EXCLUSIVE: How ditching football for Kabaddi has propelled Obiero to greatness

Victor Obiero was going about with his daily bustle when a unexpected call from a representative of the Black Stars, a Sudanese amateur football team that had toured the country in December 2017 hit his cellphone. 

The caller had gotten wind of his excellent goalkeeping skills and desperately wanted to procure his services, to replace his injured custodian ahead of a friendly match against Zimmerman All Stars.

Ordinary, grassroot based matches attract crowds that swell more during the festive season and Obiero didn't want the opportunity to entertain his friends and the delegation from the visitors slip through his hands. To keep himself busy in a season that a beehive of raves in the city sweep away energetic youth from the streets and homes, he gladly accepted to feature for the Black Stars in a match that in back of his mind would pass for a normal fixture.

Unbeknown to him, his talent caught the eye of the least expected person in the crowd that had turned up to drum support for either teams, Laventar Oguta, the Kenya Kabaddi Association President who would turn to be his destiny connector.

Oguta and the Kabaddi national team had just finished training at the Kasarani Annex when they paved way for the friendly game that gave her the opportunity to spot a gem that was in the wrong discipline. 

Standing at 6.2 feet and weighing 83 kilograms, an ideal physique for goalkeeper, Obiero was on course of scaling the steps of becoming a revered custodian and later follow the footsteps of his elder brother and Kenyan international Amos Nondi in playing abroad.

However, the brief talk with Oguta shortly after the international friendly match derailed his dream of becoming a professional footballer albeit for the better.

While diving in the rusty pitches in Kasarani and Githurai, Obiero had sky-high hopes of securing deals with clubs in the Kenyan top flight and market himself to European clubs within a short time just like his elder brother, Harambee Stars midfielder Amos Nondi. 

Nondi, a former national U20, Rising Stars captain was undoubtedly imposing when he made his full Harambee Stars debut in the final 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda. 

The combative midfielder was thrown in the deep end following the decision by former Stars head coach Engin Firat to deploy him as a right back rather but the former Gor Mahia man did not disappoint.

Nondi keen on becoming Stars first choice right back

It is after meeting the Kabaddi boss that he says was initiated into the new game that has brought him quick success just as he had envisaged while as an amateur footballer. 

"I had big dreams of following the footsteps of my brother but after meeting Oguta, I traded football for Kabaddi. At first, it was a tough decision to make but I adapted after some time. I am proud to have made to the paid ranks of Kabaddi and most importantly, I joined by brother in making our family happy, " he narrated.

Born and bred in Githurai, Obiero was formally incorporated into Kabaddi national team in 2018 after he physicality impressed Oguta and within months, his efforts procured him a place in the team that represented Kenya to the Dubai Masters tournament. 

The third born in a family of four says that he punched above his weight in his inaugural international showpiece and while representing the country for the first time as he was named the fourth best player of the tournament.

The success realized in his debut year in the new-found career and at the international stage laid a solid foundation for him in the sport as the following year he highlighted a number of achievements he inspired the national team to.

The Chelsea diehard returned to the Dubai Masters in May 2019, with Kenya finishing fifth overall and within the same month, the team mined bronze in the Chinese Taipei Kabaddi championship in Taiwan.

Obiero made his debut in the Junior Kabaddi World Cup tournament in November the same year in Kish Island, Iran guiding the team to walk home shoulders high as they finished as runner up.

The 21-year old prides himself in running away with the man of the match awards in the Bangladesh Kabaddi tournament against Nepal and Sri Lanka in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.

A week ago, Obiero joined the duo of James Kamweti and Daniel Omondi in hitting the runaway for India to scale a new high as they are set to play professional Kabaddi for three months in India.

Obiero will be turning for Puneri Paltan while Kamweti and Omondi will be his rivals as they will featuring for Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi Indian League.

"I have no regrets in ditching football for Kabaddi for I have achieved a lot within a short time. I have been privileged to have played for the national team and will always be ready to don the shirt with pride. I have won medals with the team and I believe the future is bright. I have also won individual awards and will continue to fight for more, " he remarked.

Ahead of his affluent start of life in the Indian league, the player who considers former former Indian Kabaddi national team captain Ajay Thakur as his role model believes that this will not be his first or last stint abroad.

His quick rise from street football to the paid ranks of Kabaddi have left his bother Nondi a happy man and predicts that he will continue to soar high as age is on his side.

Equally, Obiero was over the moon when Nondi was considered for the senior national team duties after years of waiting.

"It was refreshing to see him in the Stars team and clocking full time in the World Cup qualifiers. The team has good defensive midfielder but his versatility came in handy and hopefully he will be considered in the next international assignments," he said.

Obiero who counsels upcoming Kabaddi players and those drawn from other disciplines to embrace discipline, hard work and have self belief.

Bio

Name: Victor Onyango Obiero

Date of birth: 29/01/2000

Place of birth: Githurai, Nairobi

Education

Roysambu Primary School - (2004-2011)

St. Mary’s Keris Secondary School, Ruaraka - (2012-2016)

Football clubs he has featured for

Super Bentoz FC

Blue Bentoz FC

Favourite meal: Fish and Ugali

Favourite team in the EPL: Chelsea

Role model: Ajay Thakur (Kabaddi)

Weight: 83kgs

Height: 6.2 ft