Emuria laments over the lost KSSSA calendar

National U20 goalkeeper Issa Emuria has bemoaned the lost Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) calendar, saying budding players have missed out on an occasion to market their talents.

Last year, the government, while preparing for the reopening of schools after a long break, moved to suspend co-curricular activities as a way of minimizing the spread of the coronavirus amongst learners, a decision which was protested by some stakeholders, including the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF).

Emuria, who will be entering his final year at St. Anthony's Boys High School, Kitale, when schools reopen next week, regretted that the decision to shelve football activities will deny upcoming players the chance to impress top-flight coaches who replenish their squads from the games.

The 2018 Copa Coca-Cola Africa Cup 'Golden Glove' winner, who is understood to have attracted interest from Ulinzi Stars courtesy of the heroics he displayed before the advent of coronavirus, noted that the lengthy stoppage had seen most of the promising players lose hope and abandon the game as the future appears bleak.

 “I am where I am today due to the exposure I gained from featuring in High School games. Majority of the students were looking forward to putting in a shift in the games to secure offers even before they write their final exams. Unfortunately, most of them who were also eyeing slots in the national U17 team have decided to stay away from football since they do not have ample training time,” he said.

Born in Kambi Swahili in Turkana county, Emuria defied odds to walk into the star-studded St Anthony's squad in 2018 after joining the Kitale-based school from the little-known Nakwamekwi Primary School.

He guided the Solidarity Boys to the continental crown the same year, playing a massive role in edging Dagoretti High School on post-match penalties in the 2019 national finals.

His performance in the two years compelled U20 boss Stanley Okumbi to summon him for the 2019 CECAFA tournament held in Uganda as an understudy to Brian Bwire and Bixente Otieno.

 “I began playing football while in primary school, although as a striker. After a series of recurring injuries, I decided to try my luck between the sticks.

I found goalkeeping friendly and fun at the same time. I have scaled through the ranks thanks to hard work, and hopefully I will pick up from where I left off when the government lifts the ban on school games,” he added.