Soka magazine issue 10

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VOL 1 | ISSUE 10 | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017

LEGEND OF THE GAME

Sirengo’s reflection of conquests and regrets

Andreas Spier

Designing Kenya’s football future

DYLAN KERR The new King who has made Gor Mahia his second home

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CURRENT ISSUES

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CURRENT ISSUES

SOKA

MAGAZINE SokaKenya Soka_Ke

Editor-in-Chief Jeff Kinyanjui Staff Writers Terry Ouko Zachary Oguda Imran Otieno Peter Wainaina Dan Ngulu Photography Maina Wambugu Dan Ngulu Ian Mandela Fabian Odhiambo Design and Layout Faith Omudho Published By Soka Holdings Ltd Printed By Ramco Printing Marketing Ms Quinter Odongo Email: quinter@soka.co.ke Mobile: +254 705 216 569

LETTER From the Editor I

n the 10th edition of the Soka Magazine, we highlight the man who came to Kenya in midseason and conquered the Kenyan Premier League – Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr.

The former Simba SC coach found a staggering team but his magic rubbed in immediately as he led the side to the 16th KPL title, which had seemed a tough mission in midseason.

After touring the region and playing for some of the biggest teams, former Harambee Stars forward Mark Sirengo shares his football story with us; his highest points as a player, his regrets and advice to young players in the Legend of the Game bit.

After a grueling and competitive National Super League (NSL) campaign, that saw two sides seal debuts to the KPL, we have a collection of the top performing players and coaches who make up our 2017 Team of the Season.

Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Irungu, a specialist in treatment of knee injuries talks to us about the dreaded injury while we also have NSL side Isibania FC profiled as well as the rapidly rising Migori Youth Talent Academy which has been home to some top players in the country.

Administration Patrick Korir Email: patrick@soka.co.ke Mobile: +254 700 123 366 Office Suite A5, Silverpool Office P.O. BOX 50633 - 00100, Nairobi - Kenya Phone (254) 727 443 540 (254) 700 12 33 66

Dan Ngulu Editor-in -Chief

Email info@soka.co.ke Online www.soka.co.ke

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CONTENTS 6

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2017 FKF NSL Team of the Year

Kenyan football in pictures

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Dylan Kerr: The football globetrotter who has settled at Gor Mahia

Star on the Rise: Harambee Starlets forward Corazon Aquino

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Club Profile: Isibania FC

Wellington Ochieng’: Burdened by the yorke of improving

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Andreas Spier: The man charged with designing Kenya’s football future

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Mark Sirengo: Legend of the game

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Blast from the past: Christian Chukwu’s short, troubled stint as Harambee Stars coach

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NSL

TEAM OF THE SEASON

2017

FKF NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE

Team of the Season

By Ian Mandela

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urtains came down on the 2017 season of the FKF National Super League (NSL) on Saturday 25 November, with Vihiga United and Wazito securing promotion to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

Ministry of Sports - sponsored MOSCA, on the other hand, was relegated to the Division One League, as well as Agro Chemicals FC. Meanwhile, debutants Kibera Black Stars and Isibania surpassed expectations, finishing 10th and 13th respectively in one of the most competitive NSL campaigns in recent times.

Notable game Among the notable matches in the league in 2017 was the clash pitting eventual winners Vihiga against Ushuru FC, who went to the final day placed second and top of the table respectively. It was a winner take all scenario, even as Wazito, taking on Police FC in another final day game had an impact on the title race.

A 1 - 0 win for Vihiga, served by Bernard Ochieng’s first half bullet header was in the end the most crucial stat as Ushuru dropped to third, and only secured a spot for the promotion playoff.

A number of players in the season also got a chance at redemtion following troubled stints in the top flight, including Simon Abuko of KCB who had decamped from AFC Leopards 6 soka.co.ke

the previous year, Andrew Murunga, who left Kakamega Homeboyz for Ushuru FC, Ezekiel Odera who had endured a tought season with Sofapaka and many more.

New stars It also came with the emergence of new stars, like the Vihiga defender, Ochieng, who went on to attract a call to the national team Harambee Stars and was part of the side that won the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge title.

Tanzanian Peter Kyata Amani of Nakuru AllStars also earned his international debut with Kilimanjaro Stars at the CECAFA tournament as testimony of the great season he had with the team.

Downside While there was a lot to celebrate in the competitive levels seen in the NSL, the biggest down side was the financial woes, which forced Palos FC to fold and pushed City Stars to the brink.

We can only hope for a better season in 2018, with Green Commandoes, Coast Stima and Kangemi AllStars promoted while it still remains unofficial whether Kisumu Hotstars will take up Palos’ place.

Here’s a look of a selection of players who impressed in the campaign to make up our team of the season:

Selected fans’ views on the 2017 season Rodgers Odhiambo Club supported: Sony Sugar For me this season wasn’t a good one; there was nothing much to write about. I’d have loved to see the team finish in the top eight but we missed the slot by only two points. In the final run of games we drew matches that we should have won and I think that cost us.

My pick for player of the season has to go to Amos Asembeka. He is a good player, very talented and disciplined and for the past four to six seasons he has been performing, bearing in mind that he is a midfielder but he has been able to chip in with crucial goals. He has been among the top scorers in the club for the past three seasons. I cannot also fail to recognize the services of Yema Mwana and Abdallah Hamisi.

Goal of the season would go to Benjamin Mosha against Vihiga United in the GOtv Shield third place playoff.

Barnabas Tiema ~ Goalkeeper The Vihiga United shot-stopper seamlessly gelled into the team following his mid-season move from Kenya Police.

Tiema featured 14 times for Police in the first leg, keeping five clean sheets. He went on to make 18 appearances for Vihiga United in the second leg, keeping 10 clean sheets, to see Vihiga through to the top tier.

Bernard Ochieng ~ Defence Formerly with Bidco United, Ochieng has been a cog in the Vihiga United defence. He helped the side to 18 clean sheets in 26 appearances. His lone goal in the final match against Ushuru helped Vihiga seal a slot in the 2018 KPL. He consequently earned a place in the Harambee Stars squad for the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

Next season, having in mind that things haven’t gone well, we expect some changes but I would mainly wish that the club ties down our key players, the likes of Asembeka and Mosha, and add in our areas of weakness Kevin Obeddy Club supported: Mathare United I can say our season was good because for the better part of the campaign we were battling relegation and we had our hearts in the mouth for fear of the drop. What went wrong with the season, was that we didn’t have enough leaders in our team to guide the young boys.

My best moments of the season were beating Gor Mahia home and away and the goal of the season goes to Chrispin Oduor in the game against Kariobangi Sharks.

The player of the season for me would be Levis Opiyo; although he conceded a lot of goals in the season he had the team spirit.

Fredrick Kentille ~ Defence Kentille was a mainstay in the Ushuru FC defence since his acquisition from Sofapaka at the start of the 2017 season. His experience, having also played for Nakuru AllStars was crucial, helping the taxmen to 16 clean sheets out of the 28 matches he featured in.

Surviving was a major relief for us but next season I would like to see big names in the club, the likes of Patillah Omoto and Calvin Odongo who will steer us to the top end of the table.

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NSL

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Nelson Marasowe ~Defender Largely preferred in midfield by coach Ken Kenyatta, Marasowe was a salient player for Ushuru, featuring in 29 matches for the taxmen.

He helped Ushuru to 15 clean sheets, scoring four goals, including a long-range stunner against Kibera Black Stars.

Dennis Nganga ~ Defender The KCB left back rediscovered his form after previous lukewarm stints at City Stars, Tusker FC and Kariobangi Sharks. Nganga made 30 appearances for KCB in the season, as the team kept 15 clean sheets. He was also crucial in attack, supplying crosses and set pieces from positions that favored his deft left foot.

Zachary Gathu ~ Midfielder Gathu was crucial in midfield since joining Wazito in January from Thika United. He found the back of the net eight times in the season, among them a goal of the season contender against Bidco United. He was also on the score sheet in the final match of the season against Kenya Police to guarantee Wazito a place in the KPL in 2018.

Patrick Okullo ~ Midfield The Vihiga United captain made 32 appearances in the season, scoring 17 goals, a tally only equaled

by KCB’s Simon Abuko. His composure was particularly evident when he rose to the occasion to score decisive goals from the spot in nervous moments against FC Talanta and Palos FC for wins crucial in leading Vihiga to the top tier.

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Benson Amianda ~ Attacker The lanky forward made 30 appearances this season, scoring 16 goals; one shy of eventual top scorers Simon Abuko and Patrick Okullo.

His physique was particularly of importance to Ushuru, a team that preferred direct play rather than patient build up Oscar Mbugua ~ Midfielder

Clifford Ager Club Supported: Kariobangi Sharks My game of the season was the 3-0 win against Mathare United at Kasarani. I can’t really remember the scorers but it was a game I really enjoyed and would like to relive the moment.

Our season was good, coming into the league for the first time and finishing second runners up is quite an achievement but there was a period in which we went over seven games without a win and it was quite a difficult time for the supporters because if we would have won those matches we would have been in contention for the league title.

My player of the season is our goalkeeper Jeff Oyemba who helped us especially in our winless streak and kept us in games we would have lost but ended up drawing. Next season I’d like us to win the President’s Cup because we came close last season, losing to AFC Leopards in the final.

I’d like to see Harrison Mwendwa from Mathare United in our team next season because he a tactically gifted player with a good history but unfortunately hasn’t had enough playing time at the club. I think he can thrive well under William Muluya.

In an experience-laden Ushuru squad, Mbugua was a standout performer. The former Nairobi City Stars midfielder scored 10 goals in 26 appearances in their bid for promotion.

My goal of the season would be Duke Abuya’s in our game against Chemelil Sugar.

Name: Dennis Omollo Club supported: Muhuroni Sugar Our season was a very disappointing one. It had a lot of challenges; first we were uncertain about our status in the league and we had to endure a court case then after reinstatement we had financial issues after SuperSport withdrew, which really threw us off balance.

Simon Abuko ~ Attacker The speedy winger had a renaissance after joining KCB from AFC Leopards. Largely deployed as a center-forward by coach Leonard Saleh, Abuko found the back of the net 17 times in the season, a goal tally only equaled by Vihiga United captain Patrick Okullo. He was also trusted with penalty taking duties and scored four times from the spot.

Despite that, we started the season well, especially in the home games but our players were demoralized because of the financial situation as some of them went months without payment and soon this was reflecting in the results.

The player who impressed me was Maxwell Onyango who we signed from Agro Chemicals the previous season and stuck with the team even when the players revolted.

Now that we have been relegated I’m gutted, as we were in the league for six seasons and this team shone light in the town of Muhoroni.

We are back in the National Super League and it will take something special to get back to the KPL bearing in mind that this is a tough league with 20 teams and action comes thick and fast.

Goal of the season for me came in the first leg win over Kariobangi Sharks, scored by Ambrose Ayoyi.

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NSL

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Eric Kapaito ~ Attacker Trusted by coach John Kamau to wear the captain’s armband, Kapaito was instrumental in FC Talanta’s attack. He scored 15 of the 36 goals his club managed in the season.

Talanta however shipped in 46 goals and will have to find a way of holding onto the forward when big guns come calling during the off-season transfer window.

Substitutes

Steve Njunge ~ Substitute The Wazito first-choice goalkeeper kept 11 clean sheets in 24 appearances.

Only Vihiga United’s Barnabas Tiema kept more clean sheets.

Dennis Gicheru ~ Substitute The defender made 29 appearances for Wazito, helping the team keep 15 clean sheets. He was also the club’s penalty taker, finding the back of the net seven times from the spot. He was however booked 14 times, the most by any player in the season.

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Benjamin Megason ~ Substitute Kenya Police is well known for their long ball style of play, but they had a touch of flair in Benjamin Megason on their left flank. His height was an understatement of his abilities. The winger played in 27 matches for the law enforcers, scoring nine goals.

Melvin Shashu Macharia ~ Substitute Shashu made 28 appearances as a right wingback for Kibera Black Stars in their maiden appearance in the NSL. Notably, he was crucial in attack, providing a number of assists to the club’s attacking duo of Anthony Barasa and Wilson Njuguna.

Andrew Waiswa ~ Substitute Snapped up from Busia United, the Ugandan national was a cog in the Palos midfield.

He is deprived of height but not skill and eye for goal. In 30 appearances for Palos, the midfielder managed seven goals.

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NSL

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Wilson Njuguna ~ Substitute In their debut season in the second tier, Wilson Njuguna was a revelation for Kibera Black Stars, forming a formidable partnership up front with compatriot Anthony Barasa. He found the back of the net seven times in 22 appearances for Black Stars.

Pistone Mutamba ~ Substitute The lanky forward led Wazito’s forward line in their successful bid for promotion. In 32 appearances, Mutamba scored 13 goals, four shy of joint top scorers Abuko and Okullo.

Adam Fadhili ~ Substitute Despite St Joseph Youth struggling to stay afloat for the better part of the season, Adam Fadhili wrote his name among the best forwards in the NSL. in 2017. He scored 14 goals in 28 appearances.

Edward Manoah ~ Coach Manoah led Vihiga United to their maiden appearance in the top flight amidst rough patches in the course of the season. He saw the Vihiga County-sponsored side through a string of poor results before bouncing back in the final match of the season to grab the NSL title. He also masterminded a string of impressive results in the GOtv Shield, in which Vihiga United achieved a fourth-place finish.

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Dan Musta & Geoffrey Oduor ~ Assistant Coaches Dan Musta and Geoffrey Oduor led Isibania and Kibera Black Stars respectively to 13th and 10th place finishes in the season. The two clubs were making their debut in the secondtier and performed pretty well despite having limited resources.

Follow Ian Mandela on Twitter: @Mandela_Ian

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PICTORIAL

KENYA FOOTBALL IN PICTURES

KENYAN FOOTBALL IN 14 PICTURES The 2017 season had crucial highlights for Kenyan football, the major one definitely being the withdrawal of the 2018 CHAN hosting rights, which caused a massive outcry from fans and stakeholders. Winning the CECAFA Senior Challenge was a main uniting factor later on in the year and so was Gor Mahia winning their 16th league title and AFC Leopards becoming the first, and only team to win the GOtv Shield twice. Once again the KPL will have debutants in the 2018 campaign after Vihiga United and Wazito sealed promotion from the NSL, emulating Kariobangi Sharks, Zoo FC and Nakumatt. Here are some of the images from Kenyan football;

1. Sikutaki! When the tables turn and it is the man doing the fending away.

2. The path to success in football is straight and narrow, no shortcuts. FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo seems to be sharing with his Kenyan counterpart Nick Mwendwa.

