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VOL 1 | ISSUE 11 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018
THE BIG INTERVIEW William Muluya’s growth from coaching a youth team to winning the KPL Coach of the Year award
WOMEN FOOTBALL
PATRICK MATASI the rise of a raw AND persistent talent
LEGEND OF THE GAME Charles Okwemba has been in the game, for decades, and is doing his 20th year in the top flight
ROSEMARY ALUOCH The football legend turned community heroine soka.co.ke 1
CURRENT ISSUES
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CURRENT ISSUES
SOKA
MAGAZINE SokaKenya Soka_Ke
Editor-in-Chief Dan Ngulu Staff Writers Dan Ngulu Fabian Odhiambo Imran Otieno Peter Wainaina Terry Ouko Zachary Oguda Photography Maina Wambugu Dan Ngulu Fabian Odhiambo Design and Layout Faith Omudho Published By Soka Holdings Ltd 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
LETTER From the Editor
T
he 11th edition of the Soka Magazine bears a collection of great articles just like the 10 editions before. In this edition we profile Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, highlighting his growth from the sugar cane farms in Western Kenya to being one of the top goalkeepers in the county. Kakamega Homeboyz FC’s rise from the humblest of beginnings to a formidable force and one of the most stable teams in the Kenyan Premier League takes up our club profile segment in this edition. Michael Madoya as a player was not known to most followers of Kenyan football a few years back but today, despite his diminutive stature, he has a place in the history of Kenyan football after winning the 2017 Player of the Year Award. His award came with applause and disapproval in equal measure and in this edition we get to hear the story of his rise and how he handles such turns in his career. AFC Leopards sensation Yusuf Mainge makes for our Star on the Rise, following his explosive displays as a Kakamega High School student and strong start to life in the Kenyan Premier League. His is a story of big leaps and great ambitions. We also delve into the diminishing fortunes of football in the great county of Kisumu, once a talent hub but currently with no team in the top flight and a combination of hard luck and poor management conspiring to see the county’s teams confined in the doldrums. Fast rising Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya gives us the Big Interview, telling of his challenges in transition to a Premier League coach and winning the Coach of the Year accolade in his first season as coach in the top flight. Rosemary Aluoch, the legend who is committed to using her stature to bring change in society grabs the Women Football segment as she gives us the story of her rise and fight to make the world a better place.
Phone (254) 727 443 540 (254) 700 12 33 66 Email info@soka.co.ke Online www.soka.co.ke
Dan Ngulu Editor-in -Chief
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The rise of a raw and persitent talent of Pactrick Matasi
Mike Madoya The 2017 Kenyan Premier League Player of the Year
COVER STORY
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CLUB PROFILE
Kakamega Homeboyz football club
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
William Muluya; growing from coaching a youth team to winning the KPL Coach of the Year award
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Defying the odds
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STAR ON THE RISE
Yusuf Mainge; The big leap from High School to the top flight places Mainge among the stars to look out for in future
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WOMEN FOOTBALL Rosemary Aluoch; The football legend turned community heroine
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LEGEND OF THE GAME
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
Charles Okwemba; has been in the game, for decades, and is doing his 20th year in the top flight
James Omondi; dedicated his life after football to helping grow talents both in the pitch and academically
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SPORTS SCIENCE
SPORTS SCIENCE
The Menace of Concussions in the Game
The Menace of Concussions in the Game
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COVER STORY
PATRICK MATASI
Matasi Fact File Full Name
Patrick Musotsi Matasi
Date of Birth
11th December 1987
Position
Goalkeeper
Education 1995 - 2003
Nguvuli Primary School
2004
Lwanda Primary School
2006 - 2009
Friends School Lwanda (K) Secondary School
Clubs 2009-2011
West Kenya Sugar FC
2011 - 2014
AFC Leopards
2015 to Date
Posta Rangers FC
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THE
OF A RAW AND PERSISTENT TALENT Considered a football outcast after ditching the game to tend to sugarcane farms in Kakamega, Posta Rangers shot stopper Patrick Matasi speaks of his rise from humble beginnings in West Kenya Sugar to his dream of being the Kenya national team first choice keeper.
