A vicious disagreement in Cheptulu village, Vihiga County between Sarah Were and her football-crazed teenage son in August 2010 catalyzed explosive events that ended with two-time Harambee Stars call-up Moses Mudavadi living in the streets of Malava and doing menial jobs in sugarcane farms to survive.The irreparable difference emanated from his mother’s insistence on persistence in the ‘dream’ transfer from Mudavadi’s erstwhile Tande High School to the fancied Kakamega High School on a football scholarship. The hot-headed, vastly talented and highly opinionated Mudavadi, a family first born resisted the move vehemently.His mother, Sarah Were was having none of it. Worn down from paying school fees to multiple children his mother must have been praying for such a ‘miracle’ to relieve her from the biting financial burden. And one having presented itself she was not going to let the young man shove her back to paying school fees.’Mudavadi vs Mudavadi’Nzoia Sugar’s Moses Mudavadi (L) challenges Kakamega Homeboyz’s Moses Mudavadi for the ball during their Saturday 4th league meeting at the Sudi Stadium.#footke pic.twitter.com/3ObHSI1itJ— Footballers Of Our Time (@TransferMarktEA) December 6, 2021 To her it was akin to killing two birds with one stone; stepping her son up to ‘Kach’ and getting financial relief from the scholarship – every struggling parent’s dream. When Mudavadi insisted leaving Hakamega High he was expelled from the house.“I don’t shy from revealing that I was brought up by a single mother who was strict on good morals and matters of education. We however had a dispute with her in 2010 that nearly derailed me from chasing my dreams as she chased me away,” he offeredKakamega High’s football team is famously known as Green Commandos. The institution does not only rank high in academics but also in sports. They had beaten a sky-high competition to acquire the youngster under the pretext of offering him a scholarship in late 2009.Mudavadi had won acclaims during the 2009 edition of school games in which he guided the little-known Tande Secondary School to the provincial level where they lost 1-0 to Musingu High while a form one student.The glamorous display for Tande in 2009 wearing his first proper football boots provided by his step brother Makuto Mandela caught the attention of the then Commandos chief scout and an old boy of the institution, Andrew Kulecho.Benson Gicharu: Former Olympic boxer with heart wrenching story and mental health missionThe former midfielder and a handful of teachers paid a visit to Mudavadi’s home in Cheptuli with a basketful of goodies, among them was scholarship to the institution which many pupils die for to join. Mudavadi joined Commandos in the third term in 2009 but the grass proved not to be green as he recalls that he found himself in uncharted waters as all the administration slots had been sealed. “I had hopes of getting an admission letter in 2010 especially after aiding the team win the Copa Coca-Cola and laying hands on the top scorer’s award. After failing to be considered, my patience began to run out while Mum urged me to be a little bit more patient. It dawned on me that I would not be proceeding to form three when I missed out of the end of year exams despite using the windfall gained from the school games to clear arrears. When I declined to return to Kakamega High School, Mum chased me away for disobedience and being a bad example to my siblings,” he said.He recounts withstanding nervous moments and harassment from within in the third term but held on to hope of a possibility of the recognition as a bona-fide student in the following year. However, that did not come to pass in the subsequent year despite guiding the school to claim the Copa Coca-Cola tournament and laying hands on the ‘Golden Boot’ that tagged along with Ksh 100,000 cash award. It is after missing out on the end of year examinations, a mandatory license for him to proceed to form three, that Mudavadi out of frustrations decided to call time on his rocky stay at the institution. On the other hand, her mum who was intolerant to dissenting opinion from him emphasize the significance of patience and trying luck in finding formal admission the following year. There was a standoff. When push came to shove, Mudavadi found himself in the grim streets of Malava town as her mother ignominiously ejected him after failing to convince him to return to Kakamega. “My past was tough but by the grace of God, I pulled through the big hurdles that lay in the way to be the person I am today. She wanted me to continue studying at Kakamega High School, a place where I spent a year without an admission number and ended up missing out on exams. I had been admitted to the