'I grew up in a tough situation when I was young. I try to be humble' - Charlton Athletic defender Collins Sichenje has overcome adversity to make Championship move a reality
Addicks defender has enjoyed open-top bus sightseeing tour of London landmarks
“I try to be humble because I know where I come from and it’s not an easy place.”
Collins Sichenje is loving life in London - including taking an open-top bus ride around the capital going past major landmarks - but his elevation to Championship football is never going to make him forget about hardships experienced earlier in his life.
The Kenyan international defender signed for Charlton Athletic on February 2. The Addicks had watched the tall centre-back impress for Serbian side Vojvodina.
It has been a journey for Sichenje to tick off one of his targets - playing in England. Many miles has he travelled to make that a reality.
Sichenje started his career playing for Green Commandos, a team which represents Kakamega High School, before joining Nairobi-based AFC Leopards. Next came spells playing in Greece, Sweden and Finland.
Vojvodina - the same club that sold Mihailo Ivanovic to Millwall - gave him a bigger platform, including qualifiers in the Champions League and Europa League.
Sichenje’s performances had attracted interest and Charlton chairman Gavin Carter recently told this website that they brought forward plans to sign him this summer in case his progression priced them out of negotiations.
The 22-year-old impressed on his debut - playing 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw at Southampton and followed up with composed appearances against West Brom and Wrexham.
Sichenje is back available after missing seven matches with a hamstring injury sustained right at the end of the loss to the Red Dragons.
Charlton still have a little drop heat on them after a run of six games without a victory and have been misfiring at home, with five defeats in their last six outings in SE7.
Sichenje, born in Butere, puts that pressure into context.
