Former AFC Leopards stars, Paul Were (right) and Jacob Keli in training with Harambee Stars on Thursday, September 3, 2015. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, September 3 – Speedy Harambee Stars winger, Paul Were is now a happy man at Greek outfit AEL Kalloni where he believes he is standing on the door step of featuring in the lucrative UEFA Champions League.
Were’s future was mired in confusion when in June when he attempted to join league champions, Gor Mahia, from relegated Premier Soccer League side, Amazulu FC, but his International Transfer Certificate was not acquired in time for him to play in the second leg of the domestic top flight.
The former AFC Leopards hero who penned a three-year contract with the SuperLeague club is hoping to get more playing time to attract the attention of top sides, Olympiakos Pireaus who are in this season’s Champions League group stage and fellow Greek giants, Panathinaikos.
“Things are good with my new club, I have already settled. We are being treated well, given a house and car. It’s a competitive league so it’s up to me to be disciplined and work hard.
“It’s a professional league and with that, I think it’s a good challenge for me because if I work hard and play well, I might go to England because we are playing with big teams that have been in the Champions League,” Were, who became a free agent after terminating his contract with Amazulu FC, narrated.
Were revealed he had to cut short his stint with the Durban based club after lacking play time.
He is looking forward to make his Kalloni debut when he returns from international duty when Kenya host Zambia in their second match of the Gabon 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers on Sunday.
“I didn’t have play time in South Africa because the coach who signed me was sacked and the one who replaced him came with his own players and philosophy. But I’m sure at Kalloni, I will get play time and it’s a nice place for me to market myself.
“My target is to play in Olympiakos or Panathinaikos. I joined when the team had finished their pre-season so the three weeks I was there, the coach wanted me to reach the level of other players. I believe the capability and skills I have will help my team win,” Were, who will don number 29 jersey, said.
After two matches, Kalloni is at the bottom of the 16-team log after losing all their matches with the latest seeing them falling 4-0 to Panathinaikos where Were was an unused substitute.
-Team work –
Were, who scored the goal that saw his side draw with Congo Brazzaville, urged his team-mates to embrace team work in their game against the Chipolopolo.
“This is our time and we should use it well because it will take long before we get a chance like this. We need unity, concentration, discipline and the support from fans and I’m sure we will make it.
“Zambia are tactically and physically good but at the end of the day we have the advantage because we have many experienced players who play in different parts of the world. We are taking each game at a time.”
Kalloni will be the fifth club for the FISA academy graduate after turning out for Mathare Youth, Tusker FC, Leopards and Amazulu.
