Kenyan youngster eyeing EPL debut after winning award

Kenyan winger Thomas Silko Amari Otieno is eyeing inclusion in Leicester City's first team next season after starring for the development side this season.

Otieno, who joined Leicester City from Chelsea before the start of the season, starred for the Foxes' reserve side, and his efforts were rewarded when he was named Men’s Development Squad Player of the Season last week.

The speedy winger, previously with Chelsea's Youth setup, featured 16 times for the Leicester City Development Squad this season, scoring on five occasions, including a brace at home to Leeds back in March.

The player is delighted to have won the award, but his main focus is on getting elevated to the senior team. Leicester City have already earned promotion back to the English Premier League, and he'll be hoping to rub shoulders with the best.

"It means a lot because the hard work has paid off. I’ve been working hard all season and I think I do deserve it in a way, and like I said before, a lot of players deserve it but I’ve been working hard and I’m really happy. Now, looking at this award, it’s one step closer to where I want to be and I just want to keep pushing on to do better," he told Leicester City's media in an exclusive interview.

Chosen by the coaching staff, the forward was delighted to scoop such an award and admits a lot of people could’ve won on the evening, but he is proud that his hard work has paid off.

“I feel really good to win this award. A lot of people could’ve been nominated for this, and I think they would deserve it, but I really appreciate getting this award. I appreciate everyone, the staff and the players, for voting for me," he added.

In terms of personal development since he crossed over from Chelsea, Amari feels this has been a season of progress at a personal level as he moved from the U18 team to the U21 and eventually to the senior team's bench, an indicator that he's not too far away from playing for the 2016 EPL Champions' first team.

"It’s been a really good year of development for myself. I’m buzzing about my own performances this season, and being in the Under-18s, I’ve been pushing on to the Under-21s and the bench for the First Team, so it’s been an unreal year."

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