First Timer: ‘Makanga alinipitisha’, but made up for it- Gor\Harambee Stars midfielder Ali Hassan Abondo

The little that I can remember is that I had a great time growing up in Nyamasaria, Kisumu.

As a student, I played for Thur Gem High School and my exemplary performance earned me a chance in Kenyan Premier League, as a striker, at Awendo SoNy Sugar Football Club. I played for SoNy and, in 2005 while in Form Three, I earned a call-up to the under-20 National Football Team.

This would be my first ever trip to Nairobi. With the help of a friend, a boarded a night bus to Kisumu and I call recall we reached Nairobi at around 5:00 am in the morning.

I had been told to wait till daybreak for someone to pick me up but that was never to be. I waited at the Ambassador Bus Stage but no one was coming so I decided to find my way around.

It was not easy because Nairobians generally have no courtesy and little concern for strangers. Someone told me that the only way to Kasarani was by a route 44 matatu, which meant that I was to find my way to where pasengers board the number 44 matatus.

I wondered around in the CBD asking my way around and at last I found the matatus to Githurai.

I remember specifically asking both the driver and the conductor to drop me off at Safari Park Hotel but here I was a young and green. The vehicle went so fast and I had no idea of the places we were passing and since I had faith in the driver, there was no reason to worry.

But things changed when we got to a stop and the conductor said: ‘Mwisho wa gari’ so I asked what happened to me being dropped at Safari Park.

Apparently both of them had forgotten and we were now in Githurai. I was not going to let them get away with it. I insisted that it was all their fault not to drop me at my destination, after all, I had paid to be taken to Safari Park.

Today I count myself lucky that the makanga was kind enough to get me another matatu and gave his colleagues clear instructions on where I was to be dropped.

We left and in no time I could see the stadium.

My second return to Nairobi was in 2010 when I signed for Tusker FC from Bandari.

— As narrated to John Lawrence