Bruce Kamau’s ‘unreal’ journey from Kenya to A-League Grand Final winner with Adelaide United

BRUCE Kamau completed a soccer fairytale yesterday which was born on the dusty streets of Nairobi.

The Adelaide United winger was a standout as he opened the scoring in the Reds’ A-League grand final victory over Western Sydney Wanderers.

But the matchwinning performance was a long way from his birthplace of Kenya where he first kicked a ball with older brother, Ian.

“It’s unreal, you can’t really put it into words,” Kamau, 21, said.

“I started playing football when I came to Australia for fun but when I realised I could take it somewhere I started taking it a bit more serious.

“But you never really think you’re going to be on this stage in the grand final.

“In front of 50,000 people to get the win and for myself to score, it’s an unreal feeling.”

The Adelaide-raised youngster capped a dream season by smashing home United’s first goal in the 22nd minute.

The strike demonstrated everything good about Kamau.

His speed of foot allowed him to steal a march on his marker to get in a goal scoring position.

Just as impressive was his anticipation of Marcelo Carrusca’s pinpoint delivery and his composure in sweetly slotting home the Argentinian’s cross first time.

“I didn’t have too much time to think,” Kamau said.

“The coach tells us when the opposite winger has the ball to get into the box and that’s what I did.

“I guess it paid off.”

Kamau moved to Australia with his family in 1999 and began a soccer education that took in Eastern United, Campbelltown City, Adelaide City and Adelaide Olympic.

The youngster soon caught the eye of the Reds and has seldom looked back since making his A-League debut against Brisbane in 2014.

Kamau played an integral role as Adelaide went from potential wooden spooner to champion.

The speedster made the right wing spot his own and scored his first senior goal in the 1-0 defeat of Melbourne Victory in February.

“The boss gave me more responsibility in starting in games and I’ve tried to pay him back,” the former Rostrevor College student said.

“I think I have and now I just want to continue that.”