BY TUSKER FC MEDIA
Only armed with belief, hope and an unshakable spirit, goalkeeper Edwin Simiyu landed at the Ruaraka Grounds four years ago for trials with the Youth Team.
Fresh from High School, Simiyu learnt of the trials on Facebook and decided to give it a try, hoping to fulfil his life-long dream of becoming a professional footballer.
But, despite the dream, there was a problem.
“I didn’t even have gloves. I just came, because I wanted to give it a try. I saw it on Facebook and decided to come. I had a dream,” Simiyu, 22, says.
When he arrived at Ruaraka, he found help in a place where he least expected, an experienced figure, and then the number one keeper at the senior team, Rwandese Emery Mvuyekure.
“Emery saw that I didn’t have gloves and he gave me his to use. We were two of us, with another South Sudanese keeper who also didn’t have gloves. So we shared. When it was my turn to get into goal I took them, and when it was his turn, we switched. We worked hard but unfortunately, he wasn’t picked but luckily I was picked. After that, Emery was kind enough to give me the same gloves and that is how I started off,” Simiyu recounts.
Even then, he still had to work his way up and had to wait for a season and a half to get his slot in between the sticks. An injury to the then number one started opened a channel for him and he didn’t look back. Simiyu took the chance, and grew himself all the way to the senior team.
He was promoted at the start of last season and even though he is yet to make a competitive debut, the 22-year old’s unshakable spirit riles him on.
“Looking back, I can say I am very proud of myself,” Simiyu says.
The custodian says he has enjoyed every single minute of his time with the senior team, and has been picking lessons every single day, especially with his exposure to top class keepers at the club. “I have learnt a lot from them. Everytime in training and in matches, there is something I pick from them to try and improve. My time in the senior team has been both challenging and an eye opener. Things are different up here, but your hard work will keep you going. I am more than proud to wear this jersey and my dream is to play someday soon,” Simiyu says.
His story has been that of patience, resilience and hard work, and he looks back at his story with the Youth Team, and believes his time will come.
“I keep working everyday because I know my time will come. I have to be ready always because you never know. I want to be on top such that when I am told, you are playing tomorrow, I am physically and mentally ready,” he adds.
Simiyu has paid tribute to Tusker’s legendary shotstopper Duncan Ochieng, who is the current goalkeeper coach, saying he has dragged him from the pits.
“When I came here, I was really not in a good shape. My grip, ball handling were wanting and at times I would ask myself whether I would make it. But coach Dunco has really brought me a long way. He has taught me a lot. He keeps challenging me to become better and I am who I am today because of him,” Simiyu states.
But, what keeps him going, despite the long wait for a senior team debut.
“I always have hope in life. In this life, you have to give yourself grace. My family also keeps me going and motivated. When you are a first born and your family depends on you, you don’t have a choice than to work hard. I will keep working, I will remain patient because I know my time will come,” he says.
Simiyu adds; “When we played in Uganda against Lugazi and I came on in the second half, that was a massive moment for me. Playing in an international friendly match is huge and it gave me a lot of confidence that I am able and capable.”