By Zachary Oguda
W
hen the new Football Kenya Federation (FKF) office took over, one of the many changes expected to make was that of the national team head coach and against all expectations, Nick Mwendwa, the new FKF head, gave the mantle to former Kariobangi Sharks and Mathare United head coach, Stanley Okumbi, replacing Bobby Williamson. Okumbi was not a fans’ favorite at the time and so he largely refrained from making the sweeping changes fans expected, and kept the same group of players his predecessor had used in recent assignments. However, it was not a secret that in his tenure, the former Mathare
United coach was keen on bringing as many new players as possible to the national team, demystifying the notion that the team was a preserve of a selected few. The goodwill from the federation and Kenya government gave Okumbi the perfect platform to build his team and among the departments he was keen on fixing was goalkeeping, and rotation became a norm while at the same time Williamson’s preferred first choice keeper, Arnold Origi slowly went off the picture. Rotation beneficiary Among players who benefited from the rotation policy was one Patrick Matasi, the boy who just seven years earlier was queuing in Western Kenya
to pick his wages after doing menial jobs in sugar cane plantations. This was the epitome of his football career. “It’s crazy,” Matasi starts, “I never pictured I’d come this far back then; it has really been an adventurous journey.” Back then Matasi had finished his O level studies and was signed up by the now defunct West Kenya Sugar FC, where apart from playing, he still tended to sugar cane plantations, just to make ends meet. “Looking back it was the best foundation that I could have ever hope for as a player. It toughened me for the task ahead and taught me on
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the virtues of being humble. Today I can say I am where I wanted to be as a goalkeeper but it was tough when I started this journey.” His arrival at West Kenya was the beginning of great things and for the goalkeeper who wanted to pursue journalism or engineering as a career, it was a landing he had never envisioned more so after his dad passed on in 2004, leaving him, the second born in a family of seven, to help his mum raise his other siblings. “My dad always pushed us to study and football was just a co curriculum activity in school. He saw an engineer in me but I had a soft spot for journalism since reporting is something I enjoyed back then.
His death not only robbed us of a leader but the breadwinner and that’s how I found myself in the sugarcane plantations more so during weekends and after school due to the burden that mum had in raising us. I could weed for as little as Kshs 80 a day just to ensure my younger siblings had something on the table. Fortune passed Matasi’s way one day when going on with his weeding
While his team lost in the domestic cup final, Matasi’s prowess would be noted, now on the national stage and a few calls and enquiries followed. One of the asking teams was AFC Leopards; unknown to him then, the
My dad always pushed us to study and football was just a co curriculum activity in school. He saw an engineer in me but I had a soft spot for journalism sojourns as word spread that a local sought to put his vision to have a team to reality and the keeper’s performances in school games had built him a name. West Kenya chance Like most locals, the man, Fanuel Ivunge, had watched Matasi play during school days and with the birth of West Kenya Sugar FC, the cane cutter would get convinced to join the team from his locality. “It was during cane weeding season that coach Ivunge said he was starting a team and wanted me to join; the team was West Kenya Sugar. “He was a respected coach around and this coming immediately after I had finished secondary school was the best thing. I did not want to disappoint him.” The goalkeeper spent a year with West Kenya who were causing shockwaves in the country back
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then more so after making it to the FK Cup (GOtv Shield) in 2010 losing 2-0 to Sofapaka, who final were at the time the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) defending champions.
