The allure of joining professional ranks in the European football set up has trumped an often thankless commitment to nationalism in Kenya after AFC Leopards midfield sensation Collins Shichenje, without hesitating, opted out of representing Kenya in the upcoming CECAFA Under 23 tournament in Ethiopia to complete a move to Greece.The midfield hotshot, one of the season’s revelations, was in Stanley Okumbi’s Emerging Stars squad assembled for the regional tournament and no doubt would have played a central role for the team in Bahir Dar.But when the call came, Shichenje made the decision to pursue his club career in Europe. He left the Emerging Stars camp on Monday after his club AFC Leopards formally wrote to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to exempt him from the CECAFA trip.AFC Leopards have extended the services of attacker Elvis Rupia and defender Collins Shichenje by tying them down on 1-year contracts. Both players played a pivotal role last season as Ingwe finished 6th in the #KPL. #FFP #TransferZone pic.twitter.com/13UZIotoZy— Friends of Football (@friendsofutball) July 15, 2020 The 21 year-old is expected to jet out later this week for Greece to sign a professional contract with top-flight side PAOK Thessaloniki.Details of the contract are yet to emerge but Shichenje is expected to pen a two-year contract with the Lucescu Razvan-coached side.PAOK finished 4th in the Greek Super League last season behind winners Olympiakos Piraeus, second-placed Aris and AEK Athens in 3rd place.From plodding it in the unforgiving grounds like Ruaraka, Shichenje is going to share a dressing room with the likes of former Manchester United forward Shinji Kagawa.The 32 year-old Japanese legend who has had three stints with German outfit Borussia Dortmund has also played for Real Zaragoza and Besiktas enroute to PAOK.AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje has been left out of the Emerging Stars squad set for the CECAFA U23 tournament while Tusker FC forward Boniface Muchiri earns a call up. https://t.co/b2hG7o4LNQ— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) July 13, 2021 Other stars at the club include Brazilian midfielder Douglas and Portugal’s Vieirinha. Shichenje will be the 5th African player in PAOK’s books with the other four coming from Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Cape Verde.The Kenyan midfielder signed for AFC Leopards in 2019 from Green Commandos but broke into the team last year. His gallant performances at the heart of Ingwe midfield earned him accolades from football fans across the visceral landscape and caught the eyes of European scouts.A source close to the player intimated to Mozzart Sport that all travel documents are ready and Shichenje will jet out this week. “He really wanted to play for the country but this deal came up and it would be unwise to let it pass. He has respectfully followed due procedure starting with his club and the federation and everyone is wishing him well,” said the sourceHERE WE GO!!! AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje set to join a top-tier club in Greece pic.twitter.com/AJ1VOYjGsh— Jeff Kinyanjui (@Nyash88) February 15, 2021 It is not yet clear what Leopards will earn from the transfer or if they get anything at all considering the player signed a one-year contract extension in October last year. His engagement with Ingwe has just two months left and he might just sign for the Greek club on a Bossman.Shichenje becomes the latest among a drove of young and industrious Kenyan player heading to the coveted European leagues. The departure leaves Ingwe in a bit of a fix as three other players flew out with the Emerging Stars for CECAFA.PAOK has been keeping tabs on Shichenje for over one year now and almost signed him earlier this season. The move was however, thwarted by travel restrictions occasioned by Covid-19.Ingwe Secretary General Oliver Sikuku set the record straight at the time, disclosing that there was interest in the player from PAOK and another unnamed Portuguese club but the moves could not materialize due to travel restrictions brought by COVID-19“First let me clarify that Shichenje is our player, he has a running contract with us. It is true there was interest in him from PAOK, and another club in Portugal. As a club we allowed him to travel outside the country for talks with the interested clubs and also do other things like medicals but it became difficult because of COVIID-19 and that is why he is still around,” Sikuku said in April