institution through the back door and somehow some teachers would harass me as I appeared like a stranger in school uniform, “he narrated. Had it not been for a God-sent good Samaritan, Kenya would have lost to the brutally consuming street life one of the most efficient and versatile midfielders of his generation.Good Samaritan At the age 15, Mudavadi wandered to street life and would team up with a friend identified as Mark Juma who afforded him the opportunity to eke a living from sugarcane farms. Having already made himself a name in the school games, his presence in the farmlands during school time was a cause for concern to some locals who had positively identified him as the fleet-footed winger who was terrorizing opponents on the pitch. Mudavadi recollects running into the path of a man who was a complete stranger to him in Malava town in February 2010, a man who called him by his name and offered to buy him soft drinks and engage him on an anonymous topic. Reluctantly, he agreed to the offer that would prove to be the turning point as the stranger who identified himself as Joseph Bushuru, a Biology and Chemistry teacher at Mugai Secondary School handed him the opportunity to revive and continue his stalled studies at the institution. In a well-executed plan aimed at saving the teenager from child labour and street life, Bushuru teamed up with Mudavadi’s uncle, James Were and successfully managed to convince him to return to school. But still there was another barrier on the way. The return to school had to be approved by Mudavadi’s mother who upon receipt of the Johnny-on-the spot’s intention to send his son back to school first declined as her heart and wish was to see him study at Kakamega. But she later blessed the move after realizing that the school would hand him a scholarship. “After I disagreed with my mum and got chased away from home. Life was difficult in the streets but since I had worked in the sugarcane farms before, I started hunting for jobs. People who knew me through playing football were concerned that I was doing menial jobs instead of being in class. In February, I met a stranger who changed my life and whom I consider to be the force behind my success in football,” he narrated.Bushuru who had tracked Mudavadi after getting wind of his premature exit from school would go on to scout four more talented players from rival institutions and oversaw their transfer to Mugai in a bid to strengthen their team. Mudavadi disclosed that Bushuru who has since retired from teaching for a county government job took him in alongside the other four boys and was kind enough to care of all their needs up to when they sat for final examinations in 2012.He further hailed him for sending monthly stipend to her mother back home and paid bus fare daily to attend trials at Kakamega Homeboyz for two months. “When my mother okayed Bushuru’s request to take care of my education, I moved into his expansive house and became part of his family. Her mother was kind and treated me like his son. It was difficult at first but they accorded me love as if I was their biological son. At Mugai, I managed to do the exams which I had missed at Kakamega and proceeded with my studies on scholarship. Mr Bushuru who had also taken in four more boys would pay bus fare for us daily and was there for us all. He would even go to the extent of sending my mother a stipend to keep her and my siblings going. He was more of a parent than a teacher to me and even after school, we maintained the close relationship which we still enjoy today,” he said. “I am forever indebted to him for getting me on track and holding my hand both in life. Were it not for him, I would probably be leading a miserable life out there,” he opened up.Switching from Volleyball to FootballBesides navigating the murky high school waters that caused him untold suffering and ridicule from the judgmental society, the Homeboyz assistant skipper had to overcome another dilemma while a pupil at Cheptuli Primary School.The now father of two fondly remembers how the games teacher Daniel Nambwa frowned at his presence on the football pitch as he felt he would make a good setter and would begin shaping him to drop football for volleyball.Mudavadi who began playing football at the tender age had to make a choice and bearing in mind that corporal punishment was much alive those years, he had no choice other than to learn the volleyball ropes.He says Nambwa wanted him to exploit his potential in volleyball as the school’s football team was congested by players who appeared more masculine than him.Out of natural talent, he nailed down a slot in the institution’s team in class six and in a year’s time, he had made the cut in the team that made it to the finals held in Eldoret in 2007.As fate would have it, the midfield luminary recalls that a member of the football team picked an injury ahead of the final match and that’s where his versatility came in as he was plucked from the volleyball team and thrown right into the deep end. His show in the final despite playing barefooted left everyone in awe and shortly after the closing ceremony, teachers from various secondary schools were jostling to offer him scholarship.