club would be his home for three years. “Working in the cane farms was tough and not something you’d want to do every day so West Kenya gave me an alternative means of income to be able to support my family”. “The period at West Kenya was important in my career because it reignited my love for the game and hard work. I worked with people I had grown up with and it became my second home.” “We did things as brothers and played as a team and that’s why I feel we went that far in 2010. Sadly, the team was disbanded a few years later.” Established at Leopards By the time West Kenya shut down, Matasi was an established player at Leopards and a source of pride back home. In 2011 Matasi was unveiled as a Leopards player and the young keeper was supposed to fight it out with the already established Barnabas Tiema. Getting to be first choice at Leopards was a daunting task and
though Matasi knew his place, he nonetheless worked hard and fought for it. It would come fortuitously one day, when, ahead of a game against Posta Rangers, first choice keeper Tiema pulled a muscle and Matasi was called upon to start. Tiema’s misfortune proved to be Matasi’s big break but what really endeared him to the Ingwe faithful were the three consecutive clean sheets against Bandari (0 – 0), Sony Sugar (3 – 0) and the biggest; Gor Mahia (3 – 0). While he displaced Tiema, the keeper acknowledges he always
The management regretted their decision and even wanted me back at the club but I had already penned a deal at Posta who at that time were in lower tier
took the best match day tips from the keeper, whom he would three years down the line, be dismissed with as the club’s fortunes off the pitch took a nosedive and unfavorable results on the pitch became order of the day. “Leopards spotted me in the domestic cup competition and they were a big club and were always linked with the best. Coming from a region they draw a lot of support from, there was a feeling I was made for team. “Upon joining, the club had Barnabas Tiema as the first choice keeper and I learnt every day from him. I thought I did all I could
do in my capacity to help the club win, but sadly three years down the line things changed and together with Tiema we were pushed out as the club sought space for Wycliffe Kasaya, brought in from Sony Sugar, and Boniface Oluoch, who was being eyed, from Tusker,” he says. Talks with Oluoch would crash and the deal fell through, as Leopards rivals Gor Mahia managed to convince the keeper to go their way and in the meantime, attempts to lure Matasi back to Ingwe hit a dead end as he had already been spotted by Posta Rangers. “The management regretted their decision and even wanted me back at the club but I had already penned a deal at Posta who at that time were in the lower tier,” Matasi notes. Fight for place At Rangers, Matasi was starting a new page and had to fight for his place. He at some point thought he was never going to get ahead of Ian Otieno in the pecking order but after slowing down at Leopards as time progressed, he knew he needed to reinvent himself. He gave his best at Leopards but that was experience he was confining to the past as he readied for the Rangers challenge. From the cheers at the start of his Leopards sojourn, to the jeers after three years, he had a point to prove. “I needed to reinvent my career after slow progress at Leopards. What I can say during my time at Leopards is I learnt with the best and picked valuable lessons. I’m never in a hurry and I waited for my time and when it came I gave my best.
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“Leaving Leopards was like getting a new lease of life because I was getting out of an environment of high-pressure. I think just as any other keeper, not all the games I featured in for Leopards went as planned and at one point or so made blunders but the condemnation from fans which followed was unsettling.
as a keeper at Leopards, he had requested the management to ship in Matasi during his time as West Kenya Sugar after watching him in one of their preseason camps in West Kenya, Webo just as Matasi, admitting that the pressure at Leopards was too much for the goalkeeper to handle.
“To come out of it was actually a breath of fresh air. Still, it was tough because at Rangers I needed play time but found a first choice keeper and had to work and wait for my time,” he adds.
“The first time I spotted Matasi was way back in 2010 when I was playing for Leopards and we had a preseason tour of Western Kenya.
After adapting to his new team, Rangers kept on rotating between Matasi and Ian in goal and he admits the tight competition made him better and the prospect of getting promoted to KPL with Rangers in 2015 gave him hope. Promotion struggles Promotion didn’t come like he expected and it was a culmination of hard luck, narrow misses and wrangles between the bodies managing the game in the country. He would have to wait till 2016 to grace the top flight again, still as Ian’s understudy. But working under Rangers goalkeeping coach Lawrence Webo, a former Leopards keeper himself, made Matasi a better keeper. “The team’s disappointments with failure to seal promotion aside, I grew into a better goalkeeper thanks to training from Coach Webo whom I had watched play. “The difference here is that while at Leopards you’d have like three different coaches in six months, here I’ve had only Webo, since I arrived and he has pushed me all through and I credit my rise to him,” Matasi opines. The same sentiments are echoed by Webo himself who admitted that
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“We happened to play West Kenya Sugar and I saw the potential in him despite the team being in the lower league. By chance, the same West Kenya team played in the FK Cup against Leopards and I think that’s where Leopards saw his full potential and moved for his signature.” “But due to the pressure in the club and being a boy who couldn’t handle
Patrick Matasi in action in a past Posta Rangers game
that in training,” Webo says. Upon signing for Rangers, Matasi had one thing over Ian – experience – but that alone doesn’t guarantee one a
“The difference here is that while at Leopards you’d have like three different coaches in six months, here I’ve had only Webo, since I arrived much pressure he opted out of the team and I asked Rangers to go for him, knowing what he had was much bigger than what he didn’t have as a goalkeeper. He had a potential that many had not known and we bettered
place in the team. Webo had to take full advantage of that to take Matasi to Ian’s level and he acknowledges the biggest gift he got from Matasi, was the readiness to learn.
his way up the ladder to be the keeper he is now. As a coach who has seen his growth from a naïve Western boy to where he is now, I’m so proud of him and I believe he still has more to offer. I see a good keeper for the country in the making following the footsteps of Arnold Origi. “At Rangers, we are proud of him as he flies our flag high in the national team and we hope to help him win the Golden Glove for the third year in a row,” Webo stated.
