From Nakuru to Barcelona: Thirteen-year-old striker Paul Maina's journey to a global kick-off

At just 13 years old, Paul Maina has already had experiences that many young footballers can only dream of. A striker for the Nakuru City Football Club academy, he has spent the last three years honing his talent and discipline while nurturing his love for the game.

His journey took a remarkable turn recently when he was given the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Spain, for an international football tour. This experience has had a profound impact on him, both as a player and as a person.

Eager to join an academy as a young boy, he asked his father to help him search online for opportunities. Around that time, Nakuru City Football Club was setting up its academy, and his father enrolled him. From that moment, Paul began laying the foundation for what he hopes will become a professional football career.

When he first learned that he had been selected to travel to Barcelona, he was initially disbelieving.

“I was in shock. At first, I did not believe that I was the one chosen, so I had to confirm it. Then I saw that it was me,' he says.

He travelled with a group of around 40 players, marking another milestone in his football journey.

"Arriving in Barcelona was an eye-opening experience. The level of technology and infrastructure surprised me the most. From electric cars like Teslas to a team bus with a microphone for coaches to address players, everything felt advanced and unfamiliar,” he says, smiling.

Training sessions in Barcelona introduced Paul and his teammates to a faster, more intense style of football. While the training structure, including passing, shooting and dribbling drills, was similar to what he was used to back home, the pace was significantly higher.

"Initially, the language barrier posed a challenge as the coaches used football terminology that we did not understand. However, demonstrations helped us to overcome this. When he was demonstrating, we just had to understand what he was doing. That’s how we got it,” explains Paul.

One of the key lessons that Paul learned from the coaching sessions was how to defend under pressure, especially when outnumbered by opponents. Beyond technical skills, the coaches emphasised discipline, mindset and attitude.

“I learned that a good attitude is essential not only for performance, but also for avoiding costly mistakes, such as reckless tackles that could result in red cards and hurt the team,” he notes.

The competitive side of the tour featured friendly matches against international opposition, including teams from Poland and South Korea. Paul, who played as a striker, found the games both exciting and challenging.

“The Polish team were the toughest opponents due to their skill level and individual ability. Despite this, the matches provided valuable lessons in teamwork, communication and resilience,” he says.

One moment remains especially memorable for Paul. During a match against the South Korean team, he linked up with his teammate Ruel in a swift tiki-taka exchange, evaded two defenders, and scored a goal.

Although his team narrowly lost the match 7–6, this goal remains a highlight of the tour and boosted the young striker's confidence.

Another impactful moment was visiting Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s iconic stadium, where Paul watched Barcelona play Osasuna live.

“At first, I was astonished. Lionel Messi is one of my football idols, and being in a stadium with such a rich football history was inspiring. The experience was made even more surreal when we unexpectedly met Dani Alves, a former Barcelona player, on our journey back,” he admits.

“Normally, I don’t talk much when I play. I’ve learned how to communicate,” he admits.  He also learned the importance of controlling his reactions and choosing discipline over retaliation when tackled.

Asked to sum up the Barcelona tour in one sentence, Paul offers a simple yet sincere response: “It was quite fun.”

Yet behind those few words lies a transformative experience that took a young footballer from Nakuru to the global stage, bringing his dreams a step closer to reality.