Mozzart Bet gifts Busia-based team seeking to produce next Boniface Muchiri

Under the shade at St. Mary’s Nambale Primary School grounds, players sit attentively as members of the technical bench, respected community leaders and invited guests offer words of guidance and encouragement.

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When their turn to open up came, the Nambale Youngsters playing unit candidly spoke their hearts out, highlighting their personal and collective career ambitions, wins, losses, challenges, among other issues.

The interactive session generated feedback, unearthed hidden career dreams, brought unspoken challenges amongst the players to light, and most importantly, left the players convinced that their technical bench and community had their welfare and interests at heart.

Although the session was exclusively meant for the Nambale Youngsters, an outsider’s name dominated the conversation, surfacing repeatedly in both the players' stories and officials' remarks.

Harambee Stars winger Boniface Muchiri’s name kept cropping up among players and officials alike—not just for his stellar performances with the national team and Ulinzi Stars, but also because he hails from Nambale, where he is regarded as a role model.

They all recounted how they were glued to their screens during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament and other matches in which Muchiri was involved, eager to catch a glimpse of their brother, son, friend, and neighbour in action.

Further, they admitted to following Ulinzi Stars matches closely to keep abreast of Muchiri's performances at the club level.

They all spoke highly of the player whose promotion from Senior Private to Corporal in the Kenya Army was publicly approved by President William Ruto five months ago.

"Everyone here wants to be like Muchiri. We have trained and played with him before, and he always spares time to visit and encourage us. We are proud of him," skipper Patrick Wandera remarked.

His sentiments were echoed by coach Kenneth Mbela, who termed the former Tusker star's rise as a rich source of motivation to the tens of players at his disposal.

"I keep on telling my players not to look further for inspiration. I keep on reminding them that if Muchiri rose from Nambale to the world, they can also make it," said the tactician.

Much as the players expressed desire to follow in the footsteps of the former Sony Sugar flanker, they decried the lack of modern sporting equipment for their training and other activities

However, the club, which is barely nine years old, got a reprieve after gaming giants Mozzart Bet delivered new kits and footballs.

Through the firm's initiative dubbed New Jerseys' for New Champions, the team received full 23 kits and two footballs as part of uplifting grassroots clubs.

"We are grateful to Mozzart for the donation. This will definitely fuel our desire to follow in the footsteps of our brother," stated Wandera.

"You have made the work of unearthing the next Muchiri easier for me. I promise to find and mentor the next stars," pledged Mbela.

When Mozzart Sport contacted Muchiri, the FKF Premier League winner with Tusker FC in the 2020-2021 season, wished Nambale Youngsters success in their activities.

"Those are my boys," said Muchiri on a lighter note. "They have the potential to become professional players. I truly wish them well," he added.