 All right so the first basketball game. The first basketball game definitely you took about an opportunity. Yes was it international or just domestic local level? You know I started playing I got into Premier League when I was in 4-4 I was still in high school. Yes not even from or still in high school I was in form 2-3. Mike I had a coach his name is Raddy. Raddy you know he saw a petition when he was like you can be just playing high school you know do high school zikisha then what's next. So there was a coach that was a coach Ben and he was there. He said he was going to go to school later and he saw a train. So I was going to train and he was like hey this lady. He saw a petition and he said I'm going to chase her soon. That's how he got into it. So I went to catch him. I went to catch him and joined up with Railways then a train and come home. Storms. Yeah it was storms. It's bright storms. Yes so that's how I joined. I kept playing football. Yes so that's how I got into the league. Yes so that was when I was in high school. So far you look at it because now at a young age you know if you're going to go to school you're going to deal with your sons, you're going to have a demographic. If you're going to go to school you're going to have a game of Subway 7, you're going to have a rest. You're supposed to enjoy your childhood. Yes so he looked like a crazy I'm so crazy so after my coach Raddy was guiding me on the time you know you know when you're done with your classes come to straight so we can go to school. As I said because I'm going to go to school between us so we can go to school. He said I'm going to go to the So I was in a queue to go straight back to the real world. So I changed here. I had to go to the back of the train, everything here was in my bag. So I went to a group of people, I was in the Premier League. I was at school. I went straight back to the club. I changed. I was in the train. I was in the back of the train and I was in my home. Yes, I was in the back of the train and I was in the gate. So where am I? I'll be safe. So that's what was happening. And then on Saturdays, when there's a game, I was in the back of the train and I was in the back of the train. So when I was in the class, I sent to my friends and my friends sent me시 but they sent me to our friends father and they sent me and placed me at home. People who liked to play on Saturdays used to see maybe 8-2 for my family. So I have time. So I had to leave and set up the relying system here. My brother is in school now, I'm good to go. So balance. So by that time that was your first professional contract once you signed. Yes. Was it very challenging? I don't know, at that time your parents appeared while you considered, or you have education, the league will still be there for you. Back then I was okay, my parents were okay, you were balancing very well so let's go, so me I was okay too. My parents said, because you know it's easier when you have parents who are in sports, they understand, so me I consider myself lucky. So when they came they can be like, you know mom, this is what is happening, you're so surprised, like, hey, inform them like, yeah, me and William say, like, hey, wow, that's amazing. So apart from the competition, like my brother, Salah, so I was like, how much is the premium? No, me, I'm 29, 29, so, yeah, so it was, yeah, I signed my contract, I signed it, my card was ready then. You got the strength, of course, by that time, how was the season? Can you summarize the season, the first time the season was good? And then those days, in my team, they pushed me, me, I was better all the time, so I pushed them, and my parents said, I pushed them, they pushed me, and they said, I'm not going back, I'm the first one there. So I challenged them, they said, that's not too, you know, professional, not too a very good player, you know, but to say, you know me, you know, as much as you're young, now I'm joined, so you want to prove it, I want to prove it, but you know what, I'm young, and you know, you're, you know, to the end of, to the end of the, I'm, to try to pull it, to the end of the, yeah, let's just play. So me, I was, you know, hard work, hard work, as usual, you know, you're back. Yes, well, there is a way, maybe you had to encourage yourself, because you come on a phone, it's a high school and no one tells you where you behave maybe there's a routine, was it a special diet? something you have to maintain maybe? me, um... by that time, who are you? those days, um... my dad was just... those days... Ugarli, Skuma... you know you go to work later to kule to kule, my special diet work later to kule, to kunyue, we sleep then in the morning I wake up, I'm in the zoo but I'll make sure I'm going to kule before I end the game because now you need energy yeah, I'll make sure I'm going to kule before I end the game so... it's only with Trupia my brother used to tell me you need to wait before you end the game and then I'll ask, um... also my coaches ah... I don't know how to eat I... you know because I'm going to kule Ugarli to kule I'm going to kule so you know trust I'm being introduced to you know you need to retry you need to have supergate search so that for the energies fruits and all that so yeah I was being guided but it just appeared it was in that because now me I was in like it's just a burden on me on me now I'm single and I want to play in Kenya so let me just