“In his willingness to learn, Matasi took a back seat to someone his junior, all this time giving his all in training. I don’t think there is a day he missed training even when we were in tough financial times he was always available. “He played as the second keeper for a one and about three quarters of the season under Ian and his chance
“As a rookie who had never played in such a tense environment, coming out with a clean sheet is a moment I will never forget,” Matasi opines. A patient Matasi would make his national team debut in Kenya’s 1-1 draw against Uganda on 23 March 2017, and went on to aid the team win the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge.
First award The will to learn, and humility won Matasi a starting place and he grabbed the chance in 2016, going all the way to win his first individual award at the KPL Awards gala – the 2016 Goalkeeper of the Year – after keeping the cleanest sheets in the season. He recalls the season with a broad smile as he reflects on the game that won him the award. “Oluoch (Boniface) and I had been neck to neck for the better part of the 2016 season in our respective bids to keep the cleanest sheets. Away to Western Stima, who were never an
At Rangers, we are proud of him as he flies our flag high in the national team and we hope to help him to defend his Golden Glove for the third year in a row came in the last five matches of the 2015 season where he proved his worth and has maintained that position. I think among the keepers I have worked with, his attitude and humility beats the rest. “It has been easy to work with him and he is constantly improving. Always, after national team duty, he reports straight to training and never wants to miss a session. “At the national team he has also shown his patience and worked
easy team, I made a great save in the dying moments to take my number of clean sheets to 15 because Oluoch had 14 and that won me the award,” points out. While it was a game that would be etched in his memory for obvious reasons, it would never come close to the memories of the AFC Leopards versus Gor Mahia game, in which he kept a clean sheet as Leopards won 3 – 0 in 2011.
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Matasi played in all the games in the CECAFA tournament, conceding only two goals and giving a good display in the final against Zanzibar in the penalty shootout. Okumbi who gave Matasi his debut and Haggai Azande (his goalkeeping coach at the national team) hold much praise for the keeper. “I had watched Matasi for some time and his display at Rangers couldn’t be ignored more so during that time when we were planning for friendly matches.
“My penalty heroics did not start with CECAFA; during his time at Rangers, coach Zico told me that 90% of first penalties in shootouts are always
as people think; it involves intense training,” Azande picks. “Matasi had trained well for them and was confident he’d deliver. “He is a joy to work with because of his willingness to let others lead and learn from them.He comes out as a silent guy in training and you can see he is always willing to learn not only from the goalkeeping department but even from other players.”
My penalty heroics did not start with CECAFA; during his time at Rangers, coach Zico told me that 90% of first penalties in shootouts are always taken to the right and second on the left
Origi was not available then and we had to look for a good keeper to act as Oluoch’s (Boniface) understudy and going by his league display, we gave him a start in the Uganda game. He did well and that is what any coach would desire from a first timer,” Okumbi said. Declined “When I arrived in camp, I was handed the number one jersey but I declined because I believed Bonny (Boniface Oluoch) deserved that jersey. I respect him so much because he is my senior and has played more games than me. I have also learnt a lot from him but it is just a matter of time before I make the jersey mine,” Matasi says with a laugh.
Matasi’s fine show saw him handed the starting berth at the CECAFA tournament and while he had this chance, the weight of the whole nation was on his shoulders, despite it being his first such tournament, and under a new coach (Paul Put) who was also under pressure to perform. He did well all through, going without conceding a single goal until Zanzibar shocked Harambee Stars with a late goal in the final, and another one in added time, that would send the game to post match
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penalties. The challenge was right in front of him but to the keeper, it was an opportunity to show his prowess, and to his Coach, Azande, there were no tense moments, with Matasi in goal.
