Struggling former AFC Leopards striker in tears while pleading for financial help [VIDEO]

Former AFC Leopards striker Emmanuel Tostao is pleading with Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to come to his aid as he languishes in poverty in Bukiri Village, Busia.

Tostao, who more than a decade ago was “destined to be the next big thing in Kenyan football”, has seen his life take a full 180; from what was a promising soccer career, to depression and menial jobs, thanks to an injury that ended his dream of one day playing for English Premier League side Chelsea.

Speaking to KBC, Tostao, now a water vendor, recounted his playing days, when he emerged top scorer in the Copa Coca-Cola Under 17 Championships in 2009, to making it through to his dream clubs Mathare United and AFC Leopards.

“When I began working on my talent, I started through high school football and playing at youth side Kariobangi Youngsters. God then opened doors when I scored the most goals in Nairobi to lift the U17 national championship, and soon made it to the team that graced an international tournament in South Africa, where we made it to the quarter-finals.

“Coming back to Kenya, I had goals of playing at Mathare Youth for two years, AFC Leopards for two years, and thereafter Chelsea,” he said. “I managed to achieve two goals, and missed the Chelsea one due to an injury I sustained while playing for AFC Leopards.”

Recounting his experience since then, Tostao’s mother Emeldah Takah said: “My son has been struggling, now selling water for at least Ksh100 so that we can find something to eat.

I remember when he used to play, I never worried; he’d provide and promise to buy me a piece of land and build a house. But I don’t know what happened in life.”

Her call, and that of Tostao, was to Sports CS Murkomen to remember and come to his rescue, as he strives to find a footing that could help inspire the upcoming generation of football players.

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“I have the talent to nurture other talents coming up,” Tostao, in tears, pleaded to Murkomen. “I need your help and support for myself and even for other people hoping to make the best out of their talents.

“I want to empty what I have in my heart to them so that they can go and achieve what I couldn’t abroad.”

Tostao believed in his own hype

In a 2020 interview with The Star, however, Tostao’s brother Mark Sanchez believed a “straight and narrow” path would have helped his brother achieve more in his career.

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He said: “I believe Tostao was let down by the people who were around him in those early days. He got too much too fast (at Leopards) and started believing in his own hype.

The coaches and club officials gave him too much leeway instead of being firm in guiding his career.

As his brothers, there was only so much we could do because, after all, he was the family’s breadwinner despite being younger than us.”