How Owino overcame rejection to become a professional footballer

Fast-rising Kakamega Homeboyz centre back Sylvester Owino is a living testament to the old adage that rejection is not a failure. 

The towering defender who has taken the top flight by storm in his maiden season was on course to rub shoulders with the big boys in the top flight in 2018 but was given a cold shoulder at Western Stima and Vihiga United during the trials.

He alleges that his slim body and lack of experience, precisely high school games exposure gave clubs reasons to turn him away even before taking to the pitch to showcase his talent.

However, Owino who has three goals against his name in the league did not give up in his quest to earn a living from football as he was handed a lifeline after National Super League side Vihiga Bullets who by then were plying their trade in the Division One league consoled him by acquiring his signature.

The Kisumu Day High School alumnus who was instrumental in helping Bullets gain promotion to the second tier in 2019 reaped the fruits of patience and not despairing after the rejection as top flight clubs began chasing his signature last year.

Nairobi City Stars and Kakamega Homeboyz battled for his signature but it is the latter who had the last laugh after he accepted their two-year long contract.

"I was rejected at Stima and Vihiga United in 2018 but I did not give up. It was a bad feeling to miss out on the opportunity to play in the top flight but I kept my head up. I knew I was talented enough and age was on my side. I ended up joining Bullets and within a short time, big clubs were scrambling for my services," he revealed.

Owino who wrapped his studies in 2016 astonishingly had no interests in professional football until friends confronted him and challenged him to ditch menial jobs for football in 2018.

The former Okore United player who did not get an opportunity to represent Kisumu Boys in the secondary school games due to the stiff competition says his life has since changed for the better after getting out of his comfort zone.

"I began taking football seriously in 2018 although I had been playing at my boyhood club, Okore United. Even when in school, I had no business in football as I was a staunch book-warmer. After school, I decided to do menial jobs to make ends meet but early in 2018, I was inspired to take football seriously. I can now afford a comfortable lifestyle thanks to playing football ," he disclosed.

Owino who is eyeing a call up to the national U23, Emerging Stars in the near future in the meantime thanked senior Homeboyz players for holding his hand and helping him shed off stage fright.

He singled out veteran midfielder Ali Bai, former Harambee Stars forward Allan Wanga and his central defence partner George Odiwour for instilling confidence in him since joining the elite league.

"Life in the top flight was tough in the first weeks but senior players in the team were at my service. The coach was also patient with me and had faith in me," he added.