Aymen Onyango: From playing alone at home to joining Manchester City Academy

His father Lucas Onyango, who is a rugby star, would take him and his elder brother Yakubu Onyango for rugby training and not football. 

Lucas was a speedy winger for the Kenya sevens rugby team, Shujaa, and he played for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, thereafter playing for England until his retirement.

“I left home because the opportunities were not there. We came for the Commonwealth Games, we knew we were good enough but the environment back home was not conducive for us to make it,” says Lucas, who now holds a master’s degree in sports science. 

But, his son Aymen took a different path in sports, thanks to his mother Zeena.

“I always wanted him to play rugby as usual; him and his brother always played rugby since they were babies. So one day Zeena comes to me and says why don’t you let Aymen play football? I said OK, as long as you the one who will take him for training on Sundays,” explains Lucas. 

He soon took over taking Aymen for training and he fell in love with the game, dedicating his time to taking his son to all training sessions and tournaments.

When Lucas relocated to England, he first lived with his sister in London, and the teams of choice were either Arsenal or Chelsea. 

“I’ve always looked out for Chelsea and when Drogba (Didier) signed for Chelsea, me and my sister used to call him Akinyi because of his cully kit (hair). So I always loved Chelsea until Aymen joined Manchester City,” Lucas shares.

Aymen tried out at different clubs before settling for Manchester city because they offered the best deal.

“City is one of the best academies right now. We were at Liverpool, we were at United (Manchester) and every academy has its positives and negatives. But I always believe with sports, it is a matter of where the child is comfortable, and Aymen was comfortable at City and that’s how we let it be.”

His choice was also influenced by his favourite player who plays for the Manchester city senior team. He grew up in Manchester and went through the academy ranks.

“His favourite player is Phil Foden because he is a local boy who used to live right next to where my warehouse is at in Manchester. He loves Foden because he sees himself going through that (Foden’s path to the senior team).”

Lucas feels that Aymen will succeed and go on to shine at Manchester City. He has a deep burning desire to always succeed, and this has always worked for him.

“Aymen is one person who is never scared of working hard. I have seen him come  from rugby to football when he was five years old. This journey started three years ago, and it is just now when he signed for Man City that we let Kenyans and the world know because it will motivate other kids back at home.”

The news of Aymen signing went viral in Kenya and caught the attention many. His father being a legend in Kenya made it more attractive with Kenyans wanting to know more.

“I knew that is going to happen and that’s why I kept it quiet all these years. I knew that he is too young for all the attention and limelight and we wanted to share the news with Kenyans for them to know that there are guys out here representing Kenya. These boys are Kenyans,” he elaborates.

The family does not regret Aymen signing for the Manchester City Academy. He is happy at the academy and they have seen tremendous growth in his game ever since he joined.

“They get the best training. They have played Arenal, Chelsea, all the other teams and they have beaten them all. They have a very good set up and the kids are well taken care of, and that’s the most important thing. Like today they are here at the Wembley stadium watching the game (FA Cup semis, Manchester City versus Sheffield United) and they love seeing some players who were in the academy playing for the first team. That is what it is all about,” he explains.

Lucas wants his sons to play for Kenya when they come of age. Jacobo is doing equally well in rugby and will play it at the highest level in years to come. But the boys can only play for Kenya if the conditions are right.

“It’s all about choices. I hope that the federations back at home could get their houses in order because there are a lot of talented kids here with ties back in Kenya and they do go home by the way. Hawa majama wangu nimewapeleka mtaa, wamekula sembe, wameenda ocha, wamekimbiza kuku wakachinjiwa, so they are sons of the soil.”