Harambee Stars Defender Reveals Why His Stay at a Swedish Club Ended Prematurely

Harambee Stars centre back Eugene Asike has opened up about what led to his departure from Swedish side IF Karlstad Fotboll after just one year of playing.

The former Tusker FC defender signed with the club in April 2022 and immediately started playing, as he revealed in an interview on the Tiki Taka Show.

Eugene Asike pointed out that while at Tusker FC, his agent informed him about interest from Karlstad, impressed by his performances.

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At the time, Eugene Asike was still a regular in Harambee Stars. According to him, the deal was sent directly, and he was assured he would not need to attend any trials.

With only a few months left on his contract at Tusker FC, he contacted the club’s chief executive to discuss the situation, who was understanding of his decision.

Eugene Asike noted that he had previously turned down other opportunities but decided to accept this particular move, describing it as a valuable and enlightening experience.

“My agent called me and told me there was a club that was interested in signing me, highlighting how I played well. I was still in the national team and starting in all the matches. He sent me the contract and told me I would not be going through trials,” he pointed out.

“At the time, I had two or three months of my contract remaining at Tusker FC. At the time, I called the CEO and informed him, and he understood my plea. Back then, I had offers, but I did not go. However, I chose to take that offer. It was an eye-opening experience.”

The former Sofapaka FC defender recounted that he had travelled to Sweden several times for trials before making the move.

He said settling in was not particularly difficult, though he initially found it challenging to adjust to the higher tempo of the matches.

He observed that the playing style differed significantly from what he had been used to in the Kenyan Premier League, with a greater emphasis on tactical discipline.

Eugene Asike reflected that the experience was highly rewarding and helped him grow considerably in his tactical understanding of the game.

“I had been to Sweden for trials about three times. It was not hard for me to settle, but the thing that made me struggle was my adaptation to the intensity of the game,” he added.

“The style of play was very different from what I experienced in KPL, and they were stricter on the tactics. It was a great experience and I improved a lot tactically.”

Eugene Asike explained that his agreement with the club had initially been set for two years, but challenges arose after the first season when certain aspects of the deal required revision.

He noted that some changes were necessary to align with his situation and expectations, yet discussions between his representative and the club did not lead to a mutual understanding.

Asike pointed out that in major football institutions, such disagreements are not uncommon, and when the management and the player’s agent fail to find common ground, the professional relationship often concludes earlier than planned.

“My contract was for two years, but after the first year, certain things needed to be adjusted, which became an issue. At top clubs, when the agent and the club can’t reach an agreement, the contract usually comes to an end,” he revealed.

Despite the premature end to his stint in Sweden, Eugene Asike remains grateful for the opportunity and the lessons learned during his time at IF Karlstad Fotboll.

The defender emphasised that the experience not only sharpened his tactical awareness but also gave him a deeper understanding of the demands of European football.