Football is a sport filled with uncertainty, and it is a great leveller for players who don’t put in the effort and maintain the required level of discipline and professionalism. For youngsters, one performance can take them to the top of the world, while one mistake, bad luck, or poor performance can result in them falling off the cliff. In Kenya, we have seen many cases like this over the years. Some players promised a lot, started on a high note, but ended up fighting themselves and losing the bright start.Today we take a look at five Kenyan players who promised a lot and started well but now risk vanishing into oblivion unless things change for the better soon.##NAJAVA_MECA_6996327##Erickson MuluAfter a stint with FC Malaga City in Spain, the youngster returned home and signed for Wazito FC in September 2021; this was the first time that he was featured in the FKF Premier League.He fast established himself as Wazito’s first choice left-back. His energy both in attack and at the back caught the eye of many, but a few months later, money issues at Wazito FC forced him to disappear without notice.He resurfaced late last year and trained with Kenya Police FC before the start of the current campaign but did not ink a deal. He’s now training with KCB in the hope of making a comeback.Mulu’s talent is unquestionable, but that’s not enough; he needs to play to keep growing as a player lest he become one of the many who would have been great players.Some quick feet. Erickson Mulu. Remember this name.#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/si3l0uIcnl— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) September 23, 2021 Musa MasikaMasika came into the limelight in 2015 when he helped his school, Laiser Hill, lift the national title in Machakos. He earned call ups to the junior national teams and even featured for the senior team.Just like Mulu, he ditched Wazito FC due to money issues in 2022 and moved to Thailand, where he had earned a deal with Buriram United’s development side when his brother Ayub Timbe turned out for the senior team. He left shortly after and is back in the country.On a good day, Masika can be menacing on the pitch, but the age clock is ticking. He needs to find a club, a stable club, that will allow him to settle and play his football week in and week out. At the moment, however, he risks dropping off the cliff.Koth Biro. Musa Masika alipiga free kick goal keeper opponent instead ya kushika anataka ku celebrate. pic.twitter.com/E56qlrt24p— Slumphotography (@Slumphotography) January 30, 2023 Boniface MwangemiThe 2019 National School Games in Kisumu were all about Boniface Mwangemi. He was the captain of Dagoretti High School, put in an eye-catching performance throughout the tournament, missed a crucial penalty that saw his side lose the title to St. Anthony’s Boys’ Kitale, and that was not the end; he was named MVP of the tournament.Kariobangi Sharks quickly moved to sign him, and after two seasons where he featured in a handful of matches, he left and signed for Bandari. With the experienced Mohamed Siraj and emerging youngster Rony Otieno preferred in that left-back position, Mwangemi has found playing time difficult to come by, and if the situation does not change, he may just need to find a new home to salvage his career.‘Captain’Former captain of Dagoretti High Boniface Mwangemi Marshals the left flank for his side during the 2019 national ball games.#footke pic.twitter.com/bPeQiXrBla— Footballers Of Our Time (@TransferMarktEA) December 1, 2021 Stewart OmondiOmondi took the 2020/21 FKF Premier League campaign by storm and, alongside another youngster, Lawrence Luvanda, tried to save Vihiga United from going down, a task that proved a mission impossible. A host of FKF Premier League clubs were after his signature, but the player alongside Luvanda opted for Tusker.##NAJAVA_MECA_7003917##Whereas Luvanda is getting a considerable amount of playtime, Omondi has been reduced to a peripheral figure in the team, and when summoned, he’s played out of position, mostly as one of the wide players. He had and still has what it takes to thrive as an attacking midfielder, but it appears that to fulfill that potential, he may have to move elsewhere.Youth Youthful forward of Vihiga United Stewart Omondi. First season in the Premier League.#footke pic.twitter.com/wusKl6L5d1— Footballers Of Our Time (@TransferMarktEA) August 9, 2021 Alphonse OmijaHe has had the honor of captaining both the Kenya U17 and U20 teams, but Omija is nearly a forgotten man now. At the end of last season, he left the Kariobangi Sharks with the hope of finding a new home, but that has proved difficult, and his whereabouts remain unknown. There are reports indicating that he has been trying things out in Europe, but he is yet to find a new home.The youngster, a product of the Gor Mahia Youth Team, can play across the entire backline; his intelligence and game reading prowess make him one of the best in his age group, but he needs to play more to realize that dream.The January window will swing open soon, and hopefully he finds a new home.An exquisite free kick by Mathew Mwendwa sees us pull one back through Alphonse Omija pic.twitter.com/neIPdS902l— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) April 10, 2019 Ulinzi rookie Staphod Odhiambo over the moon after netting third goal of season in glare of parents