taken to the right and second on the left while Haggai (Azande), a day before the CECAFA final told me to be static in my position during shootouts, I recalled both pieces of advice and walked to that white line with them. Saving penalties is something I always practice at club level with my teammates after every training session,” Matasi says. “Saving a penalty isn’t luck
For all his prowess, Matasi knows he couldn’t be the keeper he is today without the defenders at Rangers and the team’s head coach Sammy Omollo reinforces the same. “You can be a good keeper but with wrong defenders, your beauty can’t be seen. I have been lucky to work with some of the best defenders in the country. Defenders who know just how
much clean sheets matter. “It is said that a striker will only get satisfied when he scores, a midfielder’s joy is in giving assists and intercepting opposition play while defenders’ and keepers’ joy is in keeping clean sheets. The defenders I have played with are a very important part of growth in my career,” Matasi observes.” “I’ve watched him grow since I arrived here at Rangers. In my first days he was very naïve maybe because with a new coach he didn’t know his fate but I promised to stick with him if he, was going to give his best which he has done. Now he can lead a team, give his ideas when things are wrong or good, and he commands his defence too. That is the type of keeper you need around as a coach. “He makes your work easier because you are very sure that when he is around, your goalkeeping problem is solved. The goalkeeping department is an area that is important to the team and I’m glad to have him here,” Omollo says of Matasi. A proud father of one, Matasi says his dream remains to play professional football in Europe and with his growth curve clear for all to see, this ambition is not far – fetched for a keeper who looks up to Ulinzi Stars’ Jacktone Odhiambo locally, and Everton FC’s Jordan Pickford.
Follow Zachary Oguda on Twitter: @zaxoguda
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COVER STORY
PATRICK MATASI
Posta Rangers keeper Patrick Matasi shouts orders to his defenders in a past match
Matasi admits having to deal with a single coach at Rangers over the years has aided in his growth
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Matasi holds aloft one of his awards at the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge
Great footwork is one of Matasi’s strrongest points as a keeper
A strong left foot is among the best qualities Matasi offers when playing
Matasi’s profile has grown tremendously since his move to Posta Rangers
Posta Rangers keeper Matasi and his coach Sammy Pamzo Omollo
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DEFYING ODDS
MIKE MADOYA
Madoya ike
Being crowned MVP in whatever sport brings with it celebration and criticism in equal measure but for one Michael Madoya, it has been more of the latter after being named the 2017 Kenyan Premier League Player of the Year
O By Peter Wainaina
The club and I have grown together in football. I joined Zoo when it was newly formed and perhaps that is why I have remained here all this time. We have shared in the disappointments and victories together and this award is not just for me but for everyone associated with the club.
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n Friday 12 January 2018, the who is who in Kenya’s top flight crammed up at the Sankara Hotel for the KPL awards, all set for the unveiling of the best players who graced the league in the 2017 season with all anticipation being on who would walk away with the biggest accolade of them all - The Player of the Year Award. Gor Mahia had just won an unprecedented 16th league title with a Whopping 19 point gap over their closest-challengers and in football circles the team and its players were largely expected to dominate the awards like they’d done in the league. Meddie Kagere’s virtuoso displays upfront for the Green Army saw him find the net a total of 14 times and his name rightly appeared among the final three shortlisted names for the MVP gong. Posta Rangers custodian Patrick Matasi had had an unbelievable year for club and country that eventually culminated in him leading Harambee Stars to their first CECAFA Senior Challenge victory in four years, saving three spot
kicks in the final against Zanzibar, no qualms there about his selection. And then there was Michael Madoya a diminutive midfielder, little – known to the larger football audience, whose only effort – as seen through our biased eyes – was to help his team Zoo FC avoid relegation. “He has no business being on that podium,” was the general feeling “what special thing has he done?” Here was a player who had done nothing wrong but step up for his team whenever called upon. Four awards The disapproving sentiments would fall on deaf ears as the night would end with the pint-sized Kericho local walking away with not one but four awards including Midfielder of the Year, New Player of the Year and Fair Play Player of the Year. To cap it all, a lump sum cash prize of 1.7 million shillings. All that for a player in his debut topflight season; no player has ever done that as far as football in this
country is concerned. He stood tall despite his 5ft 5in frame and his name will be up there in the history of Kenyan football. It is the highlight of his career thus far but the beginning was always rugged and full of sacrifice. It is 2005 and Wycliffe Changilwa has decided to call time on his ten or so year career that has had its fair share of heartaches. Injuries and financial struggles have made it unbearable to continue with the world’s game and he is on his way home to Nyagacho in Kericho after the disbandment of Nzoia Sugar FC. With him are his most prized possessions – memorabilia from his playing days, on one hand is a pair of adidas Copa Mundial football boots that he had bought for himself but will have no use for them now, and intends to give them to his kid brother Mike who is eager to follow in his footsteps.
