![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.gormahia.net\/images\/sserunkuma-award.png\")
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Courtesy of Daily Nation<\/p>\n
His looks may be deceiving, his size too, but the Ugandan stands tall above Kenyan footballers. Dan Sserunkuma has been crowned Kenya\u2019s best player.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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So tiny is Sserunkuma that the trophy he was awarded was nearly half his height. But there is no denying that the 22-year-old Gor Mahia striker deserved the accolade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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He is also quite shy, but what he cannot say with his mouth, he does with his feet. He has taken Kenyan football by storm, scoring almost at will.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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His prowess saw Gor Mahia come within one point of winning the 2012 Kenyan Premier League title.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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And when Sports assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando called out his name during the awards gala at the Safari Park Hotel on Wednesday night, he got a standing ovation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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He had become the first foreign player to be named most valuable player (MVP) in Kenyan football.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s my happiest moment. I never believed I would reach this level in my career,\u201d he said. \u201cI dedicate this to all the people who have helped me grow as a footballer to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The sight of Sserunkuma with the ball has constantly sent chills down the spines of many a defender and goalkeeper in the Kenyan league.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Ask Muhoroni Youth goal-keeper Josek Gituma who found three shots from Sserunkuma too hot to handle, or AFC Leopards\u2019 Patrick Matasi, who picked the ball twice from the net.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cHe is lethal and difficult to mark,\u201d said Tusker FC defender Jockins Atudo. Those who coach him say he is achieving all this because of his discipline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cHe is always the first in training. He is keen to learn,\u201d says Gor Mahia assistant coach John Bobby Ogolla. \u201cThis boy will go places. We are yet to see the best from him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The 22-year-old, third-born in a family of four, joined Friends of Football Academy in Uganda at the age of 10. He says he was inspired by Ugandan legend, the late Majid Musisi, who many Ugandans regard as the country\u2019s best football player of all time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Sserunkuma started playing professional football at Ugandan team Express in 2008, and after one year moved to rivals Victors FC, where he stayed for two years. The Tusker Premier League side, Nairobi City Stars, signed him up early last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI had heard about Harambee Stars and top clubs. I knew little about City Stars, but they are the ones who were to bring me to Kenya,\u201d said Sserunkuma. At City Stars Serenkuma was rarely in the news for any wrong reasons. Even when the club had financial problems, he never publicly demanded pay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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He could have joined Gor Mahia in January, but the club was not aggressive enough to sign him. \u201cI wanted to play for a big club like Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards, but as long as nobody came for me, I was with City Stars.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Gor Mahia finally knocked at his door in June. He had already scored five goals for City Stars, including one against Gor Mahia in the league.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Immediately, he made an impact at Gor, scoring on his debut for the club. He went on to score for the 12th time in Kenyan champions, but eventually missed the golden boot award by a single goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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With the MVP award in his cabinet, Sserunkuma says he is eyeing even bigger things \u2014 winning the league title next season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n