play let's just focus up on Malini so mine was like anything that is there me I will eat Boracikwishi Boracikwishi so you chose a Kenya basketball league for how many years? how many seasons? I chose for long because I played for storms like I do more than 5 years if I'm not wrong so come at your high school bad much as I came down through yes I came at the high school but don't achieve their storms so I ended up teaming in so I became a storms back then until I ended up pro pro now let's talk about your journey now you becoming a pro basketball player was it a dream? yeah but before even I joined before I started playing pro there's this coach called Ojuku Ojuku Alinin you know the way it felt like I was good early on potential young so I was going to clap championship my team is storms but you know I used to play for his team KPA when they need your services so you know those leagues? yeah it's a league so you know you are allowed to players from other just to make to need the team yes so he's the one who introduced me he introduced me I remember my first trip I learned in Nigeria Nigeria yes so how was the night how was the preparation Nigeria was normal me miss it I lived to it people want me to live to it somebody came called on us and I come away this one you even ask yourself what do you normally do in that gym that was my wake up call I'm like am I joking what the hell is this like I'm missing all this I need to work up that's when I wake up call I say now I need to he gyms I need to that's when I go to school I go to school I go to school you go to school yeah so I'm light I go to school I'm so skinny back then I went to a gym Nigeria I went to school yeah and I was given a chance I used to play with people older than me but they were good they were good because I was happy what it takes to be at your level back then I didn't know because I wanted to show them exactly I said you want to be you know those things that I see people I'm not saying they look bad but to me I don't find it lack of words I forgot to ask you do you remember maybe your successful season in basketball primarily yeah I remember back then I was playing for Ikuchi we won Premier League that was the best game I've ever had that was the best game high school no no I wasn't in high school no high school is it yeah it's high school yeah I had plus 40 something points plus 23 rebounds like it was just the best and you know and it's the that's when I realized like Kumbi Kenyans like Moksawa Buu you know for the first time everyone was screaming my name and I was like I'm being appreciated I just love the I love the vibe and everything yes you say for the first time I appreciate your work do you feel like us as Kenyans are we doing much to appreciate our legends our athletics about the legends I'll say no I think we're not appreciating our legends as much as you know yes I feel like that and I feel like we should we should yes we'll finish on that when we wind up just now you going to Nigeria coming back maybe going to other countries you're representing international by that time you played for Kenya yes I did I played for Kenya I played for Kenya you remember your first maybe international yes I did I played for national team Kenya I went to Egypt took a role why I don't understand you know sometimes you know it's our it was it was part of it I took a well prepared that was part of it yes that was part of it we can't take on our mistakes ok we like you know guys we should be early preparation what were in the gym people should you know let's work together you know we need there's some few changes that will happen but it will happen so it was a good thing also that was a wake up call for our federation yes so we studied our preparation it can take on much better yes you playing for Kenya do you think we as a Kenyan basketball team a female team do you think we've done much maybe to reach maybe level we are supposed to do much to unleash our potential because I believe we have the great talents like you I don't know why we're not performing on international level we are female we have we have we play zone 5 zone 5 we play zone 5 after that we were yeah yeah actually say lioness hey it could come up it could come up yeah it could come up oh why no you becoming a pro player life may change of course the time of mother you need to live your own life now to make your own decision how was it that's when the challenge came in now you want to be a pro being a pro means watch what you eat more training sessions gym sessions you know you want to do more every time you have to give extra you have to be better than another person you know that gym at the same time but the difference is you have to do extra for you to make an experience extra is when now you don't need to wait for your coach for you to start shooting you don't need to wait for your coach to tell you go to the gym you don't need to wait for your coach to tell you be disciplined you know know what you eat you don't need for your coach to tell you know what you put in your body excess blah blah you don't need that now you need to make your own decision exactly be unique create your own ideas make your own runs and more for all where you started mbakamal tu me fika sahi what is pushing you behind inspiration behind this was it where you grow up was it the passion whatever you want to achieve whatever pushed me because of course you need to be