“I can honestly say that my big brother Cliff was the one who laid the first stones in my football foundation,” Madoya says, “I owe a lot to him because he started me on this journey and has been supportive every step of the way. Everyone has.” Football family Born the last in a family of five, four brothers and one sister, Madoya and the elder Cliff are not the only footballers in the family, the patriarch Ibrahim Muganda is a former player
Second born Leonard Mmata, a defensive midfielder is also in the Zoo FC books while third born Hudson Muhako, a marauding fullback with Western Stima called time on his career in 2017 to focus on his position with the team’s sponsors, Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC). Formative Years The boots were too big of course but the seed had been planted. It took
I am glad that my goals helped me and by extension the club realize the dream of playing in the Premier League himself having featured for the likes of now disbanded Kericho AllStars and Abaingo in the 80’s and also alternated between coaching and refereeing after retiring in 1992. He is currently head of Youth Development at Zoo after earlier serving as the Team Manager in the team’s formative years.
Madoya six years to finally lace them on and play. And play he did as he became a vital cog of Zoo’s quest for promotion to the Premier League, which was achieved in 2016, six years after making his debut in 2010 while the team was in the third tier. Therein again lies another first; in soka.co.ke 17
DEFYING THE ODDS
MIKE MADOYA
Fact File Full Name Date of Birth Height Weight Position
Michael Idovolo Madoya 02/02/1989 5’9ft 65 Kg Midfielder
Club 1997-2004
Kericho township primary school /Wanondi primary school
2005-2008
Litein high school
2010-2012
Kericho school of professional studies(Diploma in Journalism and mass communication)
2002-2004
Kericho Olympic youth
2007-2009
Kericho power
2010-2018
Zoo fc
this day and time it is unheard of for a player to spend more than two years at a single club. Madoya has again broken the norm, the 2018 season will be his eighth with the club. “When I gave him the boots I told him to pick up where I had left off. He was young and you could see he had talent,” his brother Cliff, now a Kiswahili and Science teacher at Emurembe Primary School in Vihiga says. A goal scoring midfielder in the stature (both physically and in playing style) of Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho Paulista who won the English Premier League (EPL) Player of the Year gong in the 1996-97 season despite his Middlesbrough FC team ending the campaign second from bottom, Madoya’s star really 18 soka.co.ke
shone in 2016 as his 20 goals in the National Super League guided Zoo to the KPL at the third time of asking. “All I wanted to do ever since I was a young kid playing with a ball woven out of polythene bags and strings was play in the top league like my brothers had done before me. “Growing up in a house where everyone is a player, it is hard to dream of becoming anything else,” Madoya who studied Journalism after clearing high school as a fallback plan if all didn’t go to plan on the football pitch says. “I am glad that my goals helped me and by extension the club realize the dream of playing in the Premier League.
He immediately formed a rapport with then coach Ken Ochieng, who is now the club chairman, and together led Zoo to promotion to Division 1 in their first year together. His 13 goals in that campaign in 2010 endeared him to the fans and the naysayers who had cast doubt over his ability. “People always point to my height as a deal breaker. It is a wall that is always erected to block my path but I am blessed to have found a club that looked beyond that and gave me my chance. I will forever be indebted to Zoo and our chairman Ken for seeing in a young boy what most people couldn’t. “Even to this day people look at me
“The club and I have grown together in football. I joined Zoo when it was newly formed and perhaps that is why I have remained here all this time. We have shared in the disappointments and victories together and this award is not just for me but for everyone associated with the club. It has been a long journey and finally we have been recognized for our efforts.”
I joined Zoo when it was newly formed and perhaps that is why I have remained here all this time. We have shared in the disappointments and victories together The only one of his schoolmates who took football seriously and saw a future for himself in it at Litein High School in Bomet County, Madoya was drafted in by the newly formed Zoo Kericho FC as it was known at the time after clearing his O levels and started working towards making a name for himself.
