Samuel Machio striding to the top
Not until he was in class 6 did he notice his undisputed talent in football. From Western Kenya’s Bungoma County, Real Kisumu’s (Nationwide team) captain Samuel Machio is now a well groomed soccer star optimistic of a break through to major soccer ranks in the region soon.
Machio who is commonly known to his peers as ‘SACH’ was born in 3rd October 1984 and joined Moi primary school Namachanja in 1990 through to 1998. All his life in lower primary, Sach had never tired his legs on a football pitch until when he bowed down to his shy nature in 1996 in class 6 when he tried out a Midfield role, “sikuwahi Cheza ball primo mpaka std 6, na sasa najivunia kucheza nationwide league nikitazamia kuingia ligi kuu karibuni’”(I never played football in my primary life till in class 6 but now am gaining from my efforts) explains a jovial Machio.
Since his eye opener experience back then, Sach never backed down from pursuing his talent. After finishing his primary school education, he enrolled at Namachanja high school between 1999 and 2002 and it was then when his hard work started rewarding after his school team managed to get to the District level.
When still in his schooling days, he played for Namachanja youth at the heart of Bungoma, a community based team where he featured in their U-14 and U-17 teams coached then by Nzoia Sugar FC midfielder John Muraya ‘KADE’ and his elder brother Dennis Machio also of Nzoia Sugar FC.
He later joined young Muslim another community based team till he cleared high school in 2002.He also steered his high school team as captain to the finals of the Bungoma district inter school’s but eventually lost to power house Kibabii boys high school..
Immediately after high school, Sach joined a couple of teams before gaining the experience to find his way to the top league with Kenyan premier league registered clubs. Tororo progressive academy was his first stop in 2003-2004 before joining Pan Paper FC where his 2 months stay was short lived.
He made another technical appearance in Kakamega Posta, a team that was later disbanded a few days after his arrival.
It was at this moment when coach Noah Wanyama, the then AFC leopards coach identified Machio’s talent and fast tracked his signing up with one of the oldest and most popular club in the country’s soccer history AFC Leopards in 2005.
A move to “Ingwe” took a positive turn in his life and in his 2 yrs stay in the club, he managed to bag the Jamhuri cup and Makadara cup titles a move which he is proud of till today. “We managed to oust Gor Mahia in the finals of the 2 matches a feeling I will never forget because every youthful player in Kenya at one point wishes to play for and against either of these two teams.” expressed Machio.
Unfortunately, AFC Leopards was relegated to the nationwide league during the 2006/2007 season but this did not in any way affect his form. In 2008, he signed up for rival club KCB before returning to the nationwide league Division 1 but this time round under Real Kisumu.
Before Real Kisumu Sach turned out for Ligi Ndogo SC but off course like any other Local footballer’s dreams, he anticipates advancing to Europe and trying his skills in the highly paying soccer ranks.
“When I started playing soccer, I could only manage the mid field but now I have shifted to being a striker, it’s up to the coach to position me in any point depending with the game in hand. My dream is to play in KPL and in big leagues either in Africa and Europe in the near future but I know it takes time, patience, courage, hardwork and above all self discipline.” says a determined Machio
Throughout his soccer career, support from his family also came in handy. Sach who hails from a family of 12 siblings, 6 brothers and 6 sisters acknowledges how his family’s support has being of great help to his career.
Machio who is commonly known to his peers as ‘SACH’ was born in 3rd October 1984 and joined Moi primary school Namachanja in 1990 through to 1998. All his life in lower primary, Sach had never tired his legs on a football pitch until when he bowed down to his shy nature in 1996 in class 6 when he tried out a Midfield role, “sikuwahi Cheza ball primo mpaka std 6, na sasa najivunia kucheza nationwide league nikitazamia kuingia ligi kuu karibuni’”(I never played football in my primary life till in class 6 but now am gaining from my efforts) explains a jovial Machio.
Since his eye opener experience back then, Sach never backed down from pursuing his talent. After finishing his primary school education, he enrolled at Namachanja high school between 1999 and 2002 and it was then when his hard work started rewarding after his school team managed to get to the District level.
When still in his schooling days, he played for Namachanja youth at the heart of Bungoma, a community based team where he featured in their U-14 and U-17 teams coached then by Nzoia Sugar FC midfielder John Muraya ‘KADE’ and his elder brother Dennis Machio also of Nzoia Sugar FC.
He later joined young Muslim another community based team till he cleared high school in 2002.He also steered his high school team as captain to the finals of the Bungoma district inter school’s but eventually lost to power house Kibabii boys high school..
Immediately after high school, Sach joined a couple of teams before gaining the experience to find his way to the top league with Kenyan premier league registered clubs. Tororo progressive academy was his first stop in 2003-2004 before joining Pan Paper FC where his 2 months stay was short lived.
He made another technical appearance in Kakamega Posta, a team that was later disbanded a few days after his arrival.
It was at this moment when coach Noah Wanyama, the then AFC leopards coach identified Machio’s talent and fast tracked his signing up with one of the oldest and most popular club in the country’s soccer history AFC Leopards in 2005.
A move to “Ingwe” took a positive turn in his life and in his 2 yrs stay in the club, he managed to bag the Jamhuri cup and Makadara cup titles a move which he is proud of till today. “We managed to oust Gor Mahia in the finals of the 2 matches a feeling I will never forget because every youthful player in Kenya at one point wishes to play for and against either of these two teams.” expressed Machio.
Unfortunately, AFC Leopards was relegated to the nationwide league during the 2006/2007 season but this did not in any way affect his form. In 2008, he signed up for rival club KCB before returning to the nationwide league Division 1 but this time round under Real Kisumu.
Before Real Kisumu Sach turned out for Ligi Ndogo SC but off course like any other Local footballer’s dreams, he anticipates advancing to Europe and trying his skills in the highly paying soccer ranks.
“When I started playing soccer, I could only manage the mid field but now I have shifted to being a striker, it’s up to the coach to position me in any point depending with the game in hand. My dream is to play in KPL and in big leagues either in Africa and Europe in the near future but I know it takes time, patience, courage, hardwork and above all self discipline.” says a determined Machio
Throughout his soccer career, support from his family also came in handy. Sach who hails from a family of 12 siblings, 6 brothers and 6 sisters acknowledges how his family’s support has being of great help to his career.