• It is no secret that the chances of a young African boy being able to realize his dream of one day becoming a professional football player are not very high in this part of the world, especially if one hails from an area such as Kariobangi slums.
Image: SPORTPESA
It is no secret that the chances of a young African boy being able to realize his dream of one day becoming a professional football player are not very high in this part of the world, especially if one hails from an area such as Kariobangi slums.
The low-income slum dwelling, also known by the street name Bangu, is located in the northeastern outskirts of Nairobi and is generally classified as one of the most crime-infested areas to live in.
However, the negative perception of the area has slowly began to change recently and this is partly owed to the beautiful game of football. SportPesa Premier League’s Kariobangi Sharks FC have risen from the ashes and taken domestic top-flight football by storm, further adding to the notion that it does not matter where you come from, rather where you are going that is important.
The team’s captain, Eric Omondi Juma, has been with the club for 15 years and being born and raised in Kariobangi and rising to captaincy of the football club that gave him a chance as a youngster is not something he takes for granted. Even as one walks alongside Juma, or Omore as most of his peers and everyone in the hood refers to him, the level of respect he commands of people from all walks of life from the young to the old is captivating to say the least.
“Growing up in Kariobangi was not easy. Many of the people I grew up with got into crime, drugs and it’s unfortunate that they are not with us today,” Juma disclosed. “I adopted the love for football at a very tender age. I would follow my brothers to the field and play by myself on the sidelines because I was too young to play with them,” he reminisced.
Juma is one of the best examples of the people from Bangu who hustled to escape the sinful ways of the ghetto and strived to make something for himself— something he owes greatly to his love and passion for football. A dusty open area adjacent to a rubbish dump separates Juma’s Kariobangi North Primary School and the flats he grew up in alongside his lifetime friend and Sharks teammate, Patilah Omotto.
The almost neglected piece of land is the first grounds they ever played football. “It may not look like much but that is where it all began for us. We would make balls out of paper and just kick it around for hours.
“We were introduced to a coach who then taught us the basics of the game and the rest is history,” Omotto revealed. Juma, who has eight siblings, does not forget to mention how his mother Jenipher Atieno’s guidance and provision despite their impoverished state, was key to him being able to achieve his dream.
As one walks through Kariobangi, the handful of Sharks logos painted across walls, shops are an instant attraction, and an even more detailed picture of the teams’ jersey with Omotto’s name at the back draws for more attention.
Young boys running around the estate spot Omotto and run up to him to shake his hand as others purposely kick a ball his way just to have him return the pass, clearly a beacon of hope for the younger generation as they seek to also make a better life for themselves. “There is so much that I would want to do in the future to help the kids here but for now just being able to speak to them and tell them to keep on is a start,” Omotto underlined. “It’s very easy to be swayed into joining the wrong crowd and getting involved in petty crime or drug abuse.
“It’s my onus to make it known that there is a better life out there for anyone who wants it, no matter where you come from,” he added. A few steps away from the scintillating image of Omotto’s jersey, his father, walks by in a radiant green and yellow Sharks jersey and as soon as he is greeted by his son, Omotto indulges in a chat, a voice of the football fans from the area. Omotto does not miss any of his son’s games and further states how proud he is to see how far the beautiful game has brought his son.
“Many who know or hear of Kariobangi, instantly think of crime. That is a very sad notion as these streets have so much more to offer. “My son is a perfect example and it would be my joy if his story could inspire even more youth to follow his footsteps because anything is possible if you believe.
“When I walk around the hood, people greet me not because they know me but due to the fact that I am Patilah’s father and this brings joy to my heart. He chose the right path and I will forever be grateful to God for granting him favour,” he underscored.
The fairy tale of Sharks and how they have swam to recent glory is one that carries with it a sense of belonging and hope that there is a brighter tomorrow for every dreamer and even the greatest realities begin with just that; a dream. Sharks, who were founded in 2000, are the youngest team in the Kenyan football league and have made a name for themselves since making their debut three seasons ago, going from little known to one of the biggest fish in the sea.
The William Muluya-coached side have won three titles in a span of 98 days, beginning with an incredible 3-2 victory over Sofapaka FC to be crowned SportPesa Shield champions, a triumph that saw them qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup group stages for the first time in their history.
They followed that up with a 1-0 victory over 17-time champions Gor Mahia FC in the Kenya Premier League Super Cup before stunning the East African region with arguably their biggest piece of silverware yet, the SportPesa Cup. Sharks battled to a 1-0 win against compatriots Bandari FC in the Dar-es-salaam final to emerge, winners of the eight-team regional competition, bagging the ultimate prize of a once in a lifetime match against nine-time English champions Everton FC.
“My son is a hero to many young boys and his dedication to the game is highly motivating. “Now he is going to captain the side that will host Everton and there is nothing that brings me more joy than this,” Atieno, Juma’s mother explained. “On that day, it is not about Kariobangi Sharks. We will stand together and support this team as they continue to make the country proud,” she concluded.