3. For this fan traveling from Eldoret for the GOtv Shield final, the message was very clear on which of the two sides he will be staking his support.

4. How the transistor radio from back in the day has evolved; a Leopards fan was at Kasarani ahead of the 2017 GOtv Shield final eager to show off his high end -gadget.

5. The uniting and entertaining aspects of football were well depicted when these young boys brought along their friend who was on a wheelchair to watch the much awaited match between Githurai All Stars and Kingstone in

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the 2017 Kothbiro Tournament.

6. Shielding the Shield; After a series of matches involving 64 teams, it narrowed down to a battle between AFC Leopards and Kariobangi Sharks for the GOtv Shield and on this day the trophy was the most guarded piece at MISC, Kasarani.

7. One minute man; this fan knew too well he stood no chance of featuring in the 90 minutes of the Dagoretti Cup final and so when players observed a minute of silence ahead of kickoff, it was his chance to shine.

8. In the 2017 season, the Kenya government was at the center of football for both the good and bad resons. After the failure with CHAN, it was celebration time as Kenya won the CECAFA title, and Deputy President William Ruto marked it with a signed ball handed to the FKF President Nick Mwendwa.

9. In 2017, Thika United’s fights

were on many fronts, the team was not only caught up in the relegation fight but also the physical. Here Suleiman Ngotho was caught up in an ugly scene as his side fought for three points against Gor Mahia.

10. When your teammates have your back; Thika United’s shotstopper Eliud Emase is helped out of a tricky situation by his defender Wilson Anekeya.

11. At the end of a gruelling campaign in the National Super League, Vihiga United stood out as the best team, their final day win over Ushuru FC granted them the chance to grace the KPL for the first time in their history.

12. In 2017, Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks made their mark in the history of Kenyan Football and Narok County Government as the first teams to ever play a top flight game at the Narok Stadium.

13. Rwanda national team fans came out to show thri patriotism but that was not reflected much in the reults on the pitch as their team, finalists in CECAFA 2015, suffered early exit in the 2017 showpiece.

14. A penny for his thoughts....

Gor Mahia fitness trainer Sandro Fantoni perhaps overwhelmed by the lack of competition in the 2017 KPL season.

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PICTORIAL

CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP

HARAMBEE STARS’ CECAFA 2017 CONQUEST IN PICTURES Kenya is back at the top, well, just in the region, after reclaiming the CECAFA Senior Challenge title, which the lost to Uganda in 2015. Harambee Stars went the entire tournament unbeaten, only conceding twice, in the final against Zanzibar. Jockins Atudo and Musa Mohamed were the only players who were in the 2013 winning team to also win the 2017 title. Here we sample a few pics that highlighted the joy and struggles that came with Harambee Stars clinching their second title in three attempts;

1. AFC Leopards skipper Duncan Otieno was a key man in the quest for the CECAFA title, and he scored a scorcher in the opening game. His first goal for the national team was befitted the occasion and his celebration said it all.

2. Jockins Atudo was in action as Stars won the 2013 CECAFA title, he missed the 2015 edition but returned to marshal the defence in 2017, and Burundi got a feel of the one man battalion.

3. After a fine season in the Kenyan Premier League, Kepha Aswani got his chance in the CECAFA tournament but didn’t get to score a goal. Here he grimaces at a miss in the semi final against Burundi.

4. Burundi exited the tournament at the hands of Kenya and this player was clearly hurt by the 1 - 0 loss at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

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CECAFA tournament, the national team was hosted by the Deputy President William Ruto as the government moved to show support for the team.

6. The loss to Kenya in the final was a source of pain for Zanzibar, so much that this Zanzibar Heroes official could not stand the view of Kenya celebrating.

7. Ovella Ochieng did not just score a contender of the goal of the tournament, he also gave a celebration that would live in our memories for ages when he gave Kenya the lead in the final against Zanzibar.

8. Kenya keeper Patrick Matasi was the hero in the final, saving three penalties. and FKF President Nick Mwendwa’s reaction on the podium left no one guessing on who was his man of the match.

9. Kenya’s striker Kepha Aswani in a sprint during the semi final clash against Burundi.

10. Models pose with the trophy ahead ahead of the CECAFA final pitting Kenya against Zanzibar.

11. Whyvonne Isuza was one of Kenya’s best players in the CECAFA tournament. He got his chance and grabbed it. The AFC Leopards man will definitely give Paul Put additional options in future assignments.

12. This Kenyan fan was on stand by to relay the latest scores during the final clash of the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge 13. The final pitting Kenya against Zanzibar was a colorful affair, and the beauties in full Kenyan colors added to the pomp.

14. The pain of losing the final was too much for Abdul Aziz Makame, undoubtedly Zanzibar’s best player in the tournament.

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PICTORIAL

SJAK AWARDS

2017 SJAK AWARDS IN PICTURES The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) held their inaugural awards gala on Monday 18 December after an action packed Kenyan Premier League season that saw 18 teams take part. Sponsored by LG and a number of other co sponsors, it was a colorful event at the National Museums of Kenya and here we pick out a few pictures from the gala:

1. Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere kisses his trophy after being named the 2017 SJAK Most Valuable Player.

6. Masoud Juma too took home a trophy after emerging the top scorer in the 2017 season with 17 goals.

2. Zoo FC’s Nicholas Kipkirui picks his award after being named the New Young Player of the season.

7. Gor Mahia treasurer Sally Bolo was at the gale to pick the Midfielder of the Year award for George Blackberry Odhiambo who was absent of the night.

3. Kariobangi Sharks keeper Jeff Oyenba is all smiles after being named 8. Office of the President’s Director the Goalkeeper of the Year. of Innovation, Digital and Diaspora 4. Musa Mohamed of Gor Mahia poses Communication Director Dennis Itumbi entertained the gala with an with his trophy after he was named attempt at juggling the ball on stage. the Defender of the Year at the gala.

5. Harambee Starlets forward Corazon Aquino was on hand to pick the award for her compatriot Esse Akida, who won the SJAK President’s award for her exemplary performance at the women’s national team.

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10. Kariobangi Sharks duo of Jeff Oyemba and Masoud Juma pose with their awards after the gala.

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COVER STORY

DYLAN KERR

DYLAN

KERR

A football globetrotter on his journey to Gor, tattoos, Wembley heartache and being face to face with the barrel of a gun

By Peter Wainaina

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t is a hot Tuesday afternoon at the Camp Toyoyo grounds in Jericho on the outskirts of the capital Nairobi and Kenyan giants Gor Mahia are holding their final training session before taking on Western Stima in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clash the following day.

The artificial turf is like a partner in crime to the searing heat, combining to mercilessly pound on the players.

They are sweating and draining down bundles of packaged bottled water by the minute. But still in the unrelenting heat the mzungu at the center of the pitch, clad in his green jersey and trunks is pushing them even harder; you’d imagine he’s one of the players.

His voice is reminiscent of a lenient but at the same time strict father eager to get the best out of his sons.

On this day, the emphasis seems to be on cut-backs and finishing techniques from inside the box.

His assistant, crowd favorite Zedekiah Zico Otieno, is with a pen and paper

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in hand, keeping score on which team comes up short over a five minute period. The consequences of a lethargic display is 20 push-ups on that scorching hot turf!

Forward George Blackberry Odhiambo is reveling in the session, he is in his element striking the ball with ease

Dylan Kerr led Gor Mahia to the 16th league title just four months into the job and finding the back of the net on every occasion. No wonder his form has taken an upward trajectory in recent months.

The 2010 KPL Player of the Year has found the net five times before today and laid on a further six in a campaign that has seen him evolve as a standout performer for his side.

His form hasn’t gone unnoticed as he was named the KPL Player of the

Month for August, the second K’Ogalo player to achieve the feat in the season after midfielder Ernest Wendo.

Again if you had crept out of a rock and were oblivious of your surroundings you would conclude that the drills these players were being taken through were to prepare them for a title run-in, huge cup final or a promotion play-off game. But that is not the case, because ten days prior to this day, this team clinched an unprecedented 16th league title with a hard fought 1-0 win over four time league champions Ulinzi Stars.

The manner in which they have strolled to achieve that historic feat makes it the more interesting, given that the Englishman, Dylan Kerr is only four months into arguably the toughest job in Kenyan football.

With the league title won with four games still to play, you would expect it to be a party mood around but no, it is business as usual and Kerr who has only lost one game (against Mathare United) since taking over in

If you look at my C.V. you will see that I am a winner and I have won almost everywhere I’ve been to; be it as a manager or as a player and that is what I intend to foster with my players here

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COVER STORY

DYLAN KERR

mid-season, wants no recurrence of that.

He is devoted, which can also be interpreted as being obsessed with winning. I gather all that from this one particular training session and he confirms it when we sit down for a chat after all the balls have been put away and the cones racked up.

“If you look at my C.V. you will see that I am a winner and I have won almost everywhere I’ve been to; be it as a manager or as a player and that is what I intend to foster with my players here. They have to look at me and believe that they are winners because that’s the only option.”

As a player Kerr has represented the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Reading in England, Kilmarnock and Hamilton Academical in Scotland, sandwiched between these stints is a period in South Africa with Arcadia Shepherds, a predominantly whites team at the height of the Apartheid era in the 80’s.

Injuries, struggles and Cup success Hanging his boots in 2003 after persistent groin pains suffered during his time at Kilmarnock, Kerr-just like most players do when the mind is willing but the body refuses, started on his coaching journey at the age 32, five years earlier than the age he had hoped to reach while still playing.

“When Reading released me in 1996 after I had torn my hamstring and a couple of other muscles in my right leg, everyone thought I was done for and that I couldn’t play again. But I felt that I had ten more years in me.

I was only 27 and there was no way I could retire at such an early age.

“My time at the club up until then was superb. I enjoyed my football and we won plenty. I also played alongside some fantastic players like Shaka Hislop and Phil Parkinson but I

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was bitter in how they treated me and so I wanted to prove everyone at the club wrong for writing me off.

“I was out for close to two years; first with the hamstring then my knee went right after I had started jogging.

It was hell,” the former Simba SC tactician describes his ordeal.

But thanks to the surgeon who worked on him and his sheer will to play on, Kerr, the son of a former British navy soldier was back to kicking a football 16 months after his playing career had seemed dead in the water.

For close to six months he struggled without a club before Kilmarnock threw him a lifeline when they invited him for trials after a friend had put in a good word for him.

“Kilmarnock were in search of a left sided defender and a friend of mine who was a youth coach at the club put in a good word for me and I was invited for trials. I played in a reserve game against Hibernian on a Wednesday and we won 3-1 and I remember kissing the ground just like the Pope does after finishing the game because I knew I was back.

The following Saturday I made my debut away to Dundee United and a week later I inked a

deal and remained at the club for four wonderful years.

“My time at Killie I can honestly say was the best of my footballing career because we played for pride and we had heart. We couldn’t compete with Celtic or Rangers who had superstars playing for them but we gave our all in every game and that is the sort of mentality that I have instilled everywhere that I have been to. It is the same mentality that my players at this wonderful club should strive to have always,” says the Maltese born Englishman.

At Kilmarnock is where his journey to the Green Army can be said really began. Head coach at the Scottish club at the time was Bobby Williamson the man who 17 years later, in 2013, would lead Gor Mahia to their first league triumph in 18 years. A feat that would kick start the team’s dominance in the local scene and has since seen them claim four of the last five league titles.

The pair stayed together for four years and won the Scottish FA Cup in Kerr’s first season at the club, defeating Falkirk 1-0 at the Ibrox Stadium thanks to a Paul Wright first half strike. Kerr played the full game at left – back and had the last laugh as he finally proved his doubters wrong by lifting the second oldest trophy in world football and with it, put to rest that Wembley heartache had suffered two years before.

Wembley Disappointment In 1995 while still at Reading, Kerr received what he calls the “biggest disappointment” of his life when he was omitted from the squad that was to take on Bolton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium in a First Division playoff match for seeking promotion to the Premier League.

A year prior, Reading had won the second division title and were on their way to winning promotion for the second successive year hadn’t it been for the organizers of the Premier League who decided to

re-structure and trim down from the 22 teams that played in the league to 20. This meant that four teams were to be relegated and only two would be promoted from the lower division.

Middlesbrough qualified automatically by virtue of being champions while Reading who finished second had to fight it out for the only remaining spot with Bolton, Wolves and Tranmere Rovers who finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

“We won over two legs against Tranmere and got to the final at Wembley and as you can imagine we

Royals surged to a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes but by the final whistle Bolton had pulled level to send the game into extra time where fatigue took its toll on the players and the Wanderers ended up scoring a further two goals to claim a 4-3 victory.

“When I won the Scottish Cup, the heartache from that play-off period was somewhat eased and till this day I consider that game the biggest game I have ever played in.”

Tattoos for Gratitude His romance with the club grew so much that he went ahead to have a

“Growing up in England every little boy’s dream is to play at Wembley and this was my chance and it was taken away from me. I couldn’t understand it because I had played 39 out of 44 games that season. It was difficult to take at the time but now looking back, I can understand that it was for the better of the team despite the outcome,” Kerr were ecstatic. Sadly, I was forced to endure the biggest disappointment in my whole life during this period when I was told by my manager on the eve of the game that I was not going to be picked for the team.

“Growing up in England every little boy’s dream is to play at Wembley and this was my chance and it was taken away from me. I couldn’t understand it because I had played 39 out of 44 games that season. It was difficult to take at the time but now looking back, I can understand that it was for the better of the team despite the outcome,” Kerr who had found the back of the net once during that campaign opens up.

tattoo of the club’s crest emblazoned on his right ankle, a gesture he would replicate with the Gor badge after sealing the KPL title in 2017.

But there is a funny story behind the first tattoo which apparently was done without his knowledge. “The Killie tattoo on my right leg wasn’t

Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding who were on interim basis at the club as player/coach decided to switch tactics and play with three at the back, Michael Gilkes was handed the left wingback role.

The tactics seemed to work as The

soka.co.ke 23

COVER STORY

DYLAN KERR

planned for. I was drunk for four days straight after the cup final and it was a bunch of my friends who planned it.

“It was done when I passed out and woke up one morning and just saw it there but I’m so pleased that they did it because the club is a part of me.”

Kerr has three tattoos, apart from the two on his ankles; he has another on his forearm; of the name “Gloria Jean”, his mother’s name.

“My mom is a difficult woman to please; I say that in a good way because she never wants us to strain ourselves buying her gifts and things like that. So I had a tattoo of her name to show her how much she means to me. She’s raised us practically by herself since our dad walked out on us.”

Of course she wasn’t impressed and called him a “silly chuff” he tells me in a chuckle.

