It might have been a surprise for Kenya Police attacking midfielder Alvin Mang’eni to finally see his name on the starting list as his side prepared to take on Sofapaka FC on Wednesday afternoon but there was more to come.The former Kariobangi Sharks man was making his way from the changing room to the turf at the Police Sacco Stadium when he noticed two familiar faces on the stands, watching him go on with his pre-game routine.##NAJAVA_MECA_7244763##The faces – his mother and his younger brother, who were among the group of family members invited by the club hierarchy to watch their sons play.“At first I was surprised because they hadn’t told me they were in town,” Mang’eni talked of the moment before the game. “My immediate reaction was like ‘Wow! Okay. I have to make them proud.’ My mum had never watched me play in Nairobi and so I had to make it a memorable moment for her.”The young midfielder went on to have a pretty decent match – assisting two of Kenya Police’s three goals on the day in a comfortable 3-0 win for the hosts.“Everything looked so well,” Mang’eni said of his appearance and performance. “My last start was almost a month ago and I did a double treat for both the coach and for my family.”Post-game, the club had organized a dinner session with the players and family, a moment Mang’eni described as ‘special and sweet’ – acting up as a pre-Mothers’ Day edition and also a plan by the team to unite families.pic.twitter.com/Zg4Ws6jCkI— KENYA POLICE FC (@kenyapolicefc) May 10, 2023 “Every player had their loved one around. It was such a happy moment,” the former Kenya U-20 player said.The win for Kenya Police took them fourth on the FKF Premier League standings with 53 points and only 10 points behind leaders Gor Mahia.“I would say the season has been a massive improvement from the one we had last year,” Mang’eni said of his team’s position. “It looks as if we will definitely finish in the top four plus we are the highest scorers in the league. That means that should we keep up with our performances then we could be among the teams that win the league next year.”Mang’eni keen on more goal contributions for Kenya PoliceWith six goals and three assists this season, Mang’eni is confident that he will gain a regular starting berth at the club and also be involved in the national team in the future.“It was unfortunate that I missed out from making the national team last month due to illness,” Mange’eni said of his inclusion in the Harambee Stars provisional team for the Iran friendly. “That was a major highlight for me and showed me that I can make the team in future.”Asked about the lessons learnt in his second season at the club, Mang’eni said that ‘working with international players gives me more perspective on how to conduct yourself as a player and to make use of opportunities given.’Kenya Police next play relegation-threatened Mathare United on Sunday in Round 30 of the FKFPL.
