Brandon Obiero relishing the FKFPL dream

Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper Brandon Obiero is a man living the dream. Just three months after signing for the William Muluya coached side from Coast Stima, Brandon was handed his first-ever appearance in the top flight league against Vihiga United in February. An opportunity he grabbed with both hands, literally, and has never looked back.

In that game, he saved a penalty in the 53rd with the game leveled at 0-0 to prevent Vihiga from breaking the deadlock. His crucial and telling save gave Sharks a fighting chance in the game and the league’s top scorer Eric Kapaito went ahead and did what he does: scoring the winner with just seven minutes left on the clock to hand Sharks a 1-0 lead.

The player was completely overwhelmed with how he started life at his new side after replacing Harambee Stars trialist Brian Bwire. Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Brandon revealed what went on in his brain after his maiden debut in the top tier.

“It was an absolutely amazing feeling. You know, if it’s your debut, you just feel blessed to have a fantastic performance. It was a dream debut for me. I felt blessed to have such a performance. I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” the goalkeeper recollected.

That impressive performance in his first match set the tone for the games to follow. The former Coast Stima player went ahead to keep two clean sheets in the subsequent two games against KCB and Posta Rangers to ensure his 100% record has stayed intact in his first three games.

While in high school at Bar Ding’, Brandon dreamt of featuring in the top league. A dream that has come to fruition after moves that started from Migori Youth to Posta Rangers, where he never featured, to Talanta to Bidco United to Sony Sugar to Coast Stima before finally landing in Kariobangi Sharks back in November 2020.

“It was my dream to get here. When playing, in order to be the best you have to be at the top level. The top-level here is the FKFPL. I was privileged to join Posta Rangers immediately after finishing high school but I never played there. So all these moves were in constant search of playing time and for me to realize the dream I had,” he said.

He is still not settled yet. He senses that a chance for him to make it all the way to the national team exists and is determined to continue working all the way till he completes the second quest in his sights. At the club level, Brandon just wants to focus on anything he can do to help his team up the standings and to improve himself between the sticks.

"Definitely! Every player is hoping to get there (the national team). I also have one eye set on that national team spot. For now, I just want to help the team to perform better,” the goalkeeper concludes.

Brandon will be hoping to keep a fourth clean sheet when his Kariobangi Sharks side take on Mathare United tomorrow in the slum derby as they hope to return to winning ways and close the ten-point gap between them and log leaders Tusker.