“The tattoos are my way of saying thank you. The K’Ogalo one is for the fans who have been amazing and have shown me nothing but love since I came here,” Kerr who considers himself a Luo says.

Apartheid South Africa Since hanging his playing boots, the 50 year old has been somewhat a globetrotter taking up

coaching roles in America, Europe, Asia and Africa where he has left imprints from working with kids and winning titles.

His devotion to the cause can be seen during his stint in Argyll and Bute in rural Scotland where he worked for the FA to promote the growth of football in far flung areas. Travelling two hours by road daily to work with budding young players between the ages of nine and 16 in a bid to help maximize their abilities through modernized training methods.

He did that for about three years before an ex-teammate at Arcadia ShepherdsSammy Troughton who was at the now defunct Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2008 as

24 soka.co.ke

manager, asked him if he could join him at the club as his assistant.

It was more than 20 years since he first set foot in Africa, a continent where he has such fond memories and was not about to let the chance slip. So he resigned, packed his bags and within nine days was back for a second chapter, back to a continent he describes as his second home.

“I experienced both the good and the bad during my first stay in South Africa. It was during the Apartheid period and the atmosphere was tense most of the time.

“Football in South Africa for the better part of the past century had been marred by chaos, violence and deaths which mainly arose from the racial segregation that the country was going through”.

The country’s constitution

Indian goalkeeper as well. Most of the players were “umulungu” (white) but we were all one big family and there was no friction between us. I enjoyed my football albeit for a few incidents here and there.”

One of those incidents almost made him pack up his bags and leave on the next flight to Yorkshire.

“It was a derby game against Mamelondi Sundowns in ‘87, both

The pair moved together to the lower leagues, first with Thanda Royal Zulu then to Nathi Lions before Kerr in his usual globetrotting left the continent to take up Hai Phong in the Vietnamese top division where he worked as assistant coach and head of youth development. He was named head coach in 2013 and led them to Cup success for only the second time in the club’s history in 2014.

In the ensuing melee I had a gun brandished towards me by a fan. I managed to get away but that incident scared the hell out of me. For a while I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to continue being there anymore

teams came from Pretoria and it was always heated whenever we faced off.

We lost the game 2-1 with the fans invading the pitch after the game ended. In the ensuing melee I had a gun brandished towards me by a fan. I managed to get away but that incident scared the hell out of me. prohibited racially mixed teams from competitive sport and thus local football was played with two leagues; The NSL for the whites and the NPSL for the blacks.

This scenario coupled with others led world governing body FIFA to ban the nation from international matches for a total of 16 years between 1976 and 1992.

Teams like Arcadia Shepherds where Kerr spent three years between 1986-89 were “whites only teams” in the early years of their inception but by the 1980’s when the shackles of discrimination had started to slowly wither away, one or two black players could be seen playing for these teams and vice versa with the teams that were for the blacks only.

Gun Incident “At Arcadia there were two black players in the squad and we had an

“For a while I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to continue being there anymore,” a reflective Kerr says.

Such like incidents were not uncommon in Apartheid South Africa.

In 1985 an Orlando Pirates official was stabbed to death on the pitch at Ellis Park in front of a live TV audience.

He also doubled up as part of the Vietnamese national team’s technical bench for the Suzuki Cup during this period.

First and second offers “While I was in Vietnam Bobby Williamson who I had played under at Kilmarnock phoned me and offered me the Gor Mahia job as he was leaving to take up a job as head coach of the Harambee Stars. I would have been here before Frank Nuttall but I had a running contract with Hai Phong and I had to see it through.”

“Those three years were a dream because I played alongside great players like Jomo Sono and Ace Ntsoelengoe and also the things that I saw shaped my life for the better so when I got the chance to go back to the country I could not turn it down.

Unfortunately my time with the Aces didn’t turn out the way I had hoped as Sammy (Troughton) got fired, which meant that I was also out the door.” soka.co.ke 25

COVER STORY

DYLAN KERR

He came back to the continent in 2015 and had a short lived stint with Tanzanian giants Simba SC before going back home to work at English League Two outfit Chesterfield FC as their foundation development phase coach, working there for a year before Gor came calling for the second time.

Brazilian Ze Maria had departed and in a bid to replace him, officials at the club came up with a two - name shortlist which had Kerr and Italian Stefano Maccoppi.

He got the nod and acknowledges that apart from his reputation as a winner he believes Williamson and Iddi Salim played a role in him landing the job.

“Iddi and I worked together at Simba before our tenure came to an abrupt end. It was him who phoned me when I was at Chesterfield and I couldn’t let another chance slip.

I had watched Gor plenty of times on TV when I was in S.A and Bobby had told me a lot about the club.

“I also had the privilege of watching them live when they took on Azam in the CECAFA Kagame Cup in 2015. I remember I wanted to sign Michael Olunga but of course we weren’t going to be close,” he opines.

He is glad that the move finally did happen and believes

it is a match made in heaven as unlike at Simba or many other clubs he’s been to, the officials at the club have let him do his job. Which he says is the main key to success.

As we conclude on our interview he pulls second choice keeper Peter Odhiambo (who has enjoyed considerable game time under him) aside and explains to him that he has decided to go with third choice keeper Shaban Odhoji for the Stima game.

As he explains, his arm is placed around Odhiambo’s shoulder, a clear show of the feeling the players have already taken to him here. He has placed himself as a father figure, made it possible for the players to come to him. Wiped the slate clean for them to fight it out and earn game time on merit, Odhiambo, Wendo and youngster Wellington Ochieng are a testament.

He has given his life to football and in the process saw a marriage fail without kids of his own. His devotion is unparalleled, his family are the clubs he’s been to, the fans who’ve welcomed him with open arms. He is doing what he has always wanted to do as a little boy and he has found the perfect club to work his magic.

Follow Peter Wainaina on Twitter: @naina_naish

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STAR ON THE RISE

CORAZON AQUINO

Corazon

Aquino

By Terry Ouko

M

y mother forced me to play football,” divulged Vivian Corazon Aquino with a wry smile. One of the most unlikely confessions one can ever get from a female footballer in Kenya as we sit down for an interview.

As is the norm, football has always been perceived as a male dominated sport and women often get discouraged along the way. Parents are mostly the biggest obstacles, but it has been different for Corazon, she has had all the support she needs around her starting from her parents to her coaches. This has not only contributed in her growth, but also saw her make her debut in the Kenya women national team, Harambee Starlets at the age of 17.

Known for her ferocious shots, Ajus as she is popularly known by her peers, was born in 1998 and bred in Makongeni, Nairobi area. As a kid, she was more into dancing and did not really fancy any sport. One day she opted to try her hand in football while studying at Joseph Apudo Primary School and that is where the talent showed; interest slowly crept in. and President Kimbrow 28 soka.co.ke

Foundation (PKF) FC Coach Elvis Wafula would spot her in a tournament organized by Hope Worldwide before she asked her parents to allow her play for the club.

Early life Unbelievable as it may seem, Aquino actually started out as a goalkeeper at seven years old before she broke her arm and opted to switch to an infield position upon return from injury. As if her previous injury was more of a blessing in disguise, her development coach Wafula was rather impressed by her ability to take on defenders, not to mention her powerful shots with both feet. Aquino’s commitment was undisputable and after a while she was a dependable player in the team and was preferably fielded as a striker.

“I spotted her during a football tournament and asked her parents to allow her play for our club since she was living nearby. Despite being relatively young, she blended well in the team mostly due to her physical nature. Her parents were very supportive, especially her mother.

“She was always eager to learn, which obviously helped in building the kind of player she is today.

She is disciplined and never gives up. If you leave her on the bench for the entire, match she will still give her best when given a chance,” Wafula remarks.

While playing for PKF, Aquino got her first accolade during the East Africa Cup championships in Moshi Tanzania after winning the golden boot.

This is when her mother Celestine Ongere was convinced that she was in the right place.

Having been a footballer herself but could not further her dreams because her father – Aquino’s grandfather did not approve of her playing, she decided to give her daughter full support in every possible way.

“I played football under Coach George Aladwa and was supposed to go to Scotland at some point, but my father did not like the idea so he did not offer any form of support.

When I discovered my daughter had the potential to play football I started encouraging her to play. She was so into traditional dancing when in primary school but I wanted her to get into sport and gladly she got a team,” Ongere explains.

Her potential came to the fore at the right time, and Aquino had an offer for a full scholarship in Makongeni Secondary School due to her football prowess.

Olympic High School then came knocking a year later and that is when her full capability was realized.

Heading

to Olympic was not handled well; Aquino didn’t get the right permissions for the move and just went missing only for her mother to discover that she was at the school readying for a tournament without her consent. With trouble looming, the school principal had to get into an agreement with the parents to have her transferred to the school.

National team She went on to clinch several awards in the regional and national games and even got a call up to the under 17 national team due to a series of outstanding performances. Aquino would land her first international cap against Nigeria in the two-legged junior World Cup qualifier which Kenya lost 3-0 and 3-1.

Upon completing her O level education, she joined Soccer Queens FC in the Kenya Women Premier

Just like they do in most matches Corazon plays, her parents travelled to Jinja to watch their girl during the CECAFA tournament.

“My football journey has been amazing, to say the least. I would not have imagined that football would be a huge part of me. If you ask me, it is my life. Growing up I envisioned myself as a dancer but life has a way of shaping us.

“I thank my mum for influencing my involvement in football because I have by far achieved great things at a young age. I owe it also to my family for the unconditional support. When my parents travelled to Jinja to watch me at CECAFA, that is the day I vowed to work extra hard so that I don’t disappoint them,” Aquino states.

Notably, after an impressive show at AWCON Aquino was scouted and

She was always eager to learn, which obviously helped in building the kind of player she is today. She is disciplined and never gives up. If you leave her on the bench for the entire, match she will still give her best when given a chance League (KWPL) and her performance led to her appointment as the assistant captain and later earning her first call up to the senior national team to feature in the African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers against Algeria.

Being the youngest player in the team did not dim her star, the lanky midfielder gave her best to secure a regular place in the tam and kept her spot as the national team headed to the COTIF tournament in Spain where Kenya finished fourth.

She then took part in the CECAFA Women Championship in Uganda, scoring an impressive five goals as Kenya geared towards taking part in the inaugural AWCON tournament in Cameroon in 2016.

handed a chance to turn professional with Nigerian top tier side River Angels but she surprisingly turned down the offer as she looks to attract better offers, preferably in Europe.

“I have always yearned to play professional football abroad. Going to Nigeria was a very appealing offer at first but after considering a couple of factors, I opted to wait a little longer and play for another season at home.

My parents were also against the move to Nigeria,” she continues.

One of Corazon’s major attributes is her willingness to go the extra mile. The self-discipline that pushes her to train even harder when no one is watching has been her secret weapon. When she was called upon to skipper the under 20 national team in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, she soka.co.ke 29

STAR ON THE RISE

CORAZON AQUINO knew that she had what it takes to lead the team and has scored goals when it matters most.

Fact File

That she has a bright future ahead of her is never in doubt, having already chalked up 31 caps at age 19, and the Kenya Under 20 national team head coach Caroline Ajowi, acknowledges as much.

Full Name

Vivian Corazon Aquino

Date of Birth

2/10/1998

Height

6’1 ft

Weight

68 Kgs

Position

Midfielder

The former Kenyan international, currently in charge of the junior national team terms her skipper a pillar in midfield with her physique, technical and tactical awareness making her a dependable player in the team.

Pri. School (2004-2011)

Joseph Apudo Primary School

“As a coach I consider her body ideal for football. She has put up a good show in all the matches we have played, mostly because she scores important goals and commands play especially when the team is attacking.

We are extremely lucky to have her in the team and I believe she has a great future.

Sec. School (2012-2015)

Olympic Secondary

Education

Club 2007-2009

2010-2014

Makongeni Youth Sports Association (MASA) FC President Kimbrow Foundation (PKF) FC

2015-2016

Soccer Queens

2017

Vihiga Queens

30 soka.co.ke

“I would support any opportunity for her to turn professional, because I believe she has what it takes to rival top women football players in the world if she gets a shot at competing against them,” Ajowi notes.

Club career After helping Dagoretti based side Soccer Queens get promotion from the Division One League to the WPL, the club appreciates her major contribution and will always have an open door for her.

She moved to Women Premier League Zone B giants Vihiga Queens in the June 2017 transfer window, leaving a big void at her former side.

“We scouted her while she was playing for Olympic High School and thereafter she played for us for two seasons. We are yet to recover from her exit since she was a very influential player with superb leadership qualities.

Her departure was a big blow; it

YEAR

ACCOLADES

2013

East and Central Africa tournament – Top scorer Kenya National Secondary Ball games- Most Valuable Player Kenya National Secondary Ball games- Most Valuable Player Kidero Governor’s Cup – Top Scorer Kidero Governor’s Cup – Top Scorer

2014 2015 2016 2017

NATIONAL TEAM CAPS Competition

Number of matches Goals

Under 20 World Cup Qualifiers

5

5

African Cup Qualifiers

2

0

COTIF-Spain

4

0

CECAFA Cup

5

5

AWCON

3

0

Friendlies

11

4

Total

31

14

INTERNATIONAL MATCHES (AGAINST) COUNTRIES

CLUBS

1. Nigeria

Espanyol

2. Ethiopia

Levante

3. Jordan

Real Betis

4. Uganda

Wydad Casablanca

5. Burundi

CAK Khenifra

6. Tanzania

Nazarene-USA

7. Zanzíbar 8. Algeria 9. Cameroon 10. Mali 12. Ghana 13. Botswana U20 14. Ethiopia U20 15. Morocco 16. Egypt 17. Ghana U20

soka.co.ke 31

STAR ON THE RISE

CORAZON AQUINO

is unfortunate that we could not prevent her from moving to another club but should she want to sign for us in future we will not hesitate.

She is one player I am sure will turn professional very soon, given her superb form especially in the under 20 World Cup qualifiers,” Soccer Queens chairman Amos Kimani notes.

Her move to Vihiga Queens is not what football fans anticipated considering the team has an array of stars at its disposal. Eight players representing the junior and senior national teams, shows the kind of quality she has to compete with at her new home.

“We have good players but am sure Aquino will settle into the team very fast since she has the potential. She is young and we intend to polish her for top level action because I believe she will be playing in Europe very soon,” Coach Alex Alumira says.

“It is a bit challenging for her to

settle in since she is not blessed with pace, but with time she will get used to our style. The main reason we decided to sign her is because we have been trying to get hold of young players, so that we can have a longterm plan for them,” the Vihiga head coach says

I would not have imagined that football would be a huge part of me. If you ask me, it is my life. Growing up I envisioned myself as a dancer but life has a way of shaping us.

In the meantime, she has opted to concentrate on her club and national team career as she awaits possible offers.

