No player has achieved the feat of leading three different clubs to promotion to the Kenyan Premier League like goalkeeper Adisa Zamu.
The Kwale native was part of the KCB,Nakumatt and Bidco teams that earned coveted places in the top tier league.
However, his achievements only got due recognition recently when he was included in the squad of home-based players who featured in two build-up matches for the national football team, Harambee Stars, against South Sudan and Tanzania.
Yet, even he admits that inconsistency has dogged his career ever since he made his debut in the KPL back in 2012.
This lack of reliability and trust in his abilities had probably denied him an opportunity to don the national team colours earlier.
"I have endured many challenges to be where I am right now. I can vividly remember when I played my first game in the KPL for Thika United against Muhoroni Youth. We won but afterwards my performance deteriorated," Zamu says.
The pressure to perform finally got to him and he budged.
"I started having problems with coach John Kamau and I felt like maybe it would be better if I remained on the bench instead of being put under constant pressure. At worst I thought of leaving the club," he adds.
It is this kind of attitude that has probably denied Zamu the opportunity of reaching his full potential.
Three months ago, he lost his place in the starting line up after he put in a dour shift as his side let slip an early lead to lose 3-1 to Gor Mahia.
It is a display that haunts him to date.
"I let my teammates down. The coach was not pleased at all with my performance. I can only promise to work harder in training and improve on the faults I made," he says.
Chances for redemption
Regardless, at 34 years, many coaches still believe there is a talent in him that can be unlocked.
Despite being dropped from the final team that played the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt and Togo, Zamu is optimistic that he will get further chances to impress the national selectors.
"Ghost is a very good coach.His man management is up there.You can see from his selections that he does not segregate anyone.Every player has an equal opportunity to be in the national team," Zamu, who looks up to Chelsea's Senegalese shotstopper Edouard Mendy, says.
Zamu fondly recalls his time at KCB whom he helped return to the top division after they were relegated.
"My opportunity to play regularly in KPL came when I was with KCB, having just returned to the KPL. I believed then i was among the top six goalkeepers in the country going by the number of clean sheets I kept," he claims.
Despite his displays for KCB, Zamu was moved on to Mount Kenya United and Bidco in the National Super League.
"The experience I had at Bidco in the NSL was an unforgettable one. They were a team with big ambitions. It was a close knit squad with everyone looking out for each other. It was not by chance that we achieved the historic promotion but through the brotherhood that we had fostered in the team right down from the coaches to the players,"Zamu recalls.
The 34-year old showed his true qualities when Kenya pipped South Sudan in a friendly earlier this month.
But it is his display against Western Stima at the start of the season that he touts as his best in recent years —a match that ended goalless.
"It was a match where we were under pressure throughout. It was our first away match in the KPL as a club and it was important that we get a result. I was on top of my game that day and we were able to ride our luck and came away with an important point," he recalls of the November 29 clash.
Looking ahead
Zamu has forged a close relationship with fellow Stars call-up Michael Mutinda.
"He is my closest friend in football.We have known each other since our days at Thika before we met again at KCB. We are the best of buddies and always try to motivate each other," Zamu says.
Despite the challenges experienced in the current season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bidco look likely to retain their topflight status.
Zamu is equally hopeful that they can remain among the elite.
"It's what we are working hard towards attaining.We are taking things step by step and God-willing, we will be able to achieve our objective." Zamu says.
On a personal level,the shotstopper who dabbles in various business ventures including running a clothes and shoes stall, hopes to bring consistency to his game and earn the faith of the national team coaches.
"I want to be a regular part of the national team and i am working hard to convince the coaches that am worthy of a place in Harambee Stars," he concludes.
