By Hope Barbra
For most scholars, the pursuit of education would rather take precedence over sports. Traditionally, sports, and more specifically football, were viewed as a form of entertainment and not a career.
In Kenya, parents put more emphasis on education and little room is given for talent nurturing and development. For scholars, it is their dream that their children would follow in their footsteps into academia.
But for Dr. Raymond Ojwang Omollo, he resorted to using one stone to kill two birds by allowing his son to pursue his passion and at the same time undertake his academic studies.
Raymond, who is the Internal Security Permanent Secretary and the patron of the Kenya Premier League winners, Police FC, was able to compromise on the two conflicting pursuits to give the lad an opportunity to dream his way out.
Mr. Omondi Omollo, the uncle, says Denzel Junior’s passion has been football that dates back to his tender age, and there was no way the family would deny him the opportunity.
“We are a family of footballers. But he is more talented than all of us. His life revolves around football but he is able to balance with books. We are happy with the progress,” he said.
Denzel was scouted in 2023 while plying his trade for Ligi Ndogo in Nairobi and was selected to join Huesca Academy in 2023 but joined in 2025.
Denzel, during a recent interview with Citizen TV, said, “In the initial plan, I was to complete school and then proceed to the academy. But I had to plead with my dad if I could join the team and also study.”
He studies during the day, takes a break in the afternoon, and later attends Spanish classes in the evening. Training on the pitch is from 7:30 p.m.
He says football culture, pitches, and training are different from those in Kenya and are of high standards from the academy to senior levels.
“I like the way they motivate each other, the way they play, and we learn through mistakes which they help us understand and correct.
Once you are in Spain, you realize a vast change in the way you play, communicate, and how the ball moves. It’s technical and tactical,” he said.
He says in Spain they are strict on nutrition and feeding, which has helped him develop his shape.
“They know what they are feeding you on. They want the best out of you. This is the best path for a footballer to take.”
Omondi said Denzel spent the December holidays of 2023 in Spain undergoing training, returned in 2024, and proceeded back to school.
“This year, he finally relocated to Spain, and we thank God for this far. His parents have stood with him in this journey, and we are all supportive of him,” he said.
Omondi said his younger brother was keen on seeing Denzel turn professional and helping him realize his football dream.
In 1998, Jose Abarca Laborda, motivated by the desire to give children the opportunity to learn the values of sport, founded the Huesca Sports Society Football School.
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Since its inception, La Escuela has competed in various categories, focusing on the development of its players. Currently, La Escuela has more than 320 players from all corners of the world.
The successes of the club have accompanied the personal successes of those players who, after completing their training at our academy, went on to play in professional teams or obtained sports scholarships at universities.
