Nehemiah Onchiri was once a household name at Shabana — a winger whose name sent Tore Bobe fans into raptures. But after promotion to the FKF Premier League, form evaporated, opportunities dwindled and the forward’s future looked uncertain. In an exclusive to Mozzart Sport, Onchiri reveals how a single, life-changing conversation with Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo reignited his career and set him back on the path to the top flight.
From Prominence to Peril
During Shabana’s dominant National Super League campaign, Onchiri, alongside Vincent Nyabuto and Wycliffe Nthata, formed a feared attacking trio. Fans expected goals whenever the three started. Yet the step up to the Premier League in 2023 proved brutal: minutes dried up, confidence waned, and Onchiri’s career hit a rough patch. A loan to Kisumu All Stars in 2023/24 yielded only three appearances and two goals — a stopgap that did little to restore momentum. Back at Shabana, the club itself flirted with relegation, and Onchiri’s future looked bleak.
Pamzo’s Three-Hour Intervention
Enter Sammy Omollo, the former Harambee Stars centre-back turned coach, who had just steered Shabana clear of the drop. Onchiri says Pamzo didn’t just offer tactical tweaks — he offered belief. After reviewing the winger’s loan record and seeing limited returns, Omollo took Onchiri aside for a marathon, almost three-hour conversation that changed everything.
“He told me I was a good player and that he had seen my quality in training,” Onchiri told Mozzart Sport. “He said I needed to go somewhere I would play regularly, work hard, and even before the first leg ended, I should have already scored five or more goals."
Omollo didn’t stop at words. He personally engineered a loan move to Samwest Blackboots, a decision that would prove pivotal.
Revival at Samwest
At Samwest, Onchiri found the environment he needed: trust, minutes and a coach who backed him. The result was immediate and dramatic — eight goals and four assists in six months, a purple patch that rebuilt confidence and reminded the footballing world of his talent. “Coach Ongawe trusted me, gave me chances, and I repaid that trust with goals,” Onchiri said.
That form earned him a recall to Shabana and a goal against Bandari, but fate intervened: an injury against Gor Mahia sidelined him for three months and curtailed his stay at Tore Bobe.
A New Chapter in Mombasa
Now settled at Mombasa United under coach Gilbert Selebwa, Onchiri is rediscovering his rhythm. With seven goals and two assists in 15 matches, he believes this season could be his ticket back to the FKF Premier League. “I have had many ups and downs, but God willing, even before this window closes, I could return to the top tier. If not this window, then next season,” he said.
Eyes on the Prize
Onchiri’s story is a reminder that careers can be salvaged with the right mix of mentorship, opportunity and grit. Pamzo’s intervention — a blend of blunt honesty and practical action — gave a young player the nudge he needed. Now, with form returning and interest from top-tier coaches warming, Onchiri’s job is simple: stay ready, keep scoring, and seize the moment when it arrives.