Community service Being a holder of a basic coaching course badge, Aquino has, during her breaks, been coaching M.A.S.A FC (formerly PKF FC), where she started her club career, as a way of giving back to the community. She has also donated playing kits to the club on several occasions, a gesture that is well appreciated at the team.

“She is among our former players who come to train here during the holidays. We also have the likes of Mercy Oginga who plays for Vihiga Queens and Quinter Achieng a former player who come back to mentor the kids.

“Aquino particularly donates boots to the team often and she also comes here to coach the team which is very encouraging. Many upcoming players would like to be just like her, so her presence in our training sessions normally lightens the mood,” the coach concludes.

Follow Terry Ouko on Twitter: @Terry_Ouko

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CLUB PROFILE

ISIBANIA FC

CROSSING

THE DIVIDE

The steady Rise of Isibania FC and the dream to conquer Kenyan football

By Zachary Oguda

F

or those who heard of Isibania FC for the first time in in 2017, the team’s rise to the second tier, the National Super League (NSL), is a typical underdog story but for those who have been with the club since its inception, it is no surprise.

The club coming out of the blues to compete with the traditional elite not only attracted attention from fellow competitors in the NSL but also to teams way above them, in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) who have at one time or another raided them for players.

Village tournaments Formed in 1982, Isibania spent most of its early years participating in tournaments in the Migori surroundings but through coach Dan Musta, who has been with the team since being registered to participate in the Nyanza Provincial League in 2014, the potential in the team has never been in doubt.

“The team was formed mainly for the off season village tournaments but that changed as years progressed due to the potential that was on show.

“As fans, we saw it wise to make it a registered club and albeit late, our first serious participation in a

34 soka.co.ke

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) league was in 2014 when we registered for the Provincial League.

So do not be surprised when many say we were formed in 2014, it is not true but it is the year that Isibania came into the limelight fore,” Musta opens up.

keep growing always sees the side rise from such losses.

While Musta deserves recognition for the team’s excellent performance every season, he says the emphasis and credit should go to his players who put on shifts week in week out to see the club succeed.

Never looked back From 2014, when the team tasted league football, the club has never looked back and has made a step up

Sony Sugar FC trio of Abdala Hamisi, Justin Omari and Laban Gambareko,

The team was formed mainly for the off season village tournaments but that changed as years progressed due to the potential that was on show. From 2014, when the team tasted league football, the club has never looked each year, a show of the rich talent at the side’s disposal.

Like many promising teams, Isibania has been losing key players after successful seasons but the will to

Fact File Name

Founded

Competition

Honours

Coach

Isibania FC

1982

National Super League

Division On Zone B 2016 Champions Dan Musta

and Chemelil Sugar FC’s John Mwita are some of the players who trace their football roots from the team.

A great advantage for the club has also been in then geographical location; Musta says by being based at the Kenya-Tanzania border, they have attracted a variety of players from both countries and hence boosting the cohesion and improving the levels of competition.

“We have been losing many players season in, season out and that has at many times shaken our preparations.

Since we do not offer so much in terms of monetary returns.

It is easier to lose players here than to keep them, but all those who have

left have done so with our blessings; football is business in the current world and it is always a positive thing when you see a player make a step up and earn well from his talent.

“The movement shows that we are doing things the right way. Most of the players who have left here are commanding starting places in their respective teams and that shows we are not far away from the so called best teams in the country,” Musta adds.

Financial challenges Like in most NSL teams, financial challenges have slowed down progress at the club but Musta thanks fans and well-wishers who have been with them in every step of the journey.

club. We still depend on contributions from our fans and well-wishers to make these things happen and many a times it is hectic. Any successful club has a steady financial backing and that is the reason we have approached the County Government to financially back the team.

“Talks have been positive and we hope after the political tension is over, we can go back and conclude, because our previous meetings have been positive. We have targets and getting Migori County Stadium as our home ground is just one of the plans in the pipeline,” Musta opines.

Meanwhile, he slammed the talk that the team is under the sponsorship of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA); “There is a perception that we are

Actually a lot of time is spent looking for finances to aid in running the club. We still depend on contributions from our fans and well-wishers to make these things happen a times it is hectic To try and address their financial woes, plans to have the Migori County Government come on board as their main sponsors have been on for a while now, but nothing fruitful has come from the talks yet.

A series of talks with the County Governor Okoth Obado have taken place and the club remains hopeful that a deal will be struck.

They are also optimistic of playing their home matches at the Migori County Stadium once the facility is complete, to attract huge crowds and hence generate more revenue and job creation to the people who have been with them in their turbulent yet positive journey.

“Actually a lot of time is spent looking for finances to aid in running the

sponsored by the KRA institution based here in Isibania but that is not true. We could not have been asking for financial help if we had a sponsor as stable as KRA.” Youth structure and scholarships Unknown to many, the club has a vibrant Under 17 team which comes alive during school holidays. They have partnerships with secondary school teams which sees young players’ full fees for the four years paid as a way of supporting them get holistic growth.

“Not many know we have a junior team which converges with the senior team in the holidays. It has been in place since 2015 and Kanga High School, Kakamega High School and Chebuyusi High School are among schools that have absorbed some of our players.”

soka.co.ke 35

CLUB PROFILE

36 soka.co.ke

SOFAPAKA FC

soka.co.ke 37

CLUB PROFILE

ISIBANIA

Six players sat their final exams at Chebuyusi in 2017 and Musta confirms they will be incorporated in the team in 2018.

“I think it is a step that should be emulated by every club for the good of football in this country. Running it again isn’t easy considering the financial challenges but it is one program that we can’t abandon.

“It does not only secure the future of our team but it brings us closer to our people as this is just one way of thanking them for the services and support they have offered the team since our inception,” Musta notes.

Discipline and strategy And what has been the secret to their rise despite the struggles? Musta attributes this to discipline and strategy to rope in as many young players as possible since managing them is a little bit easier.

“I think what separates us from the teams we are competing against is our urge to empower young talents.

We are the team with the youngest age average in the NSL (22years) and that has been helpful since in that age group, players are willing to learn and have a lot to offer.”

For all their struggles, triumphs and entertainment, it is probably only a matter of time before Isibania seal their place in the top flight.

Follow Zachary Oguda on Twitter: @zacksoguda

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PLAYER FOCUS

WELLINGTON OCHIENG

BURDENED BY THE YORKE OF IMPROVING

By Zachary Oguda

There are expectations and then there are realities and being brought up in a scene dominated by your seniors, it is never going to be a smooth ride in a race that stardom is the ultimate prize

40 soka.co.ke

T

he Kisumu football scene has been awash with raw talent in the past few years and boasts of some of the finest footballers to have graced the local football scene.

From Harambee Stars’ stalwart of yesteryears Bobby Ogolla to the uprising Kenneth Muguna, Gor Mahia’s Wellington Ochieng is not the only one who can trace the start to his footballing career from the region,

but he is as good an example as any other player who would want to be emulated by the upcoming players in his backyard.

Fact File Full Name

Wellington Ochieng

Date of Birth

1996

Position

Defender

Schools Primary

Kibos Prisons Primary School

Secondary

St Ignatius Magadi

Clubs 2007-2008

Urusi U16

2009-2012

Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre (KYOC)

2013-2014

Agrochemicals

2015-2016

Muhoroni Youth FC

June 2016 to Date

Gor Mahia

Ochieng has been a constant figure in the Kisumu football scene from the tender age of 12. The defender, who can play in all positions in defence, was incorporated to the beautiful game by his father but knew he was headed for greater things in the footballing world when he joined Urusi FC (a respected team in Kisumu known for churning out young talented players).

George Odiero Ochieng also reserves huge praise for his primary school head coach Mr. George Odiero for playing a key role in shaping his career.

“My father was a coach with some local team in the outskirts of Kisumu and most of the time he’d tag me along and I acted as the ball boy for his team.

My real journey though started with Urusi FC under one Allan Moi, who was the coach then, giving me my debut for the club’s U16 side despite being a 12-year-old then.

“Competing with players older than me was the norm but it toughened me up and gave me picture of what to expect in my future career.

The experience here at Gor has been more than I could have bargained for and I am sure I made the right choice by coming here.

“Mr. Odiero gave me the belief while in school. He was teaching at a neighboring school, Kibos Sugar Research but on weekends got us to play with local teams to test our progress more so for the Term One Primary School Games and personally, he taught me some valuable life lessons.

I was there (Urusi) for two years, winning two editions of the Kisumu Youth Football Association (KYFA) U16 tournament. These are moments that I cherish looking back to where it all begun,” Ochieng says.

The urge to improve saw Ochieng go for bigger challenges from early on, and in 2009 when still a St. Ignatius Magadi Secondary School student, he left Urusi to join the Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre (KYOC) U18 side and he helped the team gain promotion to the county’s second tier in 2012; the same year that he completed his secondary school education.

“When I joined KYOC, they were featuring in the third tier and while I knew it was a good step for me in my career, I was aware of the competition on offer. It was not an easy ride and we had to wait for three years to achieve something meaningful as we earned promotion to the second division unbeaten. I had been made captain of the team and I chipped in with four goals.

“In the same year I had helped my school to the County level of the Secondary School Games for the first time in their history. That was one of the best years in my footballing life,” Ochieng remarks.

School games The secondary School Games have been the go to point for coaches to spot raw talent. Many players have made the move straight from school to the country’s top tier, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

Ochieng’s performance that year meant suitors would be queuing for his signature, and most of these were teams across the Nyanza region. When it was clear that he was no longer going to be with KYOC, Ochieng’s biggest decision was to make a move that would build his career and not just get him to the national scene.

All he needed was a coach who understood him and was ready to help in his development and in James Odijo Omondi (now at Muhoroni Youth) who was then at Agrochemicals FC, he found one.

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PLAYER FOCUS

WELLINGTON OCHIENG

His one-year stint at Agro is nostalgic.

Ochieng’s main ambition was to get the team promoted to the premier league but they only managed a third place finish yet only two teams would get the chance.

“Having studied Muhoroni closely I felt they were a good team for me.

They had slowly improved since coming into the top flight in 2012 and the chance to play in the premier league was too good to turn down.

“Actually I knew I was leaving KYOC after finishing school and helping them move to the second division.

My worry was where I was heading to since I had many offers on the table.

I wanted a deal that was to help me grow and my next move was always going to be determined by how much I played.

“I enjoyed my first season in the KPL and adapted quickly since the players at Muhoroni were my neighbors when I was at Agro and I mingled with them almost everyday so it made my work easier. I was involved in eleven goals in my first season there, scoring on two occasions.”

“Odijo had watched me grow from a tender age since he was a constant figure in the Kisumu football scene and after a lengthy talk with him, I was convinced that joining Agro was good for me.

“By that time Agro were fighting to gain promotion to the KPL and I wanted to be part of that. Sadly it never came to pass as we finished third. I had to take positives from my time there since I made 20 appearances and scored seven goals, five being headers,” Ochieng continues.

KPL bow Agro Chemical would again miss narrowly the following year, finishing fourth and Ochieng’s four goals didn’t help much. At the end of the 2014 season, neighbors Muhoroni Youth came calling and he could not resist the chance to play in the KPL. Patrick Odhiambo, who served as Odijo’s assistant coach at Agro had since joined Muhoroni Youth as the assistant coach and his recommendation largely facilitated Ochieng’s move. The defender admits it was a good chance but a tough test in his career, but he was ready to prove that he could mix with the big boys.

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Gor Mahia chance On his second season at Muhoroni, Ochieng had become a regular figure and had started eleven games prior to June and the steady progress saw Gor Mahia generate interest.

“The following season, 2016, did not start very well since I had to sit out at some point but it is always my progress that I take a keen look into. I took my time and when I came back, I scored four goals in eight appearances before I left. “This time it was a big chance; there was no way I was going to turn

down Gor Mahia,” Ochieng remarks.

His biggest motivation in joining Gor Mahia, coached by Brazilian Jose Marcelo Ferreira aka Ze Maria, was the allure of winning titles, but it was not easy breaking into the team and he made just five appearances as Gor finished, uncharacteristically, without silverware.

“At first I thought it was a joke that Gor Mahia had enquired about my services but it came true. Thinking of playing for Ze Maria and training with some of the best players in the league was unimaginable. I knew I

wouldn’t head straight to the first eleven but I vowed to do my best in training and leave the rest for the coach who I believe gave everyone a fair chance.”

Ochieng got his Gor debut against Mombasa’s Mahakama FC in the GOtv Shield; the only competition in which he had a real chance of appearing due to the competition in the team.

“I waited for my time and I knew that if I was to get a chance, it was up to me to give my best. My debut came in the GOtv Shield and I think I did just enough, and I went on to make five appearances in the first six months at the club.

“Of course every player wants to play week in week out but with the talent at our disposal, you might find yourself out in certain games. Still, we support whoever is chosen to start; it’s all about team work in camp – when they win, we all win. The two coaches I have worked under have the winning mentality and despite their difference in formation, the aim is always winning.”

Failing to win silverware was a massive low for him but mingling with some of the best players in the league and a top coach in Ze Maria was just a good enough consolation for Ochieng.

Testament of the right decision he made in moving to Gor Mahia was in the preseason friendly match against English Premier League side Everton in July “Facing Everton was like a pinnacle in my career. Playing against the best in world football is every footballer’s dream and I enjoyed every bit of our time in Tanzania where we faced some of the best teams in the region.

My joy was not only pinned in

winning the Sportpesa Super Cup but in the fact that I played in all the four games and booked a date with Everton.

“He has risen well and as a coach I am very proud to see one of my products make it just as we had hoped for.

“The experience here at Gor has been more than I could have bargained for and I am sure I made the right choice by coming here. Winning titles, after a season of hard work and determination is all a footballer would want,” Ochieng notes.

“He is one dedicated player and gives everything on the pitch; it is a character he possessed from a tender age. His only fault is in not accepting defeat. He always wants to win; he is a bad loser.

At first I thought it was a joke that Gor Mahia had enquired about my services but it came true.

Thinking of playing for Ze Maria and training with some of the best players in the league was unimaginable

“Losing hurt him so much earlier in his career that it could affect his performances in the subsequent games. I still see him gutted when results don’t go his team’s way but I hope he has matured enough to know that losing is part of the game.

“He is a role model to the kids down here. He usually attends our training sessions when he is around town and at least we can point to him as an example to these young players who

Bad Loser There is no one to better narrate Ochieng’s rise to stardom than the current owner of Urusi Football Club Mr. Sospeter Oduor commonly known as Arua by those he nurtured as chairman cum coach.

“I am the one who introduced Wellington to the real world of football after we spotted him in our friendly clash against a team called Amani FC in Kibos. Their team was a seasonal one and we thought it was wise to have him in our camp to aid in his progress and we have never regretted making that move.

