Owira John Otieno’s story is no different from those already told of many budding African talents whose only dream and desire is to make it in football and escape poverty back at home.
Raised in Malindi in the Coastal region of Kenya, John and his brother Daniel Owira (of the famous Otonglo narrative) took up the sport as a way of enjoyment and killing time and by extension a means of escaping the many social ills known for the tourist town.
But when their dad died, John whose potential in football had started to show while at Central Primary School way back in 2009, had to fully depend on the game to continue with his education, and that meant hopping from one High School to the next starting at Burhani High School, so long as his tuition fees was assured.
After high school, he started his senior career with Blackstars FC in the Provincial league before making a dream move to Kenyan Premier League side Bandari FC for the 2015 season where they won the league cup.
His stay at the Dockers was however not rosy something the 23 years old is not comfortable talking about.
In March 2016, “John Koko” the pass master as he is famously nicknamed, made a breakthrough to Europe with Sweden Division three side Dalhem IF,a move he wholly attributes to former Kenya international Robert Mambo.
“While at Bandari FC I kept in touch with Robert Mambo “Babon” whom I relied upon for advice on how I could make it in football,
“When I left Bandari, he (Mambo) made all the arrangements for me to join him in Sweden. He didn’t even tell me the club I was going to play for but he had prepared all the ground work.”
The veteran Kenyan midfielder is still active in football and surprisingly, he is playing a league high than John with FC Gute.
He reckons life is not easy in Sweden, from cold weather to a different style of play which is more fast,intense and highly competitive.
However, he has managed to cement his position in the team, and has played every single game since; the team is placed fourth ahead of second leg kick off in August.
His ambition remains the same, to play in the top European leagues and represent his country.
“I’m really waiting for a chance to play for Harambee Stars because I want to thank God for the talent He gave me. It’s a burning desire that even Babon knows.”
John is yet to meet Michael Olunga the Harambee Stars striker who plays for Sweden top league side Djugarden IF but they talk on phone and encourage each other.
@bonfaceosano
