NSL top scorer credits ex-Harambee Stars winger and KCB forward for impressive form

Fortune Sacco striker and National Super League (NSL) leading scorer Collins Maina Mwangi, popularly known as Hajuu, has opened up on how former Harambee Stars midfielder Joshua Oyoo and KCB FC forward Francis Kahiro have played a key role in shaping his rise this season.

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Mwangi is enjoying a fine second stint in the second tier after joining the NSL bankers at the start of the campaign from third division side Ishiara.

The goal poacher is not new to the league, having previously featured in the NSL in 2023 with SS Assad, though his first spell proved less impactful and saw him drop back to the lower division.

He would later rebuild his confidence at 3K FC, where he spent two seasons, scoring over 15 goals and helping the side earn promotion to the NSL.

His return to the league has been nothing short of impressive, with Mwangi currently topping the scoring charts with 19 goals and seven matches left to play.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the forward revealed that conversations with Oyoo and Kahiro helped shift his mindset and approach to the game and pushed him to take his development more seriously.

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“I have had to learn from senior players and take advice from them because they have played at a level higher than me. They have gone through tough paths to be where they are, so their words carry weight,” he said.

Oyoo, a former Kenya international with a decorated domestic and regional career, became a key figure in Mwangi’s journey, particularly during a difficult spell in his career.

Both hailing from Mombasa, the connection allowed the FKF Division One champion to seek guidance at a crucial time.

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“Joshua Oyoo, a former Kenya international, we met in Mombasa, and I was able to get advice from him. He played for Tusker and even abroad in Somalia.

There is also Francis Kahiro, and those conversations have really helped build me as a player. I feel something has changed in me, I now take training seriously and also focus on proper rest,” he added.

The striker, who began his football journey in Mariakani before moving to Eleven Brothers at the Coast, noted that the duo instilled discipline, focus and a professional mindset in him, especially during moments of peak performance.

“They always tell me that even when I am the top scorer or when things are going well, I should not let it get into my head. After scoring, you forget and focus on the next match. It is about discipline and consistency,” he explained.

Despite leading the scoring charts, Mwangi admits the current NSL season has been highly competitive, pointing out that defenders have become more aggressive once they identify a key threat.

“This is a very competitive season because every opponent is tough. Defenders are also strong, and once they know you are dangerous, you become their main target,” he noted.

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The 2024/2025 FKF Northern Division Golden Boot winner is also chasing history, with his sights set on the NSL single-season scoring record of 26 goals achieved by Murang’a Seal’s Elly Saenyi during the 2020/21 season while at Mwatate United.

“I cannot promise to break the record, but I believe it is something I can challenge myself to achieve. It would be a big milestone for me. I just want to take every chance I get in the remaining matches and try to convert,” he said.

The forward will have an opportunity to extend his lead in the Golden Boot race when he faces his former side, 3K FC, in the Majirani Derby on Sunday, a clash that could prove decisive in both his personal ambitions and Fortune Sacco’s campaign.