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PLAYER FOCUS

WELLINGTON OCHIENG

would want to make it in football and in their future lives,” Oduor says.

Discipline Odijo’s and Ochieng’s paths would cross again when the coach moved to Muhoroni Youth and he says his greatest memory of the defender to date remains his disciplinary standards, a rare trait he’s only found in a few players he has worked with before “I had been involved in so many youthful football programs around Kisumu when I first had an encounter with Wellington. I had watched him grow as a player and when I felt the time was ripe, I signed him at Agro.

“The funny part is despite being buddies in the football circles, he still had to send me to his parents when I went for him to sign for Agro; it was a rare show of the discipline he has for his parents and that showed me the kind of player he was outside the football circles.

“He was part of the Agro team in the 2014 season that missed promotion to the KPL by a whisker and when you look at the focused players in that lot, many of them are now competing in the KPL despite that set back.

“That shows you that despite what happens in football, no matter, where you are, try as much to give your best for you never know who is watching and this is an area Ochieng perfected well. He didn’t care about tomorrow, he gave his best every time he put on the Agro shirt and did the same during our time at Muhoroni and the result is for there for all to see.

“The expectations at Gor Mahia are a bit higher and maybe he is not getting games as he wishes but I know he will adapt. His dedication and urge to learn is going to take him places. You can come back to me about him in the next three years and I’m sure he will have made progress,” Odijo says.

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National Team Material Current Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr, says Ochieng’s versatility in defence and his dedication is second to none and admits leaving him out of the team at times comes as a very hard decision.

“We have a good squad at Gor Mahia and it is a headache to leave certain players out of the first team. I have enjoyed working with Wellington because of his sincerity and his dedication in training and in the field of play.

“He will run over a brick wall for the team from the first minute to the last without tiring. He is still young, vibrant and willing to learn.

“He can play across the field. I could play him in midfield and even as a

striker and I know he will still give the result I request from him. He is a quiet lad outside the field of play and all he needs is to focus on his game at all time,” Kerr, his coach reveals.

Of course every player wants to play week in week out but with the talent at our disposal, you might find yourself out in certain games. Still, we support whoever is chosen to start; it’s all about team work in camp – when they win, we all win.

Follow Zachary Oguda on Twitter: @zacksoguda

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soka.co.ke 45

INTERVIEW

ANDREAS SPIER

Man The

Future

Charged with Designing Kenya’s football ANDREAS SPIER

By Dan Ngulu

In Kenya players are not schooled in football as from the age of six like it should be but we are getting players in U13 and trying to teach them to put the ball down, to play football and to have good possession. When I came here I could only see the ball in the air and after two or three passes possession was lost.

A

major campaigning point for the current Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa when seeking the mandate was to transform the Kenyan style of both football management and playing, to match the German style.

And while he was a keen on ensuring he taps into the local resource in the management of national teams, it came as no surprise when he settled on German Andreas Spier for the role of FKF Technical Director.

The admiration for the German style was being put to practice, as he moved to fill the position that had for two years stayed vacant, following the exit of Patrick Naggi.

On Thursday 30 June, 2016, the federation would unveil the German as the new man to craft the way forward for Kenyan football, and Spier,

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shipped in straight from Romania, was faced with a shell but was determined to make a functional unit off it.

“When I stepped in it was almost an empty department and we had to rebuild; it is now over a year and we are concluding with the directors of the various departments including grassroots, women football, elite football, development officers and the referees, who are also part of our department as we try to fulfill the requirements of FIFA,” Spier says.

The German dived straight into the deep end upon arrival, spotting areas he’d want to change in the national Under 17 boys team that would be heading to Mauritius as a guest team in the 2016 COSAFA U17 Championships, he took charge from then coaches – John Kamau and Leonard Odipo.

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INTERVIEW

ANDREAS SPIER

Finding the team already in place, Spier set out to fight age cheating, from the lowest levels of the national teams.

“For them to excel we also need intelligent players and this means their educational needs are also among the considerations here.

“I found the U17 team already selected and the time for preparation was short but the main thing I insisted on is that we try and field players of the right age which is very important for us at this point.

“To achieve this, we cannot operate alone, and that’s why we have the Juja Preparatory School and we are in talks with Langata High School and Laiser,” he notes while lauding the crucial role the federation partners and sponsors play in the grass root tournaments.

“We want to develop the right group of players and we cannot only focus on U17, we are also focusing on U13, U15 and of course these players have to graduate through the ranks so that we have continuity and consistency for the future national teams,” he reveals.

Spier’s job description means he has to keep tabs on all the leagues, competitions and grass root tournaments in the country just to ensure no talent goes unspotted. He acknowledges it is a daunting task but not one he is willing to give up on.

As he continues building networks in the country, he is getting scouts to help unearth these players coming up. Once spotted and assessed, Spier’s office keeps tabs on these players.

Here the recently adopted centers of excellence come handy.

“We have scouting activities that aid in monitoring these players through the inter school championships and also through the sub branch and branch leagues.

“We try to select the best players and keep them in the best conditions to ensure they reach their potential and that is why we are coming up with the centers of excellence – here they will have planned meals and training under the watch of very qualified coaches.

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Apart from ensuring players get the right environment to grow and hit their peak, he concurs that good coaches are a necessity, the reason he has been leading the quest by the federation to see as many coaches trained as possible to pass down the knowledge.

“Players need mentors, and coaches are mentors first before they become coaches so we have to train these coaches and ensure they have the key attributes to impart to the players.”

The main avenue we can use to ensure players’ needs are addressed is through club licensing; it is very clear that without good coaching you cannot have good players and we want these issues well addressed For a coach who has handled players at varying age groups, the German was hired for his wealth of knowledge, having also handled the Rwanda women’s national team placed him well with the federation.

That Spier places players at the top of the football ladder is not in doubt and taking charge of a department largely dependent on the performance of players, he is right.

However, the way players are treated in Kenya means he has a lot of work to do in not only encouraging them to keep fighting, but empowering them for the fight itself. His approach to this, he says is through getting their coaches well trained and mentored but he adds that clubs must also play a part.

“Through mentorship and good training of coaches we can empower players, but clubs should play a key role here as well in ensuring the players are well taken care of and respected. They should give them the best environment to excel as players.

“The main avenue we can use to ensure players’ needs are addressed is through club licensing; it is very clear that without good coaching you cannot have good players and we want these issues well addressed.”

And while he is charged with ensuring the best for players, a key part of his job is designing a football philosophy that would see Kenya stand out as a formidable force in the continent and beyond.

The biggest challenge he is facing though, remains the fact that as at the moment, players come to the limelight when they are already mature and without the requisite nurturing, which he says is the reason most do not end up gracing the paid leagues.

“In Kenya players are not schooled in football as from the age of six like it should be but we are getting players in U13 and trying to teach them to put the ball down, to play football and to have good possession.

“When I came here I could only see the ball in the air and after two or three passes possession was lost. Today, however, you can

see a succession of passes, maybe six or seven and ending in a goal attempt and this is what we want to implement in the national team.

quality player for instance, because you will be playing over him as opposed to playing with him,” he notes.

“If you have a player like (Victor) Wanyama in the midfield and you are playing long balls, you will not see the advantage of having such a

His vision may however be stalled by the poor playing surfaces in Kenya and while he calls on the government to work on the infrastructure, he can’t help but regret at the missed chance in developing pitches when the country lost the chance to host the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Poor pitches are at the core of all failures Kenya has had in football. It is also the reason at times players opt for long balls and it is a pity we didn’t get to organize CHAN because that would have been a great opportunity for us to get our pitches in the right standards

He believes with good pitches, his philosophy will straight away translate to entertaining football and that is what would bring the fans back to the stadium.

“Poor pitches are at the core of all

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INTERVIEW

ANDREAS SPIER

failures Kenya has had in football. It is also the reason at times players opt for long balls and it is a pity we didn’t get to organize CHAN because that would have been a great opportunity for us to get our pitches in the right standards.”

Withdrawal of the CHAN hosting rights was a big low not for the federation only but the country at large. It went with Kenya’s first chance at participating in a continental tournament as well as generation foreign exchange and improvement of facilities.

The German captures the loss with a well-structured example – that

Most of these players we have today in the senior national team were not exposed to the requisite systems 10 years ago. I strongly believe some were playing street football, others were not getting all three meals a day of Germany hosting the 2006 World Cup; “apart from the improvement of infrastructure the country had net earnings of 2.4 billion euros.

This goes a long way to show the potential that comes with being the host nation.

“I can’t say Kenya would have gotten such amounts of money but the earnings would have been substantial, not to mention the chance to expose our locally based players and improve our infrastructure.”

Germany invested well in youth structures after the failures at the

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2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea and 12 years later, they became world champions. Back in Kenya, Spier admits the talk of getting Kenya to the 2022 World Cup may be more of an optimistic wish.

With the focus on the youth though, he says in 10 or so years, Kenya can be able to challenge the world’s best at that stage.

“Today, we are investing a lot of focus and resources on the U13 and U15s. It takes about 10 years of hard work to achieve this; we have a long way to go. We will not get success tomorrow and this people asking for immediate

success need to know this.

“Most of these players we have today in the senior national team were not exposed to the requisite systems 10 years ago. I strongly believe some were playing street football, others were not getting all three meals a day as required and thus not able to train regularly.

“Some of them have problems with ball control and giving passes and you can’t ask them to learn this now when they are already mature “With optimism and hard work I think we can improvise today and have a good team to qualify for

these tournaments but it is not a guarantee. We are trying to do our best and we have good intentions, hopefully, things will fall in place,” he acknowledges.

This focus is not only placed on the boys; emphasis is also placed on women football, as he says, with both players and coaches getting the chance to better themselves.

“The federation is working really hard to raise the number of women coaches; at the moment we have a policy to have five to ten women coaches in all our trainings for coaches and we want to also have

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INTERVIEW

ANDREAS SPIER

as a policy, women as the assistant coaches in the Women Premier League.

“We are going step by step in everything we do and we can’t leave the women behind, so we encourage them to come forward.”

Dealing with coaches, players – both girls and boys, scouting at the grass root tournaments, and coordinating partnerships, Spier confirms it is not an easy job but he is determined to see it all succeed.

“There are big challenges in the job but I’m glad that I have able company to help me with the job. The president has been very supportive so far. Trying to implement all these would be tough without the big team we have, including the branches and sub branches. Everyone is playing their role and we have so far been able to do a lot,” he concludes.

Follow Dan Ngulu on Twitter: @danodinga

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YOUTH FOOTBALL

MIGORI YOUTH

MIGORI YOUTH TALENT ACADEMY

By Terry Ouko

S

ometimes we marvel at how gifted players plying their trade in the Kenyan Premier League or abroad are, but often times never bother to find out where their amazing journeys began. We give credit to their present time coaches but almost all the time do not remember that one development coach who took up the daunting task of nurturing them in their development stages.

These teams or organizations benefit the least while in all fairness should always top the list of beneficiaries now that football has become huge business.

The whole process of getting little returns for nurturing players to be top performers is what constitutes the reference to coaching as a thankless job. Grass root coaches go the extra mile, and selflessly walk through tough times with the players so that when they someday look back they can smile and take pride in their humble beginnings.

Such is the tale of Migori Youth Talent Academy (MYTA), a community based organization founded in 2009 with an aim of promoting peace through football in Migori County and its environs. It has succeeded over the years in giving talented youths between the ages of 10 to 25 years a chance to participate in not only football activities, but also cater for their education through scholarship programs.

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Their prodigies have graced the top and second tier leagues. They include Enock Agwanda who has played for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) sides Sofapaka, Gor Mahia, Sony Sugar and Bandari FC, Calvin Masawa of City Stars, former Sony Sugar man Robert Ouma who currently plays for Kakamega Homeboyz, Calvince Oketch and ex Talanta captain as well as former Gor Mahia and Ushuru forward Dan Makori now turned Wajiji FC Coach and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) instructor just to mention a few.

with some talented players getting into drugs and crime, mostly due to peer pressure and lack of a sustainable income from football despite how good they were.

Some of the players who played for Migori Youth include former midfielder Chris Ochieng, Joseph Odero, David Odhiambo-now the under 12 coach, the current MYTA team manager Alfred Olumbe among others.

History Originally before its rebirth, MYTA was a community club formed in the early 90s under the name Migori Youth FC.

According to the club’s alumni Calvince Oketch who is a former National Youth Talent Academy (NYTA) and FC Talanta defender, some players gave up along the way since there were no proper laid down structures.

Samuel Aduda would come on board in 1998 as the club’s financier when they were taking part in the

After the formation of MYTA over a decade later, a breath of fresh air swept at the club, with incorporation

Sports play a great part in improving physical and mental health as well as inculcating discipline and a sense of individual and collective responsibility which are some of the values we work towards instilling in our players Provincial League before he passed on. The club thereafter survived solely on well-wishers and mainly took part in tournaments, with the co-ordination of senior players.

They however had a few setbacks

of life skills and football scholarships minimizing the number of school dropouts. Oketch himself went through the Academy but would join NYTA after being scouted from the Safaricom Sakata Ball tournament in 2011 while playing for the academy.

Migori Youth Talent Team photo

Fact File

Name

Migori Youth Talent Academy

Year of Establishment

2009

Home Ground

Migori Sports Ground

Chairman

Abdi Aziz

Secretary

Wilson Aol

Treasurer

Dorothy Seda

U13 Coach

David Odhiambo

U17 Coach

Sam Oremo

U15 Coach

Wilson Aol

Assistant Coach

Mohammed Ibrahim

Team Manager

Alfred Olumbe

“At Migori Youth we had very good players for instance Festo Kambona who despite landing a football schorlarship at Kodero Obara High school, was also in the Kenya under 17 team with the likes of McDonald Mariga. He could have had a bright future but lacked proper guidance,

their children are in good hands,” Oketch explains.

The academy’s main objective is to empower the youths that mostly hail from humble backgrounds through life skill activities that seek to foster peaceful coexistence in the community. This is usually done

The academy participates both in locally organized tournaments and those outside the country, like the East Africa Cup tournaments in Uganda and Tanzania getting into drugs and finally died. I know various footballers of the time who opted to follow other career paths since there was little hope.

“The club’s transition to a registered academy is the best thing that ever happened to the community, since parents can now rest assured that

by organizing various activities for instance entrepreneurial programs, tournaments, coming up with resource centers, striking synergies with football institutions and taking part in community service.

“Right now once a player is admitted to the academy drug use leads to soka.co.ke 55

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MIGORI YOUTH

suspension. They attend life skills classes and are lucky that they have so much empowerment programs.

