Q&A: Kariobangi Sharks ace Sven Yidah shares his story

At just 21, Sven Yidah has developed into a dependable player for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Kariobangi Sharks, a team he joined four years ago from Ligi Ndogo.

His path to the top of the football pyramid in Kenya hasn’t been a smooth sail. For starters, he only started playing football while in High School as he enjoyed running while in primary school and never thought he’d become a professional footballer.

We sat with him for a quick-fire question and answer session. 

Fact file

Name: Sven Yidah

Age: 21

Position: Defensive Midfielder

Club: Kariobangi Sharks

Former Club: Ligi Ndogo

Favorite food: Chicken stew and chapati

Favourite player: Yaya Toure

Marital status: Married

Children:  Two-year-old daughter

Education: Ayany Primary School, Hill Top Primary School in Tigoni, Muhuri Muchiri Secondary School and Nairobi Milimani School.

Briefly, how can you describe your time at Kariobangi Sharks?

My time at Sharks has been good. When I joined Sharks, it was my first time playing in a team that I didn’t know anyone at a personal level so it was a bit awkward. However, I settled in and gelled with my teammates who are today not just comrades but friends and most importantly, family.

I have gone through a lot of challenges and experiences both individually and collectively, locally and internationally, that has made me a better person and player.

How was the step up from the NSL to the KPL? What's the difference between the two levels?

I am always grateful to my childhood team Ligi Ndogo for giving me a chance to start playing in the NSL while still in high school. It prepared me early and even made my move to Sharks possible because they spotted me when we met each other in the second tier.

The step up to the KPL has been enriching because I have learned a lot. It was a fresh challenge and I am happy that as a team we took it with courage and you saw it helped us finish third in our debut season.

The main difference between NSL and KPL is that the NSL is more competitive and teams are a lot more aggressive. This is because, in NSL, almost all the teams are fighting for the only two automatic promotion slots while in the KPL, it’s more about tactics and calculations: some want to win the title, others want a top 8 finish and others just want to survive.

What are some of the most memorable moments you have so far at Kariobangi Sharks?

I must say I am torn in between earning that promotion to the KPL and winning our first major trophy, The Shield in 2018. I think I will pick those two achievements as my most memorable ones. They are historic and the club will remember this forever.

How did the match against Everton at Kasarani shape up your view of the game?

It really gave me more belief in my abilities since I realised I could compete against world-class players. Playing against an English Premier League (EPL) team is not an ordinary thing for a Kenyan and scoring against them too made it an unforgettable occasion for me.

I also learned that football is just the same – the only difference is that they were faster and stronger physically.

Sharks won the SportPesa Cup in Dar es Salaam after overcoming some of the biggest clubs in the region. What lessons did you draw from this tournament?

The previous year, we had exited the same tournament in a disappointing manner after we dominated Simba SC but we didn't take our chances. So this time we came with a sense of responsibility wanting to correct our mistakes. The main lesson we learned from that tournament is that with belief and togetherness, any challenge can be conquered.

You have a trademark celebration whenever you score. How did it come about?

The best feeling for any player is scoring. Being a defensive midfielder, my position doesn't allow me to score frequently so I always want to have memorable celebrations. To be honest, the celebration was a mixture of creativity and happiness - it has been a celebration I have been doing from way back only that this time I got the opportunity to do it on a big stage and that is why it went viral and I thank God it made me famous.

Who is your role model?

I find the term role model too wide to just pin it on one person. What I try to do is to pick positives from a number of people I consider successful. I draw a lot of inspiration from Victor Wanyama for the heights he has reached as a player who started from the grassroots like myself. I look at what Jesse Were, a guy from Kibra like me, is doing in Zambia and the belief in my dreams gets stronger. I also take a lot from the confidence of Conor McGregor, the work ethic of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the determination of Yaya Toure. It’s just about combining the lessons and producing my own version of them all.

I look up to my dad. The way he has brought me up and held our family together inspires me to also try and live a life not just as a good footballer but also a good father, a good brother and a good son. His faith made us grow with many lessons from the church that saved me from a lot of the dangers of a teenager in one of the toughest neighbourhoods in the city.

There was talk of interest from Tanzanian giants Yanga last season, what happened?

There has been an interest for a while now but no solid offer has been tabled. I am still contracted to Sharks and that is where my focus is.

Where do you see yourself in the near future?

I see myself as a regular in the national team contributing to the goals and objectives of my nation’s football family. My dream has always been to serve my country at the highest level. I am hoping to transit from the Under-23 to the senior ranks and become a regular.

How has it been for you during this period of Covid-19? How are you training?

This pandemic stopped the world quite literally. It is difficult right now because even accessing training grounds to keep fit is a challenge as the authorities and health experts have advised against. I am doing a lot of running on the roads mixed with some short sprints, and agility drills in the little space behind my hood.

 As a footballer, it has opened my eyes and challenged me. I have thought deeply about how I can be productive in the society and my family when there is no football. I hope all other footballers have also learned from this. We need to have various avenues of earning a living beyond the pitch and also be key actors in making our society a better place.

FKF recently secured sponsorship for the top league, what's your take on that?

It is good news for the football fraternity. The local game needs a lot of things and resources are at the top of that list. However, how the teams and the league organise themselves will be important. As a player, I want to see a well-run league and also well-run clubs. Players’ welfare must be given the seriousness it deserves and clubs must develop ways to be self-sustainable and not just depend on the grants from the league sponsor. Let this cash that has come in be like a seed that will produce a tree that can offer some shade for all of us.

Your parting shot?

I would urge players to be disciplined and focused no matter the circumstances. If we add perseverance in this then we can go far. I hate to see Kenyan players giving up. This is Africa; you just got to be tough and keep the discipline and focus as well as persevere. Things are not easy in this part of the world so we just got to go hard.