“I always feel I became a footballer by luck as back in primary school, the games teacher wanted me to play volleyball. I was good at setting and I believe I still possess some ball setting skills. I began playing football when I was a kid but the introduction to volleyball nearly derailed my course to make a career in football. I only had an opportunity to play football for the primary school I went to in the nationals’ final held in Eldoret where I came in for an injured player before kickoff,” he said.After the demands tabled by the high schools who wanted to rope him in after completing primary school, Mudavadi joined Tande Secondary School in 2009 but was once again forced to squeeze himself in the volleyball team.However, the school captain Musa Monje whom he had played alongside in village tournaments accommodated him in the football team and the rest is history.Paid ranksEven before writing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KSCE) long serving Homeboyz team manager Bonifance Imbenzi had spotted his talent during school games and a friendly match pitting the club and Mugai School and invited him for trials.Courtesy of the pocket money provided by his mentor Bushuru, Mudavadi managed to commute to and from Kakamega and shortly after exams, he enjoyed uninterrupted training sessions with Homeboyz who from the wide pool of players who had turned up for trials acquired his signature alongside Collins Iture.The soft-spoken player moved in to Kakamega with blessings from his mother and the Bushuru’s family after landing a contract at Homeboyz in January 2013. Homeboyz Chairman Cleophas Shimanyula accommodated him in his house until he developed roots to stand by himself.After going through the development program for three months, Mudavadi was handed his competitive Homeboyz debut in March coming in the second half against the defunct Thika United but his presence did little to stop them from losing.His breakthrough came in the same month when veteran tactician Edward Manoah was appointed to replace Fred Serenge as the latter handed him sizable playing time in the final rounds of the season.Unfortunately, Homeboyz were axed and with little top-flight experience, he couldn’t secure a move at a time when massive exodus was being witnessed at the club.“I began training with Homeboyz in November 2012 when I was still in school. Mr Bushuru would cater for my transport from Malava to Kakamega up to the time I put pen to paper. Homeboyz boss took me in as his child until I stabilized. I was signed in the January window but considering that I did not have the requisite experience, I had to be put under the development program until March even though I would travel for matches just to watch my seniors. I made my debut against Thika in March 2013, the same year we got relegated after losing 3-1 to AFC Leopards at Mumias Sports Complex in the final round of the season,” he recalls.Manoah whose history in helping teams gain promotion comes second to none had to build a team around Keiphas Mutuu who remained in the team but could not inspire the team back to the top flight the following year and would relinquish his roles.His shoes were filled by former national U20 assistant coach Hesborn Nyabinge who paved the way for Manoah in 2016, the year Homeboyz earned promotion alongside Posta Rangers.“I developed thick skin in the two seasons we spent in the second-tier and earned some experience. Gaining promotion proved to be one of the most difficult tasks in Kenyan football but we fought our hearts out and managed it,” he said.A change of guard shortly after promotion that saw Mike Mururi take over proved another hurdle as the current Vihiga United coach brought in new players, wreaking havoc to Mudavadi’s plan to take top flight football by storm.Among the players the tactician acquired are Andrew Murunga, Gregory Nyapala, Moses Chikati, Jeremiah Wanjala but in the end, their experience came in handy as Homeboyz finished seventh on the log.Loyalty to HomeboyzIf you have had the chance to catch Homeboyz matches live from the stands, you may have noticed the kind of respect he commands from the fan base considering that he has been rendering service since 2013.One may be prompted to ask why he has