Peer education is an integral part of the teams right from the under 12 category, players can already take up leadership roles and educate their teammates on thematic topics during the annual tournaments,” he adds.

Junior National team The academy’s Director Abdi Aziz who bagged the 2016 KPL Chairman’s Award is impressed with the progress so far, having had three players from the academy in the Kenya under 13 team that took part in a tournament in Southampton.

Defender Stanley Omondi, midfielder Ben Stanley and striker Elly Awino were part of the team that won the shield accolade in England. The trio, representing the county at the national level brought hope and confidence to their teammates and Aziz believes more players will get such opportunities.

Investing in youth “As a team we are happy to have such achievements. However all this cannot be possible without the tireless work of the youth coaches.

I would also like to commend the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for investing in the youth, it is the first time we are having this category compete on a national level. It offers good exposure to the boys and also motivates the others to work hard with the hope that their dreams will come true,” the soft spoken Aziz states.

MYTA takes part in the FKF U13 league, and it is through this that the trio got scouted to join the junior national side. 12 year old forward Elly Awino is a class 7 pupil at Midoti Primary School. He joined the academy at the age of seven and is thrilled to have been one of the key players in the Kenya under 13 side.

The left-footed striker whose speed 56 soka.co.ke

gives him an edge over his peers, is now focusing on the Safaricom sponsored Chapa Dimba tournament and would like to be a professional footballer after school.

“I joined MYTA after being spotted during the school games and so far the journey has been an amazing one.

The club’s transition to a registered academy is the best thing that ever happened to the community, since parents can now rest assured that their children are in good hands My parents always encouraged me to take education seriously but I realized that football is something I’m really passionate about so I’m working on balancing the two. The game has

transformed my life and I would like to play for Gor Mahia and the senior Harambee Stars team in future.

“My coaches here have done a good job in nurturing my talent and I know it will not be easy but I will do everything I can to achieve my goals,” Awino confidently states.

Alfred Olumbe is the overall team manager at MYTA and a former player at the club, he is confident that the organization is doing a good job in shaping the youth. He particularly admires the fact that kids are not just taught how to play football, but are also required to embrace certain values and norms in order to complement their talent.

“Our vision is to discover and develop unique talent in the community by incorporating life skills into football.

This helps in fostering a positive mindset and equipping the youth for the future.

“Sports play a great part in improving physical and mental health as well as inculcating discipline and a sense of individual and collective responsibility which are some of the values we work towards instilling in our players,” he notes.

Educational Partnerships MYTA has managed to acquire scholarships for players in different secondary schools in Kenya; some are still pursuing their education while others have completed their studies.

Some of the schools in this scheme include Chesamis, Butere, Kanyawanga and Ugari. About 62 players have landed football scholarships over the years and one of the beneficiaries is 19 year old custodian Gedion Ogweno who studied at Chebuyusi Secondary School and is now a first year Mass Communication student at Zetech

College courtesy of the program.

“I joined MYTA when I was 12 years old and played for the academy for a while before they helped me get a football scholarship. I now study at Zetech while I play for them in the Division One League. We go back every December to play in the annual tournament organized by former players, and it is normally a good feeling to give back to the community through a team that basically gave us a foundation,” Ogweno says.

Football partnerships Over the years, MYTA has signed MOU’s and entered into partnerships with leading football clubs including Aspire Football Academy, JMJ Football Academy, Sony Sugar, Gor Mahia, Ulinzi, Nakumatt and Talanta Football clubs.

Tournaments/Exchange Programs The academy participates in both locally organized tournaments and outside the country, like the East Africa Cup tournaments in Uganda and Tanzania. Some of the tournaments are organized by Alliance Academy in Mwanza who also take part in MYTA tournaments.

One of their coaches, Wilson Aol doubles up as an FKF instructor while the others now hold CAF Basic training as well as KNVB certificates.

Coaching/Referee courses MYTA has also partnered with FKF to train 55 coaches, and 38 of them have undergone the Basic Coaching Course.

Follow Terry Ouko on Twitter: @Terry_Ouko

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MIGORI YOUTH

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LEGEND

MARK SIRENGO

LEGEND THE GAME of

A Reflection of Conquests, Regrets and how to leave a Mark

By Fabian Odhiambo

Y

our work station calls it a day one high noon of June. The soda you were served when everyone was summoned for the meeting now remains tasteless. The children are in school, and as you scan through everyone’s face at the meeting, you can’t help but wish away the thoughtreality even- that from this moment, you are jobless.

This is June 2007, and Mark Sirengo is one of the 24 players at Mumias Sugar Football Club who have played 17 matches and won seven of those.

Their last outing is a 3-1 victory on the road to Mathare Youth. Mark isn’t the most stunned though, after all, his wife – Hyacinth Okoyo – works at the company – and such information usually filters through way before being officially communicated. The Late Zablon Pro Otieno is stunned, and so are youngsters Daniel Makachi and George Wesa.

It is for them that Sirengo, now 33 years, fears the most. Where are they supposed to go in 48 hours?

Mark asks himself. The letters they are served do not indicate why the club is being disbanded, but they’re

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lucky it says for they have been loyal servants of the club, at least they will be allowed to stay at the company premises for two more days, two more precious days for someone who perhaps has children in school as he reads the letter. Mark Sirengo’s second coming at Mumias Sugar FC ends unceremoniously. ‘’You may say I had done my part in the game, travelled to many countries, won many trophies, donned the national team jersey and maybe I should have called it a day myself.

were dismissed like that,’’ Marks starts us off as we settle down for an interview at his Maraba home, in Kakamega. It’s a Wednesday but the emergency technician at Kenya Power and Lighting Company in Kakamega is off duty.

As the meeting comes to a close, hearts are obviously broken – and dreams perhaps, crushed. But elsewhere, another dream is just taking flight. Western Stima are set to play in the Nationwide League, the country’s second tier at the time, and

Starting such a tie at home sometimes is a disadvantage. Even when you come to know your opponent, you cannot do much when you play them at their own turf ~ Says Sirengo But in that team were a great number of young and talented players. Where were they supposed to go? If a team performs badly, fine, you can start by serving warning letters and stuff like that. But we had in fact won our last match before the disbandment.

It really hurt me that young players

having started three months late, the league will go on a marathon so that a winner is determined by the end of the year. It’s mid of July, just a few weeks after Sirengo’s club in the top flight has been disbanded.

Unbeknown to Stima, they will be crowned Nationwide champions on the ninth day of December with

a 2-0 win over Laikipia Campus.

Unbeknown to Mark Sirengo, Dan Makachi and George Wesa, they will be roped into the newly promoted side. As everyone leaves the meeting at Mumias though, not so many know of a club by the name Western Stima.

Mark Sirengo was born in Trans Nzoia, Matunda scheme on the 12th day of July 1974. A shy lad as he joins Malava Boys High School for his secondary education, football already had manifested itself in both his feet.

At the insistence of his father – one Mr. Benjamin Sirengo – however, the boy didn’t last long at Malava and would soon join St. Marks Nzoia (Has since changed name to St. Anne’s Nzoia- a girls school), because as a Board of Governors (B.O.G) member at St Marks, Sirengo Senior wanted to keep his son’s academics on check. ‘’I had relative success at Malava as compared to St Marks because by the time I got to St Marks the school was already changing to a girls school, and we didn’t get to participate in games much. I was part of the last lot of boys at the school but because I felt starved of football then, by some stroke of luck I found myself playing in the top flight,’’ Mark reveals. ‘’Kitale Barclays was my very first professional club. We were mostly students drawn from various schools around Kitale and played many games for Barclays in the top flight at the time going by the name Super League,’’ he further offers.

The old man therefore gave his son full blessings to pursue his dream of becoming a pro footballer. Maybe he had prayed too soon because with school over, and Barclays relegated, Eldoret KCC, a powerhouse at the time, were already knocking on his door asking for Mark’s signature. ‘’Looking back, I don’t even think I was scared of KCC. Didn’t even think of whether I would get playtime or not. I just wanted to be among the big names as Peter Kihamba and the like,’’ Mark goes back in time.

minutes before the break. He was not done however, and would put KCC ahead once again on 72 minutes.

Francis Xavier and Tom Rero’s third and fourth goals for the Eldoret side completed Ingwe’s heaviest defeat of the 1997 season. On the end of this humiliation were names revered; Tom Juma, Maurice Sunguti, Francis Oduor, Fred Ambani and Paul Ochieng to name just a few, were all in there.

A season that had Tusker FC’s Musa Otieno named Player of the Year, Sirengo came second.

1995 was his first season at KCC. He would be here for five solid years.

He would also earn his first national team call-up while here, but 1997 was the year when KCC prospered more and lifted the Moi Golden Cup- Kenya’s domestic cup- at the expense of an experienced AFC Leopards side. The Eldoret side did not just win the cup, Sirengo served Ingwe total humiliation in front of the then President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. Lining up alongside Salim Babu, Anthony Shikubu and Frankline Obare, Sirengo sent KCC into the lead on 13 minutes but Francis Oduor restored parity from the spot three

Contrary to what Mark’s father initially thought about football, he was gradually accepting the fact that perhaps it was for football that Sirengo had been born. The teenager’s fees at St Marks in his finally year were paid by Kitale Barclays and from the little allowances he could get, Sirengo paid a few bills at home- expected from a first born but not that early. soka.co.ke 61

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Ferroviaro de Maputo was KCC’s first hurdle in the 1998 CAF Confederations Cup, lined up as Sirengo’s first international experience. A barren first leg stalemate at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium didn’t do them much good though, for back then, you only got to see your opponents on the day of the match - absolutely no idea of whether you’ll be facing rocket powered, diminutive sprinters from the South or if they will come in fear-imposing heights from the West.

For the two occasions he was out on club duty at the continental stage in his career, this is what Sirengo dreaded the most; the inability to know what to expect. ‘’Starting such a tie at home sometimes is a disadvantage. Even when you come to know your opponent, you cannot do much when you play them at their own turf, especially when you never scored a goal in your own backyard. We fell 2-0 in Maputo and were knocked out in the very first round,’’ says Sirengo, clearly disappointed at what transpired two decades ago.

Kenya Breweries (Tusker) may have been the club every player with a dream of making it professionally wanted to feature for, but there was Mumias Sugar FC- own stadium complete with a gymnasium. Having snatched the duo of Charles Kimuyu and Evans Alemba from Eldoret KCC in 1998, Mumias would raid KCC again- and in this second loot made away with Bernard Onyango, Anthony Shikubu and Sirengo.

It is at Mumias that Sirengo made his first senior start for Harambee Stars.

It is here that a promise was made, not only to him, but to everyone at the club. To the already decent salary at the club, one will be offered a job at the company. But let’s first go to Dar Es Salaam.

If the Late James Siang’a is a legend at Gor Mahia Football Club then he

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is a god at Tanzanian giants Simba Sports Club. Mark Sirengo arrives in Dar Es Salaam at the invite of Siang’a in early 2004, a two time golden boot winner in the Kenyan Premier League, Sirengo can add another formidable

For the first time I think I played in a match where you cannot hear what the coach says, a stadium packed to the rafters and fans sing from the start of the match to the end. It was the Tusker Challenge cup, a pre-

Simba was worth it. I took my whole family there and they took all of us in. I should have stayed there longer but things always happen. Sometimes you make plans for yourself but it does not necessarily pan out that way, and then sometimes out of the blues luck finally ticks with you. dimension to his attack, Siang’a thinks. He wants to defend the league title which he won the previous year, and Sirengo is more than willing to help him out. ‘’I believe I was the first Kenyan player to chart the Tanzanian waters.

That is an experience I will never forget. My first match could never have been better, the Dar Derby.

season tournament pitting the top four teams in the league,’’ nostalgia hits Mark as he narrates of this match.

Simba hit Young Africans Sports Club 2-1, Sirengo as expected, netting the opener. His first stint across the borders had begun in style and he was keen to make it memorable.

Simba won that year’s CECAFA Kagame Cup, and again added

another league title to their trophy cabinet. Having been champions the previous year, Sirengo found a team drawn in the CAF Champions League against Egyptian giants Zamalek. He had floundered twice at this stage with Eldoret KCC and Mumias Sugar but with Simba it seems, he would be lucky- but only for the first round.

Of course they hit Zamalek at home, went to Cairo and forced a draw.

Zamalek were out, but Siang’a’s charges could only go so far.

Here at Simba, Sirengo admits to having been treated like a king. Had his whole family taken care of and his son Wayne Sirengo (the only one at this time) taken to an international school. A cult status was gradually coming up around him and he should have stayed, but he didn’t- and even now when he looks back he sees one of the greatest mistakes he did in his professional career. ‘’I was young, already a star in a foreign land. No club has taken in my family like Simba did to this date. I think I rushed out. Maybe two more years would have helped me grow in the game and maybe finally leave with the full blessings of the team,’’ Mark regrets, while presently, a fully grown Wayne Sirengo has joined the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor’s Degree Course in Business Management.

to head to Tanzania is that your life off the pitch determines whether you’ll survive in there or not. We are always fooled that Tanzanian’s are lazy and don’t train much, shock on me when I went there. I have never seen a team train harder than when I was at Simba. We were only two foreigners at the club but the work output from the locals was something I envied. Our players here nowadays want to be monitored every time and that is a lifestyle you cannot survive with in Bongo. That way you can only make mistakes,’’ offers Mark.

He believes in his career he might only have made one mistake. Oman Club was full of promise, and this would be his station for 2005.

Unbeknown to him, he had moved too soon from Simba.

Oman Club may be a fully professional outfit currently but at the time of Mark Sirengo’s entry in 2005, every foundation was being laid. He in fact says it is the only professional stint from which he never developed as a player. From unfavourable weather conditions to

downright unprofessional teammates, Mark was experiencing his greatest football nightmare. ‘’I remember sometimes players would tell the coach that they were tired, and therefore training should end already. There was maybe three or four foreign players and the locals used to tell us – in our faces – that we need to work harder than them because we are professionals and they are not. The Oman Club I hear about nowadays is very different from the one I played for during my time,’’ remarks Sirengo.

Unable to see off another season at Oman, he returned to East Africa and Rwanda’s APR offered a fresh chance for re-invention. The CECAFA charm follows him once again to APR as they clobber Ulinzi Stars in the 2006 final. An army team fully sponsored by the president himself Paul Kagame, APR had every reason to win the tournament they hosted.

Sirengo had scored five goals in the tournament he last won with Simba before his Oman stopover, and this

Kenyan players haven’t had comparative success as compared to their earlier countrymen who went to Dar and it took them in like one of its own. Recent ventures down south have almost borne little, and what we may want to remember are the stints of Hillary Echesa, Boniface Ambani and the like; but that is far off a couple of years back. With every new dawn we expect to have new stories of our heroes conquering foreign lands. We haven’t had much in that regard, so Mark- a pioneer in the league, offers a little insight. ‘’What I’d tell any player who wants

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that brought me back home,’’ recalls Mark.

