Kits For Africa Voi Visit Inspires Dulu's Big Football Dream

26th July 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

His dedication in training saw him lift Ndovu FC from the Provincial League in 2018 to the Football Kenya Federation Division Two, Coast Branch League where they finished sixth in the just concluded season

Patrick ‘Abu Dhabi’ Dulu, 25, with his Southampton FC jersey he received during Kits For Africa initiative at Moi Stadium in Voi on July 25, 2019. PHOTO/ SPN

SUMMARY

In a typical day, Dulu wakes up at 5.30am to do a 30 minute road work
To show his great passion for the game, Dulu resolved to skip peak hours in the evening when his business has so many clinets to attend training
Dulu who looks upto Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo as his role model says his vision in the next five years is to play professional football in Europe

VOI, Kenya- Patrick ‘Abu Dhabi’ Dulu, 25, is a man who is so passionate about football.

This can be seen at how he juggles between his boda boda (motorcycle) business and the beautiful game in Voi, one of the largest town in Taita-Taveta County in southern Kenya.

In a typical day, Dulu wakes up at 5.30am (+3 GMT) to do a 30 minute road work.

He then prepares his son who he drops at the nearby Moonlight Academy at 7.30am before he heads to hunt for his family daily bread with his motor bike.

He will then return to Moonlight Academy at 3.30pm to collect his son who he drops home before he proceeds for his football practice at the dilapidated Moi Stadium in the heart of the town.

Dulu was his team’s top scorer with 12 goals in the Provincial League last year, same as in 2019 with six goals in Division Two.

“I love football very much, i’m just waiting for a breakthrough. I wish scouts would come down here to recognise my talent,” he told SportPesa News.

To show his great passion for the game, Dulu resolved to skip peak hours in the evening when his business has so many clients to attend training.

“I sometimes feel bad that I have to leave my trade halfway when the money is so good to go for training, but again with football you need to be fit throughout the year for you never know when opportunity might strike,” he underlined.

Dulu’s dream of making it big in football was inspired on Thursday evening when his side was presented with a box of uniform from the Kits For Africa initiative at their training base.

Patrick ‘Abu Dhabi’ Dulu, 25, receives a box of kits for Ndovu FC during Kits For Africa initiative at Moi Stadium in Voi on July 25, 2019. PHOTO/ SPN

Kits For Africa is a programme launched by technology and entertainment business SportPesa and their European football partners where players and fans donate kit that is ferried to grassroots teams in the continent as a foundation of developing the game.

“Our team has never been sponsored before. We really struggle to get uniforms and the ones we have are not enough, some are torn,” he underscored.

“We are always forced to borrow or share kits but this is not healthy. Some of my teammates have contracted scabies in the past which is difficult to treat, and this was made difficult by the fact that they had no money and had to rely on well-wishers to fund their medication.

“We really appreciate the jerseys and we are confident they will inspire us in the league next season as our dream is to scale up the ladder up to the SportPesa Premier League,” the father of two highlighted.

Dulu who looks up to Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo as his role model says his vision in the next five years is to play professional football in Europe.

“I’m working hard to be a premier league material. I would loved to play for either Tusker FC or Bandari locally before I head to Europe.

“Internationally, I like Ronaldo. I believe the former Ballon d'Or winner has amazing work rate which I’m trying to emulate,” he quipped.