Mike Madoya’s rise through Zoo FC has been meteoric and he continues to play a key role at the team
and say that I cannot perform. I am judged by my small frame. During the start of my career it did bother me but I took it in stride. It spurred me on because I knew if I was to make it then I would have to give more than 100% on the pitch.” Harambee Stars disappointment Any player’s dream at some point is to be granted the opportunity to represent his country out on the field of play. Winning national team caps is the ultimate prize for a distinguished career. It is a dream that Madoya harbours the most but has had to deal with disheartening sentiments directed at him from the least likely of sources whenever the doors seemed to open on earning a first cap. After topping the scorers chart across the top two divisions in the country, Dogo as he is fondly referred to by his teammates, received the ultimate recognition for his exploits when he was called up to the national team set-up by coach Stanley Okumbi in 2016 as the team prepared to take on Zambia in a 2017 AFCON qualifier. Excited and raring to go it would only end in disappointment as he was cut from the 40-man provisional squad as a result of his short stature, something he thought he’d never get to face at the national team level. “I don’t want to speak much on it but that is what they told me. That I would not measure up physically to the other players in my position,” a disappointed Madoya shares. Sadly it has become the norm in the game, power and physicality are given more preference. The game has become a sport of giants. At with the 2017 AFCON championships held in Gabon, the average height of all participating teams was 5ft 11in with the teams with tallest players being Mali and Algeria who had an average height of 6ft and above.
Coach Sammy Okoth appreciates the way the game is changing but reveals that it shouldn’t be that way as he was gutted to find out the reason as to why Madoya had been dropped from the national team. “Madoya is talented, I know that the coaches in the league; who voted him for the MVP award know that as well as those in the national team. It is heartbreaking to see a player work as hard as he does and get stopped in his tracks for something he has no power over.” Hopes of one day donning the Stars jersey will be with him for as long as he continues to play but for now he is grateful to have gotten to the national fore as a result of being named the best of the best in 2017.
players who have struggled to stake their claim after being named MVP. Motivation For every dark cloud there is a silver lining and Michael Olunga is it. After bagging the award in 2015, the lanky striker moved abroad where he impressed with Swedish side IF Djugardens before sealing a big money move to the Chinese Super League (CSL). And then in Spain’s La Liga with Girona. “He is at a difficult place at the moment. The attention that this has brought along could be detrimental to his career depending on how he reacts to it,” Coach Sammy offers, “I talk to him more often now, trying to get him in the right frame of mind.”
His work is cut out for him, the award can work in his favour or against him depending on how he takes it on board. Over the years recipients of the
Madoya concurs with his coach that it will be more difficult now than before but is adamant that he has the perfect motivation to keep his star shining.
I don’t want to speak much on it but that is what they told me. That I would not measure up physically to the other players in my position
“I have a family of my own and it has helped to keep me grounded. My daughter and wife are the main reason why I push myself on the pitch. I want to secure a better future for them and with that in my mind you can be assured that you will see more of me,” he says with a smile.
award have had contrasting outcomes after being named the league’s best. George Blackberry Odhiambo won the second edition of the award in 2010 which catapulted him to the paid ranks in Europe in 2011 first in Denmark then Finland a year after. It didn’t work out for him abroad as he switched clubs four times before returning to Gor Mahia in 2014. It was the same with Kevin Kimani who won it in 2011, unsuccessful spells abroad saw his once bright star quickly fizzle out. He is now back in the country with Sofapaka. Dan Sserunkuma, Jacob Keli and Anthony Ndolo are some of the other
As for the prize money, he plans on investing it in real estate as well as see his movie shop business grow, “hopefully open up more shops” he says. Madoya’s is a career that started in the humblest of beginnings, facing barriers along the way is now firmly in full view, we all await the next chapter.
