Former Shabana winger on how Pamzo helped him revive his career
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 01.02.26. | 19:24
Speaking exclusively to Mozzart Sport, the forward revealed that it was then Shabana head coach Sammy Omollo who changed his football perspective after a long, personal conversation
Mombasa United and former Shabana winger Nehemiah Onchiri has opened up on how APS Bomet coach and former Harambee Stars centre-back Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo played a crucial role in reviving his football career.
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Onchiri was once a household name during Shabana’s dominant National Super League (NSL) campaign that ended with promotion to the FKF Premier League.
Alongside Vincent Nyabuto and Wycliffe Nthata, Tore Bobe fans were almost guaranteed goals whenever the trio appeared in the starting line-up.
However, things took a different turn after Shabana’s promotion to the top flight in 2023, with goals drying up and the trio finding starting opportunities increasingly limited.
For Onchiri, a loan move to second-tier side Kisumu All Stars followed during the 2023/2024 season, but the spell failed to go as planned.
He featured in only three matches, scoring twice, before returning to Shabana.
At the same time, things were not working well at his parent club either, with Shabana narrowly escaping relegation that season.
Another loan move followed the next campaign, this time to Samwest Blackboots , a move that would prove pivotal in his career.
During the six months he spent at the now-defunct club, Onchiri scored eight goals and provided four assists.
Speaking exclusively to Mozzart Sport, the forward revealed that it was then Shabana head coach Sammy Omollo who changed his football perspective after a long, personal conversation.
Onchiri admitted that at one point, due to challenges on and off the pitch, he had even considered quitting football altogether.
“Pamzo was new at the club and had just helped Shabana avoid relegation. When I returned from loan, he told me it was going to be a bit tricky to join the squad because he had not watched me play while I was away,” Onchiri told Mozzart Sport.
“When they checked the records, they saw that I had not done well, only two goals in three games, so he felt I needed regular playing time.”
The forward revealed that Omollo personally initiated and arranged the loan move, this time to Samwest Blackboots.
“Pamzo sat me down for almost three hours. He told me I was a good player and that he had seen my quality in training. He said I needed to go somewhere I would play regularly, work hard, and even before the first leg ended, I should have already scored five or more goals,” he added.
At Samwest, Onchiri says he found the right environment to rebuild his confidence.
“I accepted the move and went to Samwest Blackboots. Coach Ongawe trusted me, gave me chances, and I repaid that trust with goals,” he said.
His impressive run eventually earned him a recall to Shabana, where he returned in fine form and even scored against Bandari.
However, an injury sustained in a match against Gor Mahia ruled him out for three months, effectively ending his stay at Tore Bobe.
Despite much of his career revolving around Shabana, Onchiri has now found a new home in Mombasa under coach Gilbert Selebwa, who signed him after his contract expired.
The forward has so far scored seven goals and registered two assists in 15 matches and believes this could be the season he returns to the FKF Premier League.
“This season, I believe I will be back in the Premier League. I have had many ups and downs, but God willing, even before this window closes, I could return to the top tier. If not this window, then next season,” he said.
“Several top-tier coaches have spoken to me and advised me. Now my job is to put everything right, stay ready and wait for the right moment,” he added.