never sought a new challenge despite being arguably one of the most versatile midfielders in the league as outstanding players in the Kenyan market have always moved to ply trade out there.In his response, Mudavadi interestingly attributed his long stay at the club to God’s plan as offers keep flocking his table season in season out.He revealed that Gor Mahia nearly won his signature in 2017 but claimed that the two teams did not agree on the negotiation table and hence the deal hit a snag.The following year, record Tanzanian champions Yanga tried to get him through the border after they were impressed with his quality during a regional tournament held at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru and just like Gor, they could not convince Homeboyz to let him go.Gor who by then had the financial muscle that allowed them lure any player to their ranks from the Kenyan market had another stab to the midfielder’s signature in the same year but were unsuccessful in the hunt.After Gor stumbled twice in the chase for the player, their bitter rivals AFC Leopards tried their hands in head hunting Mudavadi from Homeboyz in 2020 after successfully acquiring Peter Thiong’o but were denied double glory.Other teams that have also tried signing Mudavadi are Bandari, Tusker and Western Stima. “I have time without number agreed on personal terms with other teams only to end up remaining with Homeboyz. I have somehow been unlucky as every other time I get an offer; the interested suitor fails to reach an agreement with Homeboyz. It does not mean that I have not been ambitious enough to play elsewhere but I hope to leave in future. One thing I take pride in is when I will call time to my Homeboyz career, I will leave behind a rich legacy. When my time to leave comes, I would love to exit in a respectful way, ” he opened up.Reacting to the suggestion that he was closely tied to Shimanyula and hence his unshaken loyalty, Mudavadi poured water on the claims but jokingly admitted to be a close friend of the outspoken club boss.” I have immense respect for Homeboyz for the platform they have been given me over the years. I also respect the chairman whom we are not related in any way. He is the boss whose love of the game and success of the youth through playing football comes second to none. I do not receive any special favors from him as he treats me just like any other player in the team, ” he cleared the air. National teamsYou may have heard unsubstantiated claims that the midfielder is phobic to Harambee Stars call ups or have asked why he rarely makes to the list when coaches release provisional or final squads for international assignments. When I sought answers and clarifications, he could not contain himself while expressing the satisfaction that came with representing the country in the 2019 edition of the CECAFA Senior Challenge in Uganda.Moses Mudavadi is our player of the month for February.Well in Captain! pic.twitter.com/bUjioTiK8T— Kakamega Homeboyz FC (@FcHomeboyz) March 9, 2022 He however conceded to turning down requests to train with the team after the tournament due to what he termed as ‘bad’ treatment of players outside the Nairobi region by unnamed quarters. Before the first call up to the national team, Mudavadi had been drafted in the national U20 team in 2014 and the U23 team in 2016.”My best moment in my career is when coach Francis Kimanzi included me in the squad that participated in the regional tournament in December 2019. There is no way I would have shown him the back as he came to Bukhungu to watch me play and sat me down to explain how I was in his plans. I believe I will return to the national team again in the future provided that the treatment will be good, ” he remarked. Awards and life outside the pitch. With pride, Mudavadi toasted the February Homeboyz player of the month early this month following his outstanding performance in the four matches played.Kakamega Homeboyz stalwart named player of the monthHe came in second behind Stars captain Michael Olunga in the 2013 end of season awards in the Young Player of the Year category and boasts of a host winner’s medals in local tournaments.If you don’t find him of the pitch, you’re likely to find him the farmland as he is a medium scale sugarcane farmer who has also interests in dairy farming as well as wholesale shops.BioName: Moses Mudavadi,Date of birth: 21/12/1994EducationCheptuli Primary School – 2001-2008Tande Secondary School, Kakamega High and Mugai Secondary School -2009-2012Weight: 66.2 kgsBest team in EPL: Manchester UnitedToughest player in FKF PL: Eugene AsikeBest friend at Homeboyz: Collins OdhiamboBest season: 2018/2019 and the current oneWorst season: 2013/2014Role model: Humprey Mieno