At that point, Mark’s best years are slowly receding past him, he’s 33 - and will take in any meaningful monetary offer. It is the time to make money. APR rivals Atraco FC come for him midway through the 2006/07 season, but like it always happens to many players past their prime, such deals don’t last too long. Mark cuts short his stay in Rwanda just five months into playing for Atraco. They had a good deal yes, just that it didn’t allow him more time with his now growing family. He will head back to Mumias Sugar FC, stay close to his young family.

The confusion in the local scene regarding the league meant that the 2007 season began mid-March.

The numerous other matches played before this date from parallel leagues that sprung out of that confusion remained annulled. Sirengo’s re-entry at Mumias in April therefore is not a little too late- neither for him nor the club. was way before even renowned Harambee Stars coach Jacob Ghost Mulee charted the Rwandese waters.

To add on to the CECAFA triumph, APR lifted the domestic league title much to the delight of President Kagame.

“I have interacted with many leaders but none comes close to Mr. Kagame in terms of humility. Here was a man who in his free time would wander into our Mess and sit with us for lunch or supper. APR didn’t necessarily have players from the army as many tend to believe, contrary to the common belief, the army just partly sponsors the team. It is theirs, they support it, but not play for it,’’ reveals Sirengo.

When Victor Wanyama set foot for the first time in Belgium, Mark Sirengo and Jacob Omondi had already charted these waters. An unsuccessful

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trials stint with Royal Antwerp meant the two could only play for second division side Vise, then maybe stay hopeful that at the end of that 2006/07 season- a top flight team could be brave enough to pay their heavy UEFA fees for the foreign legion.

“I don’t know if the fee a club is charged when they bring in a foreigner is still as heavy as it used to be when we went for trials there. It was super expensive and most of the clubs like Royal Antwerp, although showing the willingness to sign us, had their reservations about the high UEFA fees.

Another thing was the issue of agents. You could never get a club without a fully accredited FIFA agent.

So even after impressing for Vise in Div 2, I still couldn’t get a top flight club and those are the frustrations

Now we go back to the very first time Mark featured for Mumias Sugar.

Freshly shipped from Eldoret KCC and tagging along are other revered

names in the local scene. It’s the turn of the 21st century. ‘’We had not done too badly during our time at KCC considering the quality in most of our opposition back then. Mumias came with the promise of a permanent job aside from playing football. I am a footballer first, so I would play football – and play football I did,’’ Mark says.

He won his first ever Golden Boot in the league in 2001, 20 goals to crown a fantastic season, and even though the club never won the league, Sirengo aided them to the domestic cup triumph; he was a Moi Golden Cup champion once again after Mumias Sugar brushed aside Coast Stars. As it was the norm with Kenyan clubs then (and to a great extent even presently), they could only play in the first round of the CAF Confederations Cup. By the end of 2003, Mark had won the Golden Boot twice, but the league title kept evading Mumias Sugar. At around this time, it rotates between Ulinzi Stars and Oserian Fastac.

In the way of formal employment however, nothing has yielded yet- so he decides to take a risk and head to Tanzania. He is perhaps the first

Kenyan to tread those waters, and carries along with him incredible self-belief. ‘’Simba was worth it. I took my whole family there and they took all of us in.

I should have stayed there longer but things always happen. Sometimes you make plans for yourself but it does not necessarily pan out that way, and then sometimes out of the blues luck finally ticks with you.

“Finishing my career at Western Stima was one such event in my life,’’ reveals Sirengo- now a full-time employee of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).

After Mumias Sugar’s disbandment in mid of 2007, while many other players sought refuge from other premier league sides, Mark had almost decided to hang his boots. At 33, he believed he had given his best years to the game he loved.

But like he admits himself, what would happen in a year’s time was far from anything he could have imagined. Stima, new in the top flight in the 2008 season, was struggling to cope with the pace in Kenya’s premier competition.

A team rich in youth, very little had been changed when they came up, and in the mid-season- saw the need to reinforce the team if at all they wanted to stay in the Premiership.

Sirengo, Makachi, Wesa all reunite here. Another set of experienced players like Hesbon Nyabinge and Ramadhan Balala are also roped in.

All these efforts aimed at survival.

So when with just one match to close the season and Stima still languishes at the bottom, even the Chairman Laban Jobita would have been right to question his mid-season reinforcement.

A final day victory over visiting Mahakama however bought Stima a

new lease of life in the top flight. It had been a tight race at the bottom of the log, and Mahakama- just above Stima, came to Kakamega looking for a draw that would have seen them survive. Mark Sirengo and team had other ideas though.

Starting alongside Dan Makachi and Ramadhan Balala upfront, the trio would torment Mahakama from the very start and Makachi’s lone goal assuring Stima of a place in the 2009 KPL season.

“I have never in my life played a match like that. I remember we got to Bukhungu Stadium in the

Stima lost the core of the team before the season began. These things are expected in football but you need to replace adequately whenever you experience that. I hope the team learns from that mistake because for us old players, it hurts morning and waited for Mahakama, didn’t even take lunch that day. We rightfully stayed on top because we played football on that day,’’ a pang of nostalgia hits Mark as he recalls.

Stima’s survival was obviously huge for the club, but earlier that yearsomething more important had happened to the team and Mark in particular. ‘’It was just one of those Kenya Power inter-regional games and we were playing against Nairobi Stima, Coast Stima and the like in Nairobi. We won the 2008 edition after which the chairman was ordered to put all of us in the payroll. We were officially KPLC employees.

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Of course there those who declined the kind gesture, those probably young and hoping to play for some other teams in future. But for us, those who had seen it all in football, it was a dream come true,’’ offers Mark.

By 2009 Mark Sirengo could only get to seven goals a season and retired from active football in 2014, became the team manager at Stima until the team relocated to Kisumu in 2015. It had become difficult to balance work at the station in Kakamega and the team now in Kisumu. So one had to give, and he knew which.

Mark runs a Bar and Restaurant business at his Maraba area in Kakamega, hardly recognizable among the locals for his is a relatively quiet life after football. For a man who appeared 19 times for his national team, anyone should snap at attention in his sight- but they don’t. The man who earned his first senior call-up from Christian Chukwu in 1999 says sometimes he feels forgotten. ‘’I can assure you that even here where I stay, most of these local boys have no idea who I am,’’ he chuckles. ‘’Only when someone who knows me says, ’Do you know who you’re sitting next to? Have you ever heard of Mark Sirengo?’, do they look at me in disbelief,’’ he continues.

He claims his two outings for the Stars against Morocco are the most unforgettable to date. The first a brave 1-1 draw in Kasarani, and the second, a 5-1 hiding in Moroccounforgettable for opposite reasons, of course. ‘’I did score a lot of goals in the CECAFA senior challenge tournaments for Harambee Stars but no match comes close to that 1-1 draw against Morocco. We were playing against people who we had just seen on TV in the world cup.

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We had both Morocco and Tunisia in that qualifying group and when we faced the Atlas Lions, I encountered probably the best defender I have ever faced. Radhi Jaidi was ‘The center-back’,’’ recalls Sirengo.

The reverse 5-1 wallop he says, was won by the hosts even before the match started. ‘’I’d like to think we planned poorly.

The weather in Morocco totally overwhelmed us. It was freezing and we only had our usual clothing on,

Stars drew Madagascar 1-1 in 1999.

Though not part of the team that headed to Tunisia for the 2004 AFCON, during his fleeting stay at the national team, Sirengo met the people he consider as the best ever in the local game. John ‘Mo’ Muiruri for example, was pure bliss to watch for him. ‘’You know to this day I still don’t know how John did some things be it in training or in a match. He was

I have interacted with many leaders but none comes close to Mr. Kagame in terms of humility. Here was a man who in his free time would wander into our Mess and sit with us for lunch or supper. you know, the one you’d put on as you head for a match at Kasarani.

The cold bore down heavily on us and I remember some of the hotel attendants aided us with blankets to counter it.

There was no way we were going to beat Morocco,’’ says the man whose first international goal came against Madagascar in an AFCON Qualifying match. Replacing Asman Ngaywa in the 37th minute in Antananarivo, Sirengo fired home as Harambee

an inspiration to some of us who had not yet had the chance to play abroad. Mike Okoth is another whom I hold dearly – down to earth and very simple. They are the kind of players you played alongside and never worried a single moment,’’ Mark says of Divock Origi’s father.

Whatever happens to Western Stima this 2017 season, it will still be a year reminiscent of Mark Sirengo’s first at the club, when it all went down to the wire. It’s been only three years

since he last featured for the club but a lot has evidently changed. Does it hurt to see his former club in such a precarious state? Of course he does. ‘’Stima lost the core of the team before the season began. These things are expected in football but you need to replace adequately whenever you experience that. I hope the team learns from that mistake because for us old players, it hurts when there is little you can do to change the situation,’’ Mark Sirengo concludes.

The father of three boys looks at

his collection of photographs at all the clubs that he has played for as we conclude this interview and it is evident he misses his playing days.

In his left hand now is a line-up from Simba Sports Club, I can tell because of the glaring red. For a man whose left foot- though the weaker foot took more powerful shots than the right, you can easily tell that the team in Red holds a special place in his heart. We cannot reverse time, and so Mark should take- and remain just that- a successful pioneer in a league that not so many find success in.

Mark Sirengo brief bio

International games Home games Away games Netral ground games Total games International goals

13 18 8 39 6

Follow Fabian Odhiambo on Twitter: @Fabian_Odhiambo

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SPORTS SCIENCE Knee injuries are the most feared among players and even the specialist doctors acknowledge they are the toughest to deal with. The injuries account for premature end of careers for many footballers Imran Otieno

F

ootball is a contact sport just like many on field sports in the face of the earth which means occasionally the inevitable happens and players get sidelined with injuries of different nature. Most of the injuries sustained are usually not serious as players get back in action after a few weeks. However on odd occasions players are left on the treatment table for months.

The most dreaded turn in a footballer’s career is a long term injury and even more detrimental is having to face the surgeon’s scalpel.

I caught up with an Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Francis Mbugua from CURE International who has vast experience in the field of Sport Surgeries for an exclusive interview on knee injuries and Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Osbourne Monday who has had two surgeries in his career.

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Knee injuries are among the most severe injuries in sports generally and may take up to nine months after

To get insight on knee injuries, we must first understand the structure

Knee injuries are among the most severe injuries in sports generally and may take up to nine months after surgery for a player to return to full fitness. They are career threatening because the cartilage in the knee does not repair itself hence require surgery surgery for a player to return to full fitness. They are career threatening because the cartilage in the knee does not repair itself hence require surgery.

of the knee. The knee is the largest human joint in the body and since footballers always engage the knee in vigorous activities sometimes it fails in its duties and gets injured.

Common injuries The common type of knee injuries include fractures, dislocation, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) and tendon tears.

The knee is made up of four major parts, the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Dr. Mbugua describes the knee structure saying, “the knee is looked at from external to internal composition; it consists of skin, the muscles around the knee which comprise of quadriceps, hamstrings

and this can lead to reaction to the initial injury if proper recovery is not observed. The other severe injury is one sustained on the cartilage.” Dr. Mbugua says.

Dr. Mbugua has been performing a plethora of surgeries on sports personalities from different fields, not only football. Apart from football, rugby and basketball are the other sports that majorly contribute to knee injuries because they are contact sports that involve a lot of sharp changes in direction, cut ins, jumping, landing, running and pushing.

On average in a month he deals with up to six athletes with knee injuries, and has been doing this for the last ten years which brings the number to several hundreds.

Type and location Knee injuries are also classified in terms of type and location. Muscle strains are the mildest type of knee which run from the hip to the knee and the calf muscle that runs from the knee to the ankle. These muscles are responsible for bending or extending the knee joint.

Knee injuries have stalled careers of famous footballers around the globe with former Brazil striker Ronaldo being among the renowned names to have succumbed to this injury.

Ledley King, Michael Essien and Dean Ashton have also struggled with such injuries.

The patella is also found in the knee and located at the front which everyone refers to as the “knee”. Then we have the femur or thigh bone and the tibia and fibula which form the bony structures of the knee.

We also have the ligaments, which are four in number; two on the sides that prevent the knee from moving sideways and two on the inside that prevent the knee from shifting forwards or backwards. Inside the knee we also find the meniscus which acts as the shock absorber for the impact when you walk or land.”

Knee injuries have stalled careers of famous footballers around the globe, with former Brazil striker, Ronaldo

being among the renowned names to have succumbed to this injury.

Ledley King, Michael Essien and Dean Ashton have also struggled with such injuries.

Severe and mild injuries “Knee injuries range from severe to mild. The mild are strains on the muscles and ligaments which can be treated by physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The severe ones are those that are sustained on the inside, which happen when a player ruptures their knee ligaments.

“Ligaments usually don’t heal on their own; they require reconstruction which leads to players being sidelined for a long period of time,

injuries and they happen to be the most common types, which take around two to three weeks to heal.

The meniscus is the other type of knee injury, which is repaired or trimmed to cure, and this keeps players off for two to four months.

The tricky bit comes with the ligaments which come as strains and means that only a few fibers are torn, which can be treated through physiotherapy that will sideline the player for about six to 16 weeks.

If the ligament is torn then reconstruction is required, which will keep a player out for a whole season or about 18 months.

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The severe type of knee injuries, for example a meniscus tear will require surgery.

Most players can’t really know whether they require surgery or not because it’s hard to determine the extent of the injury without a proper scan. Dr, Mbugua sheds some light on how surgeries can be determined; “We start with the diagnosis of the injury; most muscle injuries don’t require surgeries. An examination is then conducted to determine whether the ligaments and meniscus are intact or torn.

MRI scan When the examination doesn’t show conclusive results an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan will be required. Depending on the results retrieved from the MRI scan it will determine whether the player will require physio therapy, surgery or rehabilitation.”

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Most players dread knee injuries because of the complexity of the treatment. Not all players make it back to the field in top notch condition and the form that they were in before the setback

Ligaments usually don’t heal on their own; they require reconstruction which leads to players being sidelined for a long period of time

“Majority of knee injuries are treatable through surgery and the player is able to return to active playing though some may not return to full gear depending on the injury or complications of the surgery.

“Most of the surgeries we performed through a minimal invasive technique (arthroscopy) where a camera is inserted into the joint to identify where the problem lies. If it’s a problem with the meniscus or cartilage we repair them but a problem with the ligament we reconstruct the ligament using tissue harvested from a part of the body.

