Tyrone Owino, right, in a past Equity FC match. Photo courtesy of Equity FC
Tyrone Owino is an ex-footballer who mainly played as an attacking midfielder. He has successfully made the transition from footballer to entrepreneur. He started Tokkos Fish Supplies in 2015 while still an active footballer, but ventured fully into it a year after an early retirement from active football in 2023.
Born and bred in Kinyago Slums and Biafra estate in California ward, Eastleigh, Tyrone has played for various teams in the National Super League (NSL) and the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), including Posta Rangers, Vihiga United, Nakumatt FC, Sher Karuturi, Sony Sugar FC, Bandari FC, Wazito FC, amongst others.
He was spotted while playing for lower-tier side Kakakuona FC, the local side, which brought him to the attention of Kenyan league side Posta Rangers FC in 2012 while he was just 18 years old.
In 2014, he joined Nakumatt FC, where he stayed for three seasons before crossing over to Bandari FC, where he did not last for long before joining Sony Sugar FC. He would then play for Wazito, Vihiga United, Fortune Sacco, and hang his boots in 2023 while in the books of Equity FC.
He shifted his focus to his business, Tokkos Fish Supplies. Based in Gikomba Market, Tyrone supplies fresh and fried fish to hotels and individuals.
But why did he retire early from football? Tyrone, 28, opines that football is a short-term career and that most footballers struggle in life after their careers come to an end, and he did not want to experience the same.
“Football is a short-term career, and many players are reluctant to explore education or entrepreneurship because they are not accepting the fact that one day they will no longer be active players due to one reason or another,” Tyrone told Eastleigh Voice.
“I started playing professionally at a very young age, and therefore I have been very privileged to play for many clubs both in the second tier and in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL). The reality is that football in Kenya doesn’t play well, and salary delays are usual occurrences.”
“Most teams don’t have medical coverage either, and if you get serious injuries, then you are on your own. I have many friends who have gone through all these challenges and have really struggled to do anything meaningful in life after their careers in football ended due to one reason or another. I didn’t want to go through this, and I therefore had to do something for myself, he added.
Having grown up around Eastleigh, his introduction to business in the expansive Gikomba Market was seamless, according to him.
“Luckily, due to my football background, I am well known in the neighbourhood and in the market, and therefore I was well supported when I decided to get into business fully after I retired from football. As a matter of fact, I should have quit football early to concentrate on my business. I am now comfortable and doing relatively well,” Tyrone says.
Tyrone Owino prepares fish at his work station in Gikomba Market (C) Charles Sisia
Tyrone, who now has eight full-time employees at Tokkos Fish Supplies, urges sportsmen not to fear venturing into business or any other legal income-generating activities.
“The sooner you do it, the better. The reality is that 99% of sportsmen in Kenya will not break into the well-paying ranks, and therefore they need to think outside the box. You are better off trying and failing than not doing anything at all; otherwise, once your sports career ends abruptly, you will struggle mentally, financially, and physically.” He concludes.
