Amsterdam to Nairobi

The date, June 25, 2012, resonated in Amani Hamadi's mind with a significance that rivaled the day he'd signed his professional contract with FC Utrecht. Only two weeks had passed since that monumental event, a whirlwind of media attention, formal introductions, and the dawning realization that his life had irrevocably changed.

Two weeks of constant training with Coach Jan Wouters was so eventful, he didn't get to train the whole two weeks with the senior team as most of them went to their countries and vacations, but the few that lived in Utrecht had loved playing with Amani.

The crisp, official paper bearing his signature and the club's crest was a tangible symbol of a dream achieved, yet the reality of it was still sinking in, layer by slow layer. Now, another journey beckoned – a return to Kenya.