KAMPALA, Uganda, Dec 16 – Youngster Musa Masika says he wants to curve his own niche as a player, and not just merely be referred to as ‘Ayub Timbe’s younger brother’.
The teenage sensation is part of the Harambee Stars squad at the 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Kampala, Uganda and hopes he can break into the senior national team after being a consistent figure in the junior ranks.
“I always want to be me, but people will definitely always refer to me with Ayub because he has gone ahead of me and has made out his own career and is known to more people. But for me, I want to make a name for myself, and be my own man,” the youngster told Capital Sport.
He adds; “We are two different players but he is like a role model for me and what he has achieved I would also want to achieve the same and probably more than him. He always gives me advice and shows me the way.”
He hopes the platform to play at the Senior Challenge will propel him to the senior fold especially ahead of a busy 2020 that will see Kenya compete at the qualifiers for the 2021 African Cup of Nations and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“I think for me this is a really good opportunity given by the coaches and the experience has been good so far. It has not been easy either but every difficulty I take it positively and is a motivation to work even harder,” stated the forward.
“I am pushing on my end and working hard every day to see if I can get that chance. It all depends with the coach if he sees me as a positive addition to his team I will be grateful,” he added.
Meanwhile, the youngster is bullish ahead of the Semi-Final match against Eritrea on Tuesday afternoon in Kampala.
Masika was part of Kenya’s Rising Stars team that beat Eritrea in the semis of the CECAFA Under-20 Championship in Jinja in October and with most players who featured for the Red Sea Boys being in the senior squad, he believes they will win.
“I know them very well because there are up to eight players who were in the Under-20 team. We will beat them on Tuesday because I am confident in the team we have,” the Wazito FC forward added.