“A muscle or tendon tear has to be repaired through opening the knee.”

Stalled careers Kenyan football has seen its fair share of knee injuries which have stalled players’ illustrious football journeys over the years. Mathare United midfielder Roy Syamba, former Tusker player Danson Kago, Mathare United prodigy Ahmed Ahmad spent a lengthy period out. with such injuries while former Gor Mahia striker Paul Kiongera had to take a break from football in the second half of the 2017 season, a few years after former

Mathare United forward Innocent Mutiso was forced to hang his boots after undergoing two surgeries.

Former Tusker and Sofapaka custodian George Opiyo has had a fair share of knee troubles too, as has Alfred Wekesa from AFC Leopards after he underwent a knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. Ingwe seemed to be the worst hit cub in terms of knee injuries in the 2017 season with Keziron Kizito who had fracture while Marcus Abwao tore a meniscus with both of them undergoing surgery. These are just to name but a few who have gone through the dreaded experience.

Severe knee injuries can keep a player sidelined for months especially if proper surgery and rehabilitation are not done. Dr. Mbugua explains on average how long a player is sidelined with injury, “It takes an average of two to 12 months. For example if you get a meniscus injury or sprain of ligaments which fall under the minor injury, one is expected to be out for two months.

“If it’s anything to do with a tear to either of the ligaments or tendons then one is expected to be out for around twelve months.

“The 12 months is with appropriate rehab. Within the first six months we should have cleared the player to start light training then nine to 12 months is reserved for rehab.”

It took former Kenyan international Osborne Monday six months to get back to full fitness and attributes his speedy recovery to a specialized physiotherapist, “I had a physiotherapist who took me through recovery exercises.”

Just like accidents, injuries are hard to prevent and and impossible to predict but all hope is not lost in the bid to reduce injuries as Dr. Mbugua explains that knee injuries can

yes you can. One’s thought process can also prevent injuries in terms of how you land, how you jump but the problem is in a game situation its high tempo action so one is not necessarily thinking about these things.”

The preventive cautions don’t only lie with the player but also the football governing body as he further says, “From the administrative stand point, training facilities and improving our grounds and conditioning coaches could also go a long way in preventing injuries.”

Monday says his physiotherapist gave him conditioning exercises which to date he has to adhere to, to prevent any further injuries.

Kenya hasn’t seen a new stadium

Most players can’t really know whether they require surgery or not because it’s hard to determine the extent of the injury without a proper scan be somehow prevented, “With the appropriate conditioning exercises

built for the longest time now and although the chance to host 2018 CHAN sparked major renovations on our dilapidated stadia, many are still in wanting conditions and Dr. Mbugua points this out as one of the major causes of knee injuries, “Our stadia are a risk factor to athletes’ ankles and knees because of the uneven playing surface.

“Another risk factor is conditioning.

Players often don’t stretch or warm down appropriately after the game while the conditioning exercises are also poorly done by our athletes.

“At the end of the day injuries are hard to predict; they occur at any time because football is a contact sport.”

Monday shares the same sentiments, “Yeah I think that is the number one reason for the injuries incurred by players from Kenya.”

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After a surgery rehabilitation is necessary, to ensure smooth transition back to playing. It is mostly done to prevent weakening of the muscles that surround the knee and diminish the burden on the knee joint.

some activities – and the last stage is actual training with the ball.”

For Monday, his rehabilitation exercises included some stationary bicycle work, a well cut out gym program and field work training with cones.

Stages of rehab I sought to ask Dr. Mbugua who has admiration for local club AFC Leopards how the rehab process is conducted, “Rehabilitation process always starts immediately after an injury, the only difference is the rehabilitation stages, the first stage is to improve the movement of the knee to get back to walking then improve on the strength of the muscles to be able to support you, then the third stage is reintegration back to football, which includes drills – running and

Some of the mild injuries develop into serious knee injuries due to poor first aid action. Some of the teams especially in the grass root level have ill equipped medication kits and poorly trained medics who lack basic first aid knowledge.

“The initial thing is to identify whether they should continue playing or not, if it’s a bruise then ice is required and some spray then they are good to continue. Severe injuries on a player means that they cannot

continue playing so what you do is something called R.I.C.E which stands for Rest, Icing, Compression and Elevation which reduces the swelling and pain.” Dr. Mbugua says.

Cost The cost of having a knee surgery done in the country varies depending on the doctor and the hospital.

Having done a host of surgeries, Dr. Mbugua says the cost ranges between Ksh. 150,000 to Ksh. 400,000.

Monday didn’t give an exact estimate of how much his surgery cost but said it ranged from Ksh. 150,000 to Ksh. 200,000.

A study conducted by an orthopedics professor at Harvard Medical School indicates that a person stands a significant chance of developing arthritis after surgery if they are below the age of 25 and if they badly damage their knee at whatever age.

This is a chilling discovery to every sportsman considering most of them are heavily engaged in their sporting careers at this age.

Still, research shows in future knee surgeries will become cheaper and easier to perform meaning that players will spend less time on the sidelines and transition back to playing will be quicker In the meantime, the government and the football governing bodies should ensure that our teams have comprehensive insurance medical cover, qualified team doctors and that our pitches are maintained well to save players from avoidable injuries.

Follow Imran Otieno on Twitter: @Imran_Otieno

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soka.co.ke 73

BLAST FROM THE PAST

HARAMBEE STARS

HARAMBEE

Stars

How Kenya came to acquire the name Harambee Stars

By Patrick Korir

I

n 1975, Kenya won its first CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup held in Zambia after seeing off Malawi 5-3 on post-match penalties.

The team then, handled by ‘borrowed’ Kenya Breweries Coach Ray Hood, an Englishman, had tied with the Flames 1-1 in regular play.

Scribes Naturally, as the defending Champions, Kenya was the favored side to lift the next edition – 1976 when the tournament was held in Zanzibar.

But the results from the team coached by Jonathan Niva – who was Wood’s assistant in 1975, were disastrous; the team failed to win a single game and even failed to get out of the group stage to the knockouts.

A 1-1 draw against Tanzania in the first game was followed by a 2-2 draw against Malawi. A 2-0 beating

by Zambia on 12th November sent the team packing from the tourney and straight to the jaws of Kenyan scribes who did not spare them

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– especially Coach Niva, from all manner of criticism, top of which was the ‘poor’ team selection.

Rebrand So low was the team spirit that the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) had to do something about it. That came with a fresh outlook – it began with a name change. No longer would the team be called Kenya, it got a re-brand.

In a press release issued on 16 December 1976, the KFF Chairman Kenneth Matiba confirmed that the national team would, from then on, be referred to as the Harambee Stars.

Come together “We hope the National team will live up to the Harambee Spirit as the name indicates” “Me and my committee are confident that the Kenya team will play with

renewed dedication next year” added Matiba who beat former top referee Williams Ngaah in November 1974 to become the boss of Kenyan football Harambee is a culture introduced after Kenya’s Independence in 1963 as a concept of pulling the country’ together to ‘build a new nation’.

West German XI With a new pet name, just like the Cranes of Uganda, Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Black Stars of Ghana, Leopards of Congo, Green Eagles (later changed to Super Eagles of Nigeria), Kenya ushered in the year 1977 a whole new.

As Harambee Stars, the team played its first game on 1 January 1977 against a West German XI at the City Stadium, one they went on to lose 1 – 2.

The first competitive game was against Egypt on 6

February 1977 at the same City Stadium – a first leg clash in the 1978 World Cup qualifiers – it ended in a 0-0 draw.

Charles Ochieng The first away game for the Harambee Stars was on 17 February 1977 when the team traveled to Algeria for a first leg tie in the 1978 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. They were blanked 4-1.

It took three losses and a draw for the team to find Matiba’s ‘renewed dedication’ – their first win. This was on 13 March when the team hosted Algeria in a reverse 1978 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie at the Mombasa Municipal Stadium.

The hosts won the game 2-1, the winning goal coming from Charles Ochieng in the 40th minute.

Follow Patrick Korir on Twitter: @tipkorir

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

CURRENT ISSUES

When the Oga’s door

flung the Naija way

By Patrick Korir

I

n October 1999, the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) secured the services of former Nigerian international Christian Chukwu as head Coach of the Kenya national team Harambee Stars on a two year contract.

The high flier, the captain of Nigeria when the side lifted the 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, filled up the void left after Eldoret KCC Coach Abdul Majid was given his marching orders in early October after Madagascar held the Harambee Stars to a 1-1 draw at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in a 2000 AFCON qualifier.

Own goal Chukwu’s first assignment was a second round AFCON qualifier on 24 January. Away to DR Congo at the des Martyrs Stadium, Kenya fell 2-1, the two goals coming off Kampami Wa Kanyengele and in between was Kenya’s consolation from Mike Okoth.

His first home assignment was in late February when Kenya hosted Zambia at Kasarani. A ninth minute goal from Dennis Lota was all the KK XI boys needed to darken the Stars.

In early June, Kenya hosted DR Congo in a third round tie at the Nyayo

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National stadium. An own goal from defender Ezekiel Akwana in the 26th minute handed the visitors a slim 1-0 win as they went on to complete a double over Kenya in the qualifiers.

Identical Six days later, out in Mombasa, Kenya hosted Zanzibar in an international friendly. But as had been the case in the past two home games, Kenya fell 1-0 from a 25th minute goal from Haji Mwinyi.

Many games followed thereafter; a 1-1 draw to Madagascar in a reverse tie in the AFCON qualifiers and a 2-2 draw with Oman in a friendly.

But having lost four straight home games, Chukwu - who was in the Nigerian team that held Kenya 1-1 at City Stadium back in February 1976, could only redeem himself by lifting the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup held in Kigali Rwanda in late July through to early August.

Identical 1-0 wins over Eritrea and Rwanda ‘B’ in the first two games, and a 3-0 beating of Sudan in the third game sent Kenya to the semis against Rwanda’s senior side. It ended 1-1 but Kenya went on to win it 4-1 in post match penalties to book a final date with Rwanda ‘B’ - who they met for a second time in the competition.

Reverse tie The home side, very determined to avenge the loss of their big brothers, did just that, knocking off Kenya 3-1.

Bindiri Muganika scored in the 11th minute but Mumiais Sugar’s Charles Kimuyu brought Kenya back with a leveler in the 34th minute.

However, goals by Herbert Nsihizirungu in the 43rd minute and Juma Runyaneza’s addition in the 75th minute left Kenya as second best at the tournament.

In April of 2000, Kenya fell 2-0 to hosts Malawi at the Chiri Chiri Stadium, Blantyre in a first leg 2002 World Cup qualifier preliminary tie.

Two weeks later, on the 22nd of April, it was Kenya’s turn to host the Flames in the reverse tie. Chukwu needed to lead Kenya to 3-0 win to qualify for the proper round of the qualifiers.

Failed to proceed But even with dependable strikers Maurice Sunguti and Mark Sirengo as his attack force, and a strong midfield made of the flamboyant John Mo Muiruri, Mike Mururi and

Eric Omondi, the goals never came.

At the back keeper Victor Onyango, shielded by Musa Otieno, Ken Odhiambo, Issa Kassim, George Waweru and Charles Oduor did their work to keep Malawi from scoring.

As the clock struck 90 minutes the score was a dull 0-0 draw, a result that did not appease the fans.

At some point the game had to be stopped for up to 15 minutes as a surging crowd broke through the gates to catch the action and from the near stampede, scores were injured. The game failed to proceed past the added minutes as missiles flew from all corners to the pitch with fans protesting what they felt was a below par performance.

The other way Similar scenes occurred in October the previous year when Kenya failed to beat Madagascar – which led to Majid’s dismissal.

Days after the actions in the Malawi game, just as it happened to Majid then, the KFF reacted fastest and, triggered by the lack of confidence as shown by the fans, pulled the plug on Chukwu.

The FKF then, through new chair Maina Kariuki made the big announcement – Chukwu was fired and the Harambee Stars ‘disbanded’!

The door that ushered him to Kenya shut on his face, and swung the Oga the other way – back to Naijaland!

Follow Patrick Korir on Twitter: @tipkorir

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SOKA CROSSWORD

AND PUZZLE

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12. AFC Leopard’s nickname (5) 13. Sydney __ plays as a forward or winger for VfL Bochum (3) 14. Temper, indignation (6)

ACROSS: 1.Bans3.Seung 5.Rami 7.Yaya 8.Duncan 10.Adam 11.Suarez 14.Wade 16.Jumper 19.pant 20.Ghost Mulee 23.pump 25.Oliech 26.Messi 29.Header 30.Aggrey 31.David 32.Origi

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games (6) 6. Cords for fastening shoes (5) 8. Set of players forming one side in a game (4) from a foul in the penalty area (7, 4) 15.__ Friedrich is a former football defender (4)

23. Trial (4)

17. Natural talent (5)

24. Kicks granted in football as a

18. Ceases from action or motion (5)

minor penalties (4, 5)

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11. Free kick at the goal resulting

best (6)

22. Intermission between 1st and

Previous Pathfinder Solution

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16. Day when one is not at one's

movement (8)

DOWN: 1.Bandari 2.Neymar 3.Stars 4.Utaka 5.Ran 6.Innocent 8.Doe 9.CECAFA 12.Uhuru 13.Rip 15.Suspended 17.Efe 18.Chelsea 19.Papi 21.Maher 22.Lampard 24.Play 27.Sugar 28.Greg

4. Ghanaian footballer who plays for Persib Bandung (6)

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3. Augustine __ is plays for FC UGS (4)

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a muscle (5)

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2. Jesus __ plays for Sevilla FC and the Spain national team (5)

10. Involuntary painful contraction of

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Canadan Soccer League (5)

Mariehamn (4)

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Hul City (7) 18

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Fenerbahce (3,6)

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26. __ Chang was the captain of Shandong Luneng (3) 27. Stage in a competition (3)

19. Height (7) 21.“On the__ “ means being reprimanded (3) 24. Unit of length equal to 12 inches (4)

29. Choose carefully (4) 30. Walter__ is Mathare United’s

25. Not fast (4) 28.__ Mahia is a.k.a K’Ogalo (3)

midfielder (5) 31. Achieve the same score (3)

29. Physical Education (abrrev) (2)

32. Vigour, energy (5)

P F : FIFA Assistant Referees S

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PATH FINDER The path finder grid below contains a selection of 2017 FIFA male and female assistant referees, starting with the highlighted ‘J’.

The words form a continuous path, passing through each letter on the grid once. The path always moves horizontally or vertically, and never diagonally.

There are 8 refs to find in total.

By Lenny Ruvaga ruvagalenny@hotmail.com

CURRENT ISSUES

CURRENT ISSUES

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