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Wilson is set to sign for Swedish top-flight side AIK when he turns 18 this August.
Kenyan prodigy Stanley Wilson has provided insight into his footballing journey in Sweden after undergoing trials at AIK earlier this year.
The promising midfielder, set to pen his professional contract with the club upon turning 18 in August, impressed AIK's coaching staff with his skills, sealing his spot after just three training sessions.
Wilson was hailed as one of the standout performers at the CECAFA U18 Boys Championship held in Kakamega and Kisumu before boarding a plane to Sweden.
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Now, the protege has revealed how he has enjoyed his time in Sweden so far.
“It has been a good experience because everyone wants to play at the highest level which is what I want,” Wilson said.
“Sweden are in a better place in football than we are, so that is a valuable experience I have gained there.”
Wilson has revealed the differences between Kenya and Sweden.
“The facilities are top-notch. I have matured more there than when I was in Kenya. Players there are big, so it is difficult to play if you haven’t bulked up. It also opens up your mind.”
One of the significant contrasts he observed was the emphasis on punctuality in Swedish football, a facet he believes is lacking in Kenyan football culture.
“Football is about being punctual. In African football -I will speak as a Kenyan - timekeeping is a big issue. If you are late over there even by seconds, you are fined massively because things are professional there. It is something we have to learn to embrace in Kenya.”
Drawing parallels between his experiences at Kariobangi Sharks in Kenya and AIK in Sweden, Wilson noted the similarities in playing style, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and mindset.
"There haven’t been big changes... The only difference is that the environment is different and it is super cold there. It has been hard, but everything is down to mentality," he shared.
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Wilson has revealed the stark stylistic similarities between the style of play at Kariobangi Sharks and AIK.
“There haven't been big changes. At Kariobangi Sharks, we play pass-and-move football and over there, it is the same thing. The only difference is that the environment is different and it is super cold there.”
Quizzed about how he has had to deal with the change in climate, Wilson stated: “It has been hard, but everything is down to mentality. If you have a positive mentality and pray, everything works out.”
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16:32 - 19.03.2024
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It is not the first time Kenyans have signed for Swedish clubs. Some of the most prominent names in the national team include Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma -who himself spent three years in AIK -, Michael Olunga, Joseph Okumu, Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga.
Collins Sichenje and Henry Meja are also currently contracted to AIK, and Wilson has revealed he is in constant communication with them. “It motivates me. I talk to them and they all tell me encouraging things which helps.”
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