted to be as popular as him,” said Kahira who equally idolises five-time Ballon D’Or winner and Portuguese legend Christiano Ronaldo.
“Christiano is a player I like to emulate. Despite all his achievements in football, he is still hungry to make more history. That is something that I want to copy in my career,” he said.
Starting out in the game and growing up in a rural setting in Gatundu North constituency, Kahiro had numerous challenges to overcome in pursuit of his dream.
“Finance has been my major problem considering my back ground. But that has never stopped me from achieving what I want,” said the Talanta striker.
Kahiro added: “Also adapting to the environment of professionalism wasn’t easy though I was ready to learn. That’s why it became easy for me.”
There is no doubt that the brace he scored against reigning FKF Premier League champions Tusker stands high in his list of memorable moments. But Kahiro points to a clash against Shabana in the National Super League as one that will linger long in his memory.
“ I will never forget our game against Shabana because that is when I scored my first professional goal. It gave me confidence and also endeared me to my coaches and team-mates. They could trust me to make a positive contribution when I got the chance to play,” disclosed Kahiro.
The diminutive forward considers defender Ezekiel Nyati of Ulinzi Stars as one of his toughest opponents to date. He concedes though that their are more top calibre defenders in the KPL.
“Nyati is a tough opponent both when we were playing local games as well as professional. He is still my nightmare. You don’t want to be at the end of his tackles,” he sighed.
With the benefit of a three-match experience in the FKF PL, Kahiro is in a position to pinpoint the difference between the two top divisions in Kenyan football hierarchy.
“The premier league is more of tactical than NSL which was more physical. I think it is down to the level of coaches and the quality of players in the Premier League that makes it more about the technical aspect than the physical,” he said.
Having achieved their long term objective of reaching the KPL, Kahiro says their target now is to retain their place in the top tier league for as long as possible.
“We want to continue with the spirit of the championship in the KPL. I believe we are equal to the task,” he stated.
As many will attest, one of the advantages of playing in the Premier League is that you are likely to be considered for national team call ups than at other levels. Wearing the national colours is something that Kahiro dreams of.
“My long term ambition is to first play for Harambe Stars. That has been my dream. I also want to go abroad and play. That’s why I am working hard day in day out,” he remarked.
The Manchester United fan is alive to the fact that football is a short career and even though he is still in his formative years in the game, he has cast his eye in the future.
“Though at the moment I am focused on making a career out of football, I am also in the process of advancing my studies while playing too in order to secure my future post football,” he concludes.
