Bruno paws Mariga to Serie A

By GILBERT WANDERA
Malindi Academy's Charles Bruno is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Kenyan international and Inter-Milan mid-fielder Macdonald Mariga by landing a club in the Italian Serie ‘A’.
Bruno 19, one of the youngsters called up by coach Zedekiah Otieno for next week’s Nile Basin tournament in Egypt believes he is not far off from joining Mariga in Italy.
Already the player has attended trials with two of Italy’s top clubs Genoa and AC Milan and he hopes to be drafted in the latter’s junior Academy from where he can fight for a place in the main team. "I feel like one door is already open and I’m waiting for a second one to open as well," he said.
Bruno trained with both clubs during one week trials he attended this year and he says Milan were really impressed with him and is awaiting to clear with documentation before he joins their Academy.
MARIGA INSPIRATION
"I was inspired by Mariga. His success in Italy has opened the doors for many Kenyan players because the clubs in Serie ‘A’ can take note when we tell them our nationality," he said.
Mariga became the first Kenyan to play in the Serie ‘A’ when he joined Parma four years ago. He made a major move joining Inter-Milan this year as the club went on to win the European Champions league trophy.
PROVE MYSELF
Bruno is delighted to have been called up to the national team and promised to fight for a place in the starting line-up during the Nile Basin tournament, which kicks off next week in Cairo.
"I’m very delighted that I have been given this chance and now it is up to me to prove myself. It is a good year for me because I also had a chance to play in the youth team," he said.
Bruno has praise for Malindi Academy and his Italian coach Riccardo Botta whom he says did everything to prepare him for the high profile trials.
"By the time I went to Italy I was ready and prepared. It was not difficult to give my best and I’m glad that something positive will come out of it," he said. Bruno is a former student at Thurgem Seconday School. He was previously with Liberty Academy and Homeboyz Olympic.