disciplined up to now yes the passion the passion I just wanted to be I wanted to play pro I wanted to be pro I wanted to play pro and I wanted to do a good job you know me I'm not that kind of a player that I sing myself if I'm not I'm not good in this I will work until I be I will work on it you can come I'm like you know even if you're playing with your teammates you're not loose but somebody say hey that chick she has it yes yes she's an example of you know blah blah there's always something good to say about me so me is the passion is the passion because you need a team to achieve I'm not to win awards I'm not to move as a team I'm not to sacrifice you being alone of course you you'll be at the gym all the whole time you'll sacrifice you'll be disciplined but the team if they cannot be if you cannot be on the same page with your team you cannot achieve you cannot win trophies I agree with you I agree with you that's why now you have this conversation with your teammates you know that's why you say something nice to your teammates you know make your teammates look nice every time tell your teammates you know let's go together make it open if you have to criticize someone now that's me me as Masi I will tell you whatever I have to tell you if you're not helping us in the team I'll tell you I'll say it in a good way but I'll give you a challenge I'll be like now just go watch this and see what you did and then come back and tell me if you're happy about it yes look at these stats where do you see yourself we have played four games look at the stats where are you I'm not seeing you anywhere don't ask questions you know give us something you don't need to score 50 give us some rebounding give us some you know give us something everyone has to bring something on the table so you ask yourself what am I bringing in the table am I wasting my time don't waste your time bring something in the table make that coach I feel like eh I am making team but I can defend you I can defend you yes I can defend you yes It's a plan. There is a bond between the two of us, the two of us. When it starts, I say, no, this one has to. This one has to. Yeah, so bring something, almost bring something. Of course, there are times when you have to brush your soldiers and your colleagues. Because at times, maybe you have to go to the hospital, you have to go to the hospital. Maybe you have to go to the hospital, you have to go to the hospital, you have to go to the hospital to live. But at times, you realize what? You have to go to the hospital. Do you regret at times, maybe you have to control yourself, you have to play a game, you have to lose it, you have to feel like, hey, why don't you take us to a club in Japan? Yeah, it's there. So many times, I don't know. But, you know, when you, when you get older, you can do some things you can't control. There's a way you'll talk to your teammate. But I don't know. I took you to a changing room, I'll apologize. She will understand, she will understand. I'll join you. I'm not a good person, I'm not a good person. I'm not a good person. But there's a way I'll have a conversation with you to normalize your story. It's personal. It's personal. It's personal. It's a game because of you. And then, at the end of the day, I'll say, I made you better. I made myself better. So it's a win-win situation. Yes. So it's personal. I'll tell you how I feel. You know, at that time, I'll tell you how I feel. See, it won't be nice to you. But when you're done, I'll have a conversation and just explain myself to you. And that way, we'll just... It won't be personal. Of course, at times, sometimes, people will say, you're away from home, you're family. You're home sick. You're not at home. You catch up with your family. You're not going to see your kids. Your brothers are doing great. You're self-like. Wow. You know? There are those moments. Yeah, yeah, those moments. Especially, like, they call me. We have all the time to make a video called And then they watch my games. And then, you know, also, that's something I've learnt from my family. I feel like I'm being myself. I'm not in any mess. I'm not in any mess, I'm not in any good mood, you know. Really? I'm not in any bad mood, I'm not in any good mood. I'm not in any bad mood, I'm not in any good mood. Those are things you tell each other. So, I said to him, I'm going to do a video after you watch. They'll call me and I'll say, well, I'm not in a good mood. I'm not in a good mood. But, you know, I'm self-like. ...but they give us speed, they give us truth so we tell each other the truth for us to grow. And that's what we do, the Wanyamas, we tell each other the truth, for each and every one of us to grow. Do you eat? When you're family, your families, your mother, your dad, your brother, your siblings, everyone is watching your game. And then after the game, they called you. They say, hey, hey, hey. I'm going to leave, or I'm going to leave for Sana. What was the feeling? The first time your parents watched you. It's always nice, you know, after playing, you'll ask, hey, you did well. You'll ask, I'm fine. It feels so good because now you have worked on your weakness because they always tell your weakness before they, you know, even if they don't want to tell you where they want you to work on. Yeah. So any time I'm done with the game and then I pick you up and say, you did well, we are proud. Like, ah, ume, ume cheza. You've