Mwavali making the most of new lease of life

Kevin Mwavali’s return to active football is a miracle of sorts.

Two years after his foot surgery, the lanky midfielder has had three different spells in the East African top flight- including one in Tanzania.

Recently in the colours of FC Talanta in last season’s FKF Premier League, Mwavali seems to be stopping at nothing, a second lease of life can do so much, and he seems to be on an adventure.

‘’I have been training with Tusker in the pre-season but did not make the cut so I’m out again, seeking another chance to continue playing. If you’ve been through what I’ve experienced, you’ll understand why I’m taking this second chance seriously,’’ says Mwavali who is one of the founding members of Vihiga Bullets FC.

The 24-year-old was part of coach Edward Manoah’s-Technical Director at Kakamega Homeboyz presently-Bullet’s team that earned promotion into the top flight for the very first time in 2020. He featured fleetingly for the side before disaster struck, and would be forced out of active football for a while.

‘’I played only a couple of matches and was forced out due to the foot injury. Luckily, Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) came to my aid and saw me through treatment. I came back and slid right into the team playing the 2020/21 premier league season under coach Abdalla Juma,’’ he adds.

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A quest for greener pastures saw him head out to Tanzania, heeding a lucrative call from an enterprising Fountain Gate side.

Despite being there for only eight months- he had signed a two-year deal- Mwavali cherishes the experience, a taste of a different league, culture. It was worth the trip.

‘’What I was really looking for was a lot of playing time and I didn’t get much of that, that’s why I came back. Everything was good over there, the hospitality and all. But I needed minutes,’’ continues the lean central midfielder.

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The recently concluded 2022/23 FKF Premier League season had him in the colours of FC Talanta, a side just finished just seven points off the relegation bracket. He is one of the numerous exits at the Ken Kenyatta-coached side and the journeyman in him is looking for yet another sojourn.

‘’I was confident I would sign for Tusker but I think there was just too much quality in the tryouts. I wasn’t lucky. At the moment, I’m training to keep fit as I look for the next club,’’ he concludes.

Fully healed and playing as before now, Mwavali’s swift dive into his second lease of life is nothing short of inspiring.

Probably written off when he sat at home unable to even walk, indisposed, the stage is his now- once again.