Owino: Rise of Kisumu's finest to Harambee Stars backline pillar

Sylvester Owino Ahono grew up in a remote village in Riat, Kisumu County.

At that time, he did not have a passion for football, until one day he went to Okore Golden Youth Academy which he was reluctant to join.

Somehow he linked up with the football outfit, due to peer pressure, and started to hone his football skills from there.

The techniques learnt at the academy came handy during primary school games. They gave him an edge over other pupils and this saw him roped into the primary school football team.

Surprisingly, Owino stopped playing the beautiful game when he went to high school. This was mostly compounded with the pressure and demand of classwork, as he was determined to perform well in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.

Upon completion of high school, and having nothing tangible to do, Owino decided to revive his football career and the first stop was at Thika United where he bravely went for the trials. It flopped badly, but he did not give up.

His second stop after Thika was at Vihiga Bullets and this time he was successful, thanks to his towering height which gave Vihiga immense value at the back.

After a one year at Vihiga, Owino was 'poached' by Kakamega Homeboyz FC who badly wanted his services. He proceeded to Kakamega where he plied trade for two years before 21-times Kenyan Premier League  champions Gor Mahia FC came calling with exciting goodies.

Owino couldn't resist! He proceeded to Gor. At K'Ogalo, Owino's star started to shine brighter, especially with his solid partnership at the back with teammate Alphonce Omija.

The duo had a thrilling performance in the league last season which attracted the attention of national team head coach Benni McCarthy who granted them call-up to Harambee Stars squad for the eighth edition of the African Nations Championship (Chan) that is currently ongoing in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

So far the in-form Owino has been one of the solid pillars at the Harambee Stars backline.

He is among the few players who have been entrusted by McCarthy to clock 90 minutes in all the fixtures that Stars have contested in the continental showpiece.

The towering defender has been the team's fulcrum, forming formidable partnership in defence that is also comprised of club-mate Omija, Daniel Sakari, captain Abud Omar and the young and promising Manzur Okwaro covering them in defensive midfield.

Asked what makes him tick as a player, especially in the going Chan contest, Owino said: "It's hard work. I give my all in everything I do. I'm a very resilient person when I put something in mind. I focus on my goal," Owino told Standard Sports.

Describing how they have ensured Harambee Stars have a solid backline in the tournament, Owino said: "First it's team work. Everyone is so much willing to work. We also have good communication and great coordination at the back which is paying off.

"The fact that Omija and I are from the same club,  gives us good chemistry at the back where we have gelled well. We have good relationship in and off the pitch. We compliment each other."

Owino is grateful to be playing for the national team.

"This Chan is a great moment for me. It's my first major competition in Harambee Stars colours, so I am really feel proud of myself. I'm happy to be here," he told Standard Sports.

The 25-year-old father of one says Chan is a very challenging tournament even though Harambee Stars are equal to the task.

"Teams are attacking aggressively, but we also have tactics to neutralise their marauding ways at the back. Away from that, I think Chan is a good tournament that is giving us local based players a chance to showcase out talent to the world," he said.

His personal target in this continental showdown?

"So far so good in the competition, I'm giving my best and hopefully, I secure a better deal that can take me out of the country. I hope to be on top of my career in the next five to ten years, probably playing in Europe," he said.

Owino says his career has been inspired by other Kenyan internationals like Joseph Okumu and Brian Mandela who he looks up.

He also thanks coach McCarthy for trusting him, a virtue he says has projected his career path in the right direction.

"I feel good, I'm proud to know that the coach has full trust on me. It's quite intensive to play 90 minutes in all the games but we are managing well. We have sessions to recover from the intensity and fatigue that comes with that task," he said.

Asked to describe the current mood at Harambee Stars camp in the ongoing Chan, Owino said: " We are very motivated, especially with the financial promise by President William Ruto. The pledges have inspired us to stretch beyond our limits in this tournament."