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The fullback who achieved his mother's dream of playing for AFC Leopards, thanks to his father's guidance.
AFC Leopards left back Washington Munene is renowned for his attacking prowess playing for the Patrick Aussems-coached outfit, donning the number three shirt for Ingwe.
The fullback, who has also featured on the left of the central defense in some games, joined the club in 2019 initially on loan from Wazito, before being signed on a permanent basis during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Although he is grateful for the support his mother gave him, telling club media back in 2020 that he was able to fulfill his late mother’s wishes by playing for AFC Leopards, he is incredibly indebted to the support that his father also gave him growing up.
“My relationship with my dad has been good although I initially was not close to him as a youngster given he is a policeman by profession and they were constantly always transferred from one work location to another, “ he says.
“The relationship has always been good though especially when he was available because he taught us the basic life skills, from repairing torn clothes to ironing your shirt. I come from outside Nairobi (Embu) so my dad took a hands-on approach to teaching us everything.
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“For instance, if you are hunting for a bird, he would see to it you learnt it well. If it was cooking as well, he would take his time as well till you learnt it. Back then, we did not see it as a big deal, but now it does because those simple things strengthened the bond between us even more.
“ When you become older, you understand that when he is there, you will miss something and when he is out there, there are things you will get, so there has to be that balance so I cannot change anything at all about our relationship.”
Munene himself is a father and he shares his honest opinion on how the journey in the build up to becoming one was.
“It is difficult to explain how it felt the first time I held my child into my own hands. There is joy. The process throughout the nine months is a process because pregnancy amongst women varies so it was not easy.
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“It is a relief to be honest because most people say a child comes with expenses and loads of pressure once they are brought into the world but for me, it was during the pregnancy I felt alot of pressure. You have lots of questions like, ‘will he be okay’? ‘Will he have issues?’ Will he be disabled?’ All these things. Once I saw it was healthy, it was a relief.
Munene feels super grateful to having the support of both his parents, which has shaped him into becoming a responsible young parent and footballer.
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“I come from a family where the men are close,from my grandfather down to my father and then me. There is a lot of things we pick even subconsciously but there is wisdom gained. Having a family all through where both your parents have raised you. You pick a lot subconsciously so you get the intuition to understand how to deal with your other half in future.I am super grateful for that.”
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