won us, you've won us, you've won us, ah. That's when you know I'm ready. Ah, I'm ready. Ah, this one now. Me, you'll say, sasa, 20. You just feel nice because they appreciate you, they all support you. Has your family impacted in one way or another your career, your journey of success? Yes. Sana, Sana, Sana. Because my brothers are the reason why I started going to the gym. Yes. So we go to the gym together. I'm back at, my family is all of the, I think, probably my family. When I go to the gym, we start writing down our names. Masi, you see, masi wa niyama, desu wa niyamasu wa niyamasu. Like, are you related? We're like, yeah, we have brothers and sisters. It's like your family, it's pokuwa, mother, nabud. They're the ones who don't go, but my dad works out in the house. Even my mom. So it's a way to go and get to go to the gym. So I don't work as a lady. Now I do what my brothers are doing. So I like being pushed, Kabisa. Yes. So me, I'm doing probably in dafanya, vitwana fanya. You know, those sessions of football and all that. I miss them because I was once a footballer. So I don't mind. It's a way to, they're like, no, you need to read. So I'm like, no, come on, baby. Yeah, me, me now. So we push each other. So yeah, they're really, really, really, really, really helping me a lot. Who is your favorite sibling? Because I believe there's one person who let me, we see only your game. You can attend. Maybe you're playing your rival. It's maybe a semi-final. It's a final. All of them are my favorite. I know, but it's the one. Who is the most important person you can get daily? Moesh. Moesh. Yes, we call you Moesh. What do you learn from Moesh? When you guys, the one, that person that was moving, his daughter is in basketball. So you know, your way. Yes, she plays basketball too. So we'll be like, we push each other. Like, I'm like, I met my brothers. All of them nowadays watch all basketball and BAW and BA. They all watch now because of me. So you know, yeah. I'm like, yes, he's more. And he's like, yeah. Yes, yeah. So I'm like, yeah. Then we switch to, yes. There's some, I need to teach my daughter this and that. So what do you think? I'm like, yeah, work on this and this, you know. Just give some. You're mentoring your, yeah. Yes. You're now an aunt. Exactly. Exactly. Oh, that's nice. Yes. What is that one, maybe advice you can remember? Moesh, ashaikonbya. You need to leave your own life, sir. Easy handbag, I don't know if I can take it. What do you, okay. In my career, you know, Moesh is very, like, eat a quail rice, but you have to push. Eat a quail rice. In life, check it easy. No pressure. Zero pressure. It's like, man, life is too short, just take it easy. There is no pressure. What do you feel? What do you feel? What I feel is that I am very happy. Because recently you've been nominated. Congratulations. I want to say I'm so happy. I've seen your life. I tried to track you. But I'm not sure because whatever you post on social media, I'm not sure. Whether you're in France or Germany, I don't know. But you've presented us a very well international level. You've achieved whatever you've done to achieve. Now you are a professional level in your career. I've seen it. Now I saw it recently. You are among the nominees. If I'm not wrong, you are in the air list. What is the feeling? Kwanzaa, did you see that coming? No, no, no. Actually, I didn't know. My agent. Of course, African. You're not wrong. Yes, yes, yes. My agent gave me a call. My agent? What do you call an agent? Of course. Do you have an agent at home? No, I do. I do have one. Your agent? I have a job. I have a job. I have a job. I have a job. I have a job. You have a girlfriend? Yes. I have a girlfriend. Yes. I have a girlfriend from the same company. Yes, yes, I have a job. That has to make sure my off-season training session in Ndeliage. Because I need to be fit before the race is won. Yes, yes. So all those things, you know, has to make sure. He's an agent. It's good to know that. Why do you trust him? Well, I don't trust him. My agency is in the post office. So you work with him? Yes. So you work with him? Yes. So you work with him? Yes. So you work with him? Yes. Of course. You work with an agent before you go to the nominees. What is the life you work with an agent? Because you work from another level to another level. They make my work easy. As a player, you can't be looking for teams. Most of them prefer working with an agent. It's easy. I work with other teams. I have a team. Which team should join? Which team should join? Which team should join? Which team is good for you? Which team is good for you? Which team is good for you? Which team should join? You need somebody to help you to show you the way. I actually just need someone. next and you know I've been focused as a player I can be start again you know wondering now I need to speak with such and such coach that in that team it's too much honestly it's too much yes yes yes you feel like now it's time our our stars to have agents because we normally want to give us a possibility because I believe for someone to be successful you need a team and agent is one of your team yeah yeah and it's very important very very important everyone needs one yes you need to answer that you know you know they do a good job anyway because now imagine you just have somebody who knows like your next payroll in a talk up I'm a now I think we should all we