?? Eric Ouma: From the dungeons of Kibra slums to conquering Mohammed Salah

You must return to August 2013 when the Western Stima U19 aspect received the Kenyan Premier League U19 Champions in Ruaraka to hint among the finest skills that the nation ever produced.

The Hesbon Nyabinge had been a formidable aspect with most of his gamers having represented the Kenya U20 staff in tournaments with the younger Tusker staff, led by Anthony Mwangi, having the present Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga. Whereas Stima ran 4-0 winners within the day, it was the much less hyped gamers like Eric Ouma who’ve since gone to make regular strides within the nation’s soccer.

Born in September 1996, Ouma spent most of his early lives in Kibra Slums-Kenya; one of many greatest casual settlements in Africa. Whereas he began enjoying at a young age, it was at Kakamega Excessive Faculty that most individuals took discover of his expertise.

“Kakamega did loads for me to be sincere. Most of the coaches I do know noticed me whereas representing the varsity however I began soccer earlier than I got here right here,” Ouma opined to Futaa.

However unknown to many, Ouma’s path may need taken a special route as he had obtained a calling letter to Dagoretti Excessive Faculty. Whereas the varsity has been a soccer powerhouse too within the nation, Ouma says that it’s the present Nairobi Metropolis Stars coach who suggested him to maneuver to Kakamega who had trials with the profitable gamers incomes schooling scholarships.

“I used to be to affix Dago (Dagoretti Excessive Faculty) however Muyoti satisfied me to maneuver to Kakamega. Muyoti advised me concerning the trials and when he had the whole lot in place, it was my father who gave me the transport cash to Kakamega. I did my finest and so they absorbed me. I do not understand how my path would have been if I used to be to affix Dagoretti however I believe it was the proper determination to maneuver to Kakamega,” he provides.

Kakamega had produced among the large names within the nation and as an aspiring footballer, it was a chance he was by no means going to let go. He says of how he was up in opposition to among the finest skills within the nation and was satisfied he was among the many finest when he made the minimize.

“At Kakamega, we believed we had been the perfect as a result of it was one thing instilled in us. You had been going to coach with among the finest younger skills within the nation and that improves you as a participant. It was basis for my soccer and I am without end indebted.”

Whereas they made inroads within the faculty video games, it was the Kenyan Secondary Faculty Ball Video games in 2015 that positioned Ouma’s teammates within the nationwide limelight. Developing in opposition to an equally good Kisumu Day at a completely packed Bukhungu Stadium, they had been to emerge Champions.

Most of Ouma’s teammates walked straight to Kenyan Premier League groups after ending faculty in 2015. Whereas the left-back joined Kenyan giants Gor Mahia, defender Joseph Okumu and midfielder Apollo Otieno walked straight into the Chemelil Sugar beginning staff.

At Gor he needed to be an understudy of Rwandese Abouba Sibomana however as soon as he received his likelihood underneath Brazilian Marcelo Zi Maria, he did not look again.

“Breaking into the Gor Mahia staff was by no means going to be simple. I keep in mind individuals telling me that transferring to Gor was a foul transfer since I wasn’t assured of my place however that was the problem I wished. I wished to be up in opposition to the perfect and I used to be glad about how the whole lot went.

“It was my first season within the high flight and it was difficult as a result of I used to be not a younger boy however a participant who carried the hopes of a correct fanbase. Any slight mistake and you will be served for dinner,” he provides.

Ouma was to go away Gor in 2016 for Georgian membership Kolkheti Poti, one other transfer that was questioned by so many individuals, with the nationwide staff coach then Stanley Okumbi stating that he wasn’t going to provide name as much as gamers who featured in ‘non-competitive league’, it was a problem Ouma took at coronary heart.

Stints with KS Kastrioti got here later a stint he mentioned wasn’t the perfect since he suffered an damage.”My European journey did not begin as I had anticipated as a result of I used to be coming into a brand new atmosphere for the primary time with out being round my household.

“It was powerful extra so after I moved to Tirana and solely to be shipped to Kastrioti. I needed to look into myself and ask questions. It was a troublesome interval however I used to be satisfied every day that I’d make it,” Ouma opines.

A breakthrough got here in 2018 when he moved to the Swedish decrease aspect IF Vasalunds, a transfer he says open doorways for him.

“I knew right away after I arrived in Stockholm for the primary time that it was the chance I used to be ready for. There are quite a lot of groups in Stockholm and I had an concept that many scouts usually visited the decrease groups to identify skills to ship to the highest flight and I took that critically.

‘I labored like I by no means labored earlier than and when my transfer to AIK got here in 2020, I used to be the happiest being round. It was onerous work rewarded and will t disguise my pleasure. Vasalund gave me the atmosphere to thrive and I am glad that I did they had been pleased with my outing with them too.”

The nationwide staff for Ouma has been one thing he dreamt of ever since he stepped into Kakamega Excessive Faculty. He says the urge of sporting the Kenyan colours is one thing that spured them since that they had the nationwide staff coaches of their faculty.

“I’ve to thank Nyabinge (Hesbon) for being the place I’m. He performed an enormous function in my first call-up to the U20 (Kenya) staff. He was a part of the teaching staff and I wish to imagine I did not disappoint him after I was known as upon to defend the colors of my nation. He actually laid the blueprint for my rise to the senior nationwide staff,” he says.

Of all of the opponents he has been up in opposition to with Harambee Stars, Ouma says Manchester Metropolis’s Riyad Mahrez was the man who gave him nightmares adopted by Liverpool winger Mohammed Salah however he says he was by no means intimidated by any.

“I do know lots of people have talked about my duel with Salah within the qualifiers as he did not do a lot however then once more possibly he wasn’t in rhythm with the staff. I watch him with Liverpool and the way he tears opponents aside and you don’t have any possibility however to be in awe. I am glad I did properly in opposition to him lately however due to the complete staff for doing their work properly too.

“Of the gamers who’ve troubled me, Mahrez is up there. It was on the African Cup of Nations and everybody noticed what he did within the match. He is an efficient participant and he had correct gamers round him to go with his efforts. The Senegal staff had correct opponents too. We misplaced the video games however I had picked quite a lot of classes which have helped me in my soccer.”

Ouma finishes by stating that the perfect is but to return from him as he goals to assist AIK qualify for Europe and see Stars be a daily staff in worldwide tournaments.