kenyatta otieno
It was reported in the press that AFC Leopards goalkeeper was once a sugarcane farm casual labourer. One day Patrick Matasi was busy weeding sugarcane in the Kabras Sugar belt when he got a call. He must have been the village goalkeeping hero because someone tipped him to go and try out the newly formed West Kenya Sugar FC. -(now Kabras United.) He impressed and was signed, where he did duty for the club in the Nationwide League.

Fast-forward and West Kenya FC reaches the finals of 2010 FKL Cup against Sofapaka. They lost 2-0 to Sofapaka but thanks to Matasi the score line would have been a shame to the inexperienced visitors. He caught the eyes of AFC Leopards and come 2011 he was wearing the number 1 blue and white striped jersey.

One day the first choice custodian Barnabas Tiema was injured a few minutes before kick off and Matasi got what looked like a pre-mature debut. His performance was so good that Tiema has remained on the bench since. He capped it with a call up to the national team though he failed to make the final team against Uganda Cranes last year. If it was not for football Matasi would still be weeding sugarcane in Kabaras- every dog has its day.

One day a fifteen year old son of a fish monger mother landed in Spain for trials with Real Madrid. He impressed and the club offered him a contract as well as a taste of the perks that came with it. He went back home to complete the paper work very excited and anxious to break the news to his mother.

“Mom, don’t bother selling fish by the roadside again.” Samuel Eto’o Fils told his mother when he got home. The Younde dog (for Eto’o it is a monkey) had just had its day. He did not impress at the Santiago Bernabeu and soon he was loaned to Real Mallorca. He matured so fast at Mallorca that FC Barcelona sought him out and off he was to Camp Nou.

Despite often facing racism abuse (monkey like chants) while on the pitch Eto’o became such a lethal striker in Spain that he got nominated for the FIFA World player of the year. When he left Barcelona to join Inter, it looked like the only way he could go is down, in form and perks. Then a resurgent Russian club Anzhi Makachkala tongue twisted him into the best paid footballer in the world this season.

Football has taught us that a stroke of the pen can make someone move from abject poverty to riches. You could land a better paying deal when you thought you had reached your peak. Every dog has its day and yours will definitely come- it is just a matter of time so pray for life and good health.

© 20th Feb 2012

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