should all have one agent and I expect maybe you had targets you need to achieve this for me now to push it to another level that's when you know as a player also um where do you want to play um you know you want to grow and get better all the time no one wants to be basic so as a player also you don't wait for your agent to come in you need to train you need to do this and that talk about basic like when other people are going to come but come to a kufanya kabila what yeah be ready yeah stay ready maybe say if you just stay ready anything can happen and it's up you see me hey in two weeks you need to be in blah blah blah you need to be in Spain you need to be in you know Turkey or Russia that's how to do you have not been training maybe like you know you know then you go you fail and then just stay ready how do you stay ready train don't wait for your agent to start telling you what you need to work on one two three no you need to know when to start your pre-season you need to know yeah those are kind of things you need to explain ahead yes okay let's talk about your nomination now that's good that space is i don't know the feeling yeah it feels good it feels good it has never been i was so shocked actually do you see that coming no no i do not like honestly i've been working super hard i've been working super hard um season is your season um because i had you know of course i don't want to i want to um be a better player better better always i want to be a better player so i've been really really working on the online about that and i didn't see that coming so when i was told that i'm i'm nominated in euro basket awards it's a huge thing you know um me probably i don't know if i'm a first Kenyan to be of course you are but you know um it's something for me it's something that i'm i'm super proud and i'm happy about it yeah finally my you know hard work has paid off so i'm i'm happy about that yes okay you've been on the on the nomination list it's something achievable you know you that's a straight record you've made it now no you see yourself now winning getting that one now if if it's coming yeah yeah according to my to the work that i put you know how i played out my season started and now it ends i i deserve one but um if i get one i'd be grateful if i don't there's always next time but just the fact that i'm nominated i'm happy just to be there on the nomination list yes when when is the work um i'm not sure about the dates um they will communicate because your agent will tell me when the dates you know will tell me when because it's they need to arrange and all that so yeah if they let me know i will definitely probably post on let us know yes i'll read you i'll post it definitely just understand because most of you know you see very well if you can't win and league there's no record the other day you saw it i was missing out on the title so it most people define success by winning trophies or awards can this be a step a milestone in your career you now getting apart from nomination you're getting a chance now to win that trophy for the elimination um yeah it's possible um it's possible everything is possible may i look at things like you know just like i said um me everything is possible anything can happen so i always you know will it change maybe uh will you take your career to the next level and just uh me being on the list it was it's just it's a game changer for me me being on the list like i'm recognized like you know being nominated is it's a big thing for me so it's it's already it's it's done on top of that me getting the word is even much better you know record in a panda it's it's yeah of course definitely yeah yeah yeah because you know um when you're being signed or the team you need you you know they look they get to know what you know your achievements and all that so yeah most of the time also you get you know then those are things that boost your you know the profile exactly so it's something that it's it's very important it's huge for me it's important it's it's just something big something yes of course i believe i i pray to god i know for sure you will get that what we will be happy for you the world will be happy for you now you are back home will you spending your time with your family wow are you planning now to share the knowledge the experience giving back to the young now generation Rebels and belief yeah um honestly um since i came back like i just came back now i'm too almost two years old me being around um most of the time i spend time with my son you know taking walks get to know how things are but now unfortunately now when me coming back is when the season is ending soon i think kenyan primarily sorry um kenya basketball yes um i think the same is probably i'll go and watch finals because i've been also busy trying to do want to things because only every time i'm away you know i my son is always here so this is the time that i try to bond with my son for a while then definitely i'll go and watch the finals but if anyone calls me and they need my help to you know nature the young kids and then why not i'm open in anything yeah i'm open to work with anyone so i don't mind i'm willing i don't mind and being the younger generations the kids and all that you try to visit maybe your first club the players maybe used to play together with i believe some of them maybe all what's up with your family i don't know no i always do i always