When 18-year-old Brian Oduor Aroka boarded a plane for the first time this year, he could hardly believe his own life was the story unfolding.
The striker from Kisumu had just been selected among four young Kenyans to train with the senior SD Huesca team in Spain, a journey he still calls “unimaginable.”
“I had never even travelled to Nairobi before, yet suddenly, I was packing for Spain,” he laughed, recalling his first trip to the capital to join the Chapa Dimba All-Stars squad.
Brian’s football journey from 9 years of age has been one of steady growth. From playing for a local side, Chipolopolo FC, his coach, Michael Bonga, saw something special in him, pushing him through the junior ranks until he landed at Manyatta United, the team that clinched the Chapa Dimba national title in 2017.
Later, while playing a finals match for Obunga FC, he was scouted and his big break came when he was given the chance to join the Chapa Dimba All-Stars.
Yet, his selection for Spain still came as a shock. It was only when he received his passport that the reality sank in.
“I was in Form Four when the team manager asked for my birth certificate. When I was told I had been picked, I was in disbelief. Even my father didn’t believe it,” he said.
For a boy who had never traveled beyond Kisumu, the experience was overwhelming. The flight was nerve-wracking, the language unfamiliar, the food strange, and the massive Doha airport nearly left him lost.
In Barcelona, the sleek Mercedes cars that picked them up and the hotel stay were far from anything he had imagined. “Even the time difference confused me. I thought my phone was broken,” he laughs.
Despite the challenges, Brian found his footing on the pitch. In the friendly matches, he emerged as the top scorer, netting five goals that earned him a chance to train with SD Huesca’s senior team where he experienced a completely different level of football.
“I learnt that a striker should ease, choose a spot, and not overthink away from goal,” he said, reflecting on his training.
He was particularly struck by the discipline and structure of Spanish football where gym sessions are a non-negotiable part of warm-up and timekeeping is strictly observed, an entirely new experience for him.
Brian’s rise, however, has been shaped by both promise and pain.
Brian lost his mother while still in primary school, a tragedy that could easily have derailed his young dreams. Instead, he found guidance in Harambee Stars striker Benson Omala. himself a Chapa Dimba alumnus. Omala became more than a role model.
“He told me I could make a life out of playing football. Even now, when I’m in Nairobi, I stay with him. He always encourages me to keep praying and pushing,” he recalled.
This mentorship has borne fruit.
His guardian, Omala, followed his progress closely. “Even when I was in Spain, he kept calling me to encourage me,” Brian said.
Despite the culture shock, Brian’s takeaway was that discipline and opportunity go hand in hand. He now hopes to break into Kenya’s national team and play internationally.
Looking ahead, Brian is determined to take these lessons back home. He dreams of joining the national team and eventually playing football internationally.
The opportunity to represent Kenya abroad was more than just personal success. It is a testament to the power of platforms like Chapa Dimba in transforming lives and inspiring communities.
“I thank God and Safaricom greatly for this opportunity,” he said.
His message to the next generation eyeing Chapa Dimba’s fifth season is one of resilience: “Football calls for discipline. Practice and push yourself because you don’t know what God has planned for you.”
For Brian, Spain was more than just a trip. It was a glimpse of the future he has been chasing since childhood and if his journey so far is anything to go by, the bright star from Kisumu is only just beginning to rise.
