Sammy’s Story
My name is Sammy Kamau. Born in Kiambu County at place called Mutunguru-Gatundu South Constituency, raised in a village called Nyanjugu-Naivasha Malewa Ward, before moving to Kasarani in the year 1999. Having been brought up by my mother and a step dad, life was not always smooth.
I lived with my eight siblings in a dilapidated wooden rental house where everything happened under one roof. My step dad was one of those dads who never understood the value of freedom and neighborhood, and my mum was always quiet and kept to herself. At the age of 8 I knew mum was not always on good term with dad. It pissed me off since I had nothing to do but watch as mum and dad fought. After joining Year 1, I found school to be much more peaceful than being at home. I had to walk 14 kilometers barefoot from home to school, but this was better than being at home. Wounds become scars, and scars become stories. At least I would have a story to tell one day to my children.
Dad was an on-call cabbage packer and mum was working at a flower farm. During my entire life living with my parents, I never met uncles, aunts, cousins, nephew, nieces until after I finished Form 4 at the age of 20. I can say things have changed over this time. During my childhood days, families never used to meet up. Family members tended to compete against each other instead of completing each other.
I attended Loldia Primary School beginning in 1999 at the age eleven, right up to 2006, when I finished primary life. My hard work and determination landed me a four-year sponsorship program from Form 1 to Form 4. Thank you so much Governors Camp Collection for the sponsorship. In 2007, I joined Archbishop Ndingi Secondary School, and by 2010 I was finished with my secondary Education.
I remember vividly the entire time I was at boarding school I was visited twice by my step dad, the first time in Form 1 and the last time in Form 4, three days before sitting for my secondary exam. I noticed that each visit would bring a misery in my life. I never wanted, detested, and never missed his visits. He could discourage me, and I lost hope in life in many occasions because of him. Once he visited me when I really wanted someone to comfort me, but I regretted his coming and cried the whole evening.
I remember the school had a motivation speaker one day before my dad visited me. It's the motivational speakers' words that helped me during the entire 28 period of my exams. I remember speaker’s words, “life is fluid, not solid. Don't be defined by your current circumstances, tables turn, stories change.” His words comforted me, and I knew sooner or later, my story would change.
My hard work, good heart, keeping people at heart and a good record at Loldia School made me come back as an untrained teacher. I became a teacher at Loldia in January 2011, and in 2013, a special guest visited the School. I was introduced by the then H.T. Mr. Njoroge, who narrated my story to Sandy Endmeandes, who took me to college and this is when I became more attracted to do my best in the teaching profession.
By the year 2015 I had finished my teacher’s training. All this time I did my learning while still working at Loldia School, and went to the college in person only during holidays.
By this time, I had already become HOD in the sports department at Loldia, as football coach. I would welcome the teaching staff to come and watch the entertainment matches alongside the students. This was really an eye opener to me since I was able to witness several happy moments in football. The competitors and the spectators brought joyous football ambiance that was witnessed by even the then H.T. and his deputy, which triggered a lot of thoughts for me.
There were times I organized bigger games, which I called them home derbies, with our nearby secondary school St. Andrews. I remember the first game was a draw, which really put my head up. It was a turning point when I discovered I was talented in coaching, and looking after the welfare of the kids on the field. This never ceased, as I continued for quite a while. I remember all the days when matches were taking place, the entire school was in an atmospheric mood. Students would gather together at school during that time, I realized that no one wanted to miss the matches.
It is at this juncture I remembered I had an idea of forming an academy, a unique one, that could bring all the talents from Loldia school and St. Andrew's together. There were many football clubs and academies around but I had to do different. It’s also at this time that I realized many teachers at Loldia were following and encourag me on whatever I was doing. They reminded me that everything is possible under the sun. I decided to put all the small beginnings together and formed TAFA. TAFA - for Talanta African Footbal Academy. TAFA was formed. Rules were put in place. Many joined. Training started, and minor issues of absenteeism and indiscipline were noticed and addressed. There was change. There was consistency. There were discouragements. Ups and downs were present. Despite all that, there was TAFA.
When football is played, no matter how good and skillfully one plays, without well laid out discipline routines, all is in vain. We needed to keep the boys in school, and to mold their characters. I always wanted to make a difference. Many academies have been formed before us, and later died, and I didn't want TAFA to end in the same way. I had to come up with ways of salvaging the football situation in Kasarani. I had to think fast, and I had to decide.
A community center was our savior. It came to answer the question—What next after football training? Yes, after football training we wanted a place to take the boys for extra activities. We wanted to be different. We were thirsting for change, and the change is here. TAFA could change stories for these kids, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We wanted to keep them out of trouble and help them learn important life skills, to become better, more responsible adults. This is happening. TAFA is transforming the society.
