This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
Cliff Nyakeya, the 22-year-old midfielder who led Slum Boys to a sixth-place finish in the Kenyan Premier League, has made a bold move to Al Masr in Egypt's top flight. The youngster signed a four-year deal with the Cairo-based outfit on Thursday, leaving behind a trail of suitors including record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and Wazito.
According to sources, Al Masr moved quickly to secure Nyakeya's signature, reportedly paying a fee in the region of Sh1 million. The move has sparked excitement among Kenyan football fans, with many believing that Nyakeya has the potential to make a significant impact in the Egyptian league.
Former Kenyan international Simeon 'Sepe' Mulama, who won the Egyptian Premier League title with Ismaily in the 2001/02 season, has tipped Nyakeya to shine in Egypt. Mulama, who joined Ismaily in 2001 at the age of 21, believes that Nyakeya has the technical ability and speed to succeed in the Egyptian league.
“Nyakeya has great ability, he is technically gifted and the Egyptian league is very good for his development. The intensity and speed is higher so he will have to adjust. He also needs a lot of support from his family and friends because the society there doesn’t embrace diversity,” Mulama told Nation Sport in 2019.
Despite the challenges that Nyakeya may face in Egypt, Mulama is confident that the youngster has the potential to represent Kenya at the highest level. “He has been improving in every season and I believe after a few months he will be a different player. He has the quality to represent Kenya at the Cup of Nations or even the World Cup,” underlined the Mathare United legend.
