As he prepares to bid the Kakamega Homeboyz fraternity goodbye on Friday, fast-rising central defender Sylvester Owino avers that were it not for coach Edward Manoah giving him a chance, his star would not have given up on football.The 21-year old defender is set to leave Homeboyz on Friday, a day when his two-year long contract will expire. Impeccable sources close to the player indicate that he is set to camp in Nairobi for a month to hunt for documents as he is set to turn professional in January.Owino burst to the limelight in 2018 when Vihiga Bullets who by then were plying trade in the National Super League acquired him after impressing in the trials.##NAJAVA_MECA_6757265##Before joining Bullets, Owino in his own admission was not attached to any outfit and neither had he played in the lower tiers or in the inter-school games that are famed for producing players who have gone on to conquer the world of football. The national U23 defender would join Homeboyz two years ago after defying odds in the Super League.Despite the lack of experience, he punched hea beat the sky-high competition he established himself as a key pillar in the Homeboyz defence and was arguably the best defender in the past campaign. Highly rated Kakamega Homeboyz defender angles for potential move to DenmarkOwino who appreciated other tacticians who have tutored him among them is Nicholas Muyoti and Bernard Mwalala says he build on the trust and believe Manoah had in two years ago to be the defender he is today.”I used to play football for fun until I attended trials at Vihiga Bullets back in 2018. I passed the trials and penned a two-year deal. It was a hard battle to earn a starting place but Manoah liked my attributes and would play me regularly. He mentored me and moulded me until Homeboyz came knocking. I must also appreciate the rest of coaches who have played a role in bettering me,” he said.For the years the Kisumu Day Secondary School alumnus played in the second and top tier, he has partnered with a number of players at the heart of the defence both at Bullets and Homeboyz. Kenyan Division Two kick off dates announcedHe however, feels that his partnership with the 2020-2021 National Super League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Portipher Odhiambo at Bullets was more solid. Odhiambo joined Homeboyz last year.Owino also pointed at his partnership with Brian Eshihanda at Homeboyz in the past season as equally good. At Homeboyz, he also played alongside the experienced George Odiwuor in the central defence.Meanwhile, the youngster revealed Kenya Police forward Elvis Rupia was the toughest forward he had faced in the top flight.
