Former South Africa coach Barker has boosted Santos

"Also the management of the team wasn't very professional," said Otieno, who was one of the few bright sparks in a very ordinary side.

However, the arrival of Afzal Khan as chief executive officer from former champions Manning Rangers and the signing of former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker midway through last season signalled a transformation in Santos' fortunes.

After finishing in a comfortable mid-table position last season, the team continued their improvement this term.

They have developed into a stable top five outfit, capable of holding their own against the top sides like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Sundowns.

In addition, they have reached the final of the BobSave Superbowl (South Africa's version of the FA Cup) where they will meet Sundowns in the final on 9 June.

Professional approach

"It's really a good feeling to be doing well in the league and also to have reached a cup final, especially after those difficult years," remarked Otieno.

Coupled with the arrival of Barker came a more professional management approach which heralded the arrival of Mauritian internationals Sebastien Bax and Jean-Marc Ithier, Zimbabwean international John Mbidzo and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse.

Otieno is tipped for a career in Europe

"The management improved drastically and the arrival of Barker at the club proved to be a tremendous boost.

"He is one of the best coaches on the continent and he has the ability of bringing out the best in his players.

"It is also good to have quality international players in the side," said Otieno.

The 6'3" defender, who hails from Maringo on the outskirts of Nairobi, started his football career as a goalkeeper.

The tall guy

"It was only because I was the tallest guy in the team that they put me in goal, but things changed when we played against a school with a big striker and our school coach assigned me to mark him," said Otieno.

It was a wise move, as soon afterwards Otieno made his international debut for Kenya against Zaire in 1993 at the age of 19 and while still a pupil at the Ofafa Jerico Secondary school.

Having started out with Leopards, Otieno moved to Kenya Breweries, one of the country's bigger clubs.

After the promise of a job with the Breweries didn't materialise, Otieno went to Germany on a trial arranged by Kenyan national coach Reinhardt Fabisch.

Fabisch tried to find Otieno a club in Germany

He spent a month with his intended club, but by then they had already signed a South American defender and the Kenyan returned home disappointed.

Afzal Khan believes Otieno is too good a player not to be in the lucrative European leagues. "Musa is one of the best and most respected players in the South African league.

Assembling video tapes

"He deserves to make some good money by playing in Europe and we have been assembling video tapes to send to some interested European clubs."

While things are looking much brighter on the field for Otieno, it has gone the same way off it too, especially after his wife Joan and two children, Michelle (3) and Desailly (1), joined him in Cape Town late last year.

"It's wonderful to come home after training and matches to my wife and children.

"In the first few years it was very difficult when we were struggling because I had no one to share my disappointments with," he said.

Otieno is still keen to play in Europe but his immediate priority is to help Santos win the BobSave and to lead Kenya to the finals of the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali for their first appearance since 1992