When Ernest Mohammed set foot in Nairobi back in 2022 in search for greener pastures, the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) were kind enough to open their doors to him. As a foreigner, who had not secured offers from the local teams prior to crossing the border, Mohammed found himself tucked between a rock and a hard place after landing in Nairobi. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsReality dawned on him that he needed a place to train and maintain top shape, as he hoped to find a club within the shortest time and continue pursuing his football dream. The Ghanaian goalkeeper found the going tough, but he never lost hope despite the massive challenges he faced on foreign soiling in his early days. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8992129##However, tough times never last as MYSA got wind of his shot stopping skills and allowed him to train at the facility, while his newly-found friends worked overtime to get him a club. It is through training at MYSA that Mohammed secured a move to Ruiru All Stars, with his performances at the third-tier club earning him a move to Nairobi United. Presently, Mohammed is a popular man in the streets of Nairobi and in Kenyan football at large, thanks to his goalkeeping skills-particularly his ability to stop penalties. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old along with a handful of other goalkeepers and teammates, returned to MYSA to appreciate the humane gesture the organization afforded him when he was new to Nairobi. Why Gor Mahia star handed Kshs 100,000 Mozzart Bet Cup Humanitarian Cheque proceeds to three teamsHe first made a stop to town, where he redeemed his Mozzart Bet Cup Humanitarian Cheque and bought sporting materials worth Kshs 100,000 before hitting the road to MYSA offices. Mohammed, donated footballs, goalkeeper gloves, boots, cones, bibs and space markers to the organisation that has a rich history of churning out exciting football talents for decades. “It was easy to choose MYSA as a recipient of the proceeds of the Humanitarian Cheque for a simple reason. They allowed me to use their facilities when I arrived in Kenya in 2022. They took me in as one of their own and supported me until I made a move to Ruiru All Stars. I am happy to come back and support the organisation. I thank Mozzart Bet for their efforts in developing football,” said Mohammed. Why Isaac Omweri donated his Ksh100,000 Mozzart Bet Cup award to two teamsThe shot stopper laid his hands on the cheque after he was named the man of the match in the Mozzart Bet Cup semifinals clash with Mara Sugar, a match he saved three attempts from the spot. His penalty-stopping skills in the tournament have played a significant role in Nairobi United’s incredible run in the tournament, where the have defied inexperience to reach the final. He also saved a couple of penalties in the Round of 16 encounter against KCB, that was decided from the spot after a draw in regular time. Lucas Maina donates Ksh100,000 Mozzart Bet Cup award to former team in KiberaMohammed says his ability to stop shots from 12 yards is not by fluke, as he practices and watches some of his role models. “I like watching Manuel Nuer and Ederson’s videos. However, when it comes to saving penalties, I go for Yann Sommer’s videos. He is good at stopping them,” he added.