Follow Peter Wainaina on Twitter: @naina_naish
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DEFYING THE ODDS
MIKE MADOYA
Madoya (extreme right) lines up with his Zoo FC team mates ahead of a past match
While Madoya has had a fine time in the KPL, it has not been all good for his team, Zoo
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CLUB PROFILE
KAKAMEGA HOMEBOYZ
Kakamega Homeboyz Football Club By Fabian Odhiambo
K
akamega Homeboyz Football Club will only be turning eight this year. For a team that pioneered the re-entry of the former Western Province clubs into the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) - at least in the modern era, theirs was one fast rise through the lower tiers to the top. With AFC Leopards, a Kenyan giant that heavily draws its support from the region, being based in Nairobi, a huge famine struck and fans were starved of top flight football. Nzoia Sugar had had been relegated years ago and MOTCOM, formerly based in Kakamega, not in existence any more. Western Stima did offer some hope but the club rarely struck locals as their team and this was proven when they departed the town and headed south to a new home, in Kisumu. At this time, a small club, burgeoning with youth, had been formed - they called it Kakamega Homeboyz, Abana Beingo- Children of the Land, Our Own, and The home boys. Identity was one key ingredient to the formation of Homeboyz, a club that immensely resonates with the culture of Kakamega. They seamlessly fitted into the gap left by their predecessors. 22 soka.co.ke
Many from the lot that first wore the green and yellow as expected, would be scouted by other clubs as Homeboyz wobbled through the lower tiers. Finances were a huge problem then but stars were molded there. Harun Shakava captaining 16 time Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and Daniel Waweru of Ulinzi Stars only headline a lengthy list of Homeboyz graduates. One however would stay put from the
Identity was one key ingredient to the formation of Homeboyz, a club that immensely resonates with the culture of the town. They seamlessly fitted into the gap left by their predecessors
time the club approached him for his signature the moment he finished school in 2012. ‘’I had just completed Form Four at Mugai Secondary School when
2018 first leg team • David Juma • Wanyika Michael • Arakaza McArthur • Collins Oguda • Collins Kisuya • George Odiwour • Hedmond Mauda • Moses Chikati • Kulecho Andrew • Eston Esiye • Festo Omukoto • John Ndirangu • Mike Khaduli • Moses Mudavadi • Wycliffe Opondo • Alan Wanga • Keiphas Mutuu • Lamine Diallo • James Situma • Evans Kiwanuka • Collins Saka • Hassan Kiyoyo • Andrew Waiswa • Anekeya Wilson • Frederick Shimonyo • Noah Wafula • Kennedy Rono • Smith Ouko.
Homeboyz came. I was very young so I jumped at the chance because they had just been promoted into the Premier League,’’ says Mudavadi Moses, a player who has never left the club despite numerous interests from suitors. ‘’It wasn’t the best welcome for us into the league because we failed to sparkle and were relegated in that very year. Even though I never started many matches, I always tried to make an impact whenever I was brought in by coach Edward Manoah,’’ Mudavadi adds. Edward Manoah had seen Homeboyz’s rise from the lower tier and even though knowing the top tier terrain too well having been there, couldn’t see his youthful side survive, a final day defeat at the hands of AFC Leopards condemning the side to second tier football for the 2014 season. ‘’I almost thought of quitting after that failure but the management wouldn’t want to see me leave the club. They had confidence that we would be back the following season. But then we lost very many players.
The club may not have finished in a very good position but other financially superior outfits were always on the lookout whenever they met us and would identify our key players whom they came for,’’ says Manoah who just oversaw the promotion of another club – Vihiga United to the top tier Kenyan Premier League 2018.
2013 season. He was one player however, that Homeboyz founder and chairman Cleophas Shimanyula could never fathom losing. An improved contract to Mudavadi’s remaining one year is what followed and Leopards were kept at bay. Contrary to what many believe to have been a long-term contract, Mudavadi in fact reveals that he has always wanted to play for Ingwe so
I almost thought of quitting after that failure but the management wouldn’t want to see me leave the club. They had confidence that we would be back the following season Manoah was Mudavadi’s first coach in the Premier League, and even though departing after relegation, this lad he had helped mold would resolve to stay put and try get the team back on its feet. But he had also not been left out in the preying of Homeboyz star players by other Premier League clubs. AFC Leopards especially, were even ready to buy out his contract and rope him into the team that finished second to Gor Mahia that
badly. Their timing was just never perfect. ‘’I know I appear to many followers of the game as a one club man and that may be largely true. That I vowed to never leave Homeboyz is however false. That is a club I really want to play for one day, but I’m a player who honors his contract to the letter so Ingwe have just never come at the right time when I am free,’’ reveals
Kakamega Homeboyz players all smiles as they warm up ahead of a past match
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CLUB PROFILE
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SOFAPAKA FC
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CLUB PROFILE
KAKAMEGA HOMEBOYZ
another level and from our latest signings you can tell that is true. A few years back we would even struggle to have proper kitting but that’s the past, and looking at the team, we can only get better,’’ says the TD.
Fact File Name Nickname Year of Establishment
Kakamega Homeboyz Abana Beingo 2010
Honors 2012
2nd tier champions
2012 2015
Promotion to KPL
the speedy offensive right player who two years after relegation would steer the team back into the Premiership.
With the renovation of their home venue, Bukhungu Stadium, Homeboyz had to shift base 30 miles to the West and this partly affected their fan turnout during home ties The Chairman Mr. Cleophas Shimanyula aids the team financially from his flourishing public transport business in Kakamega and its environs and even had one or two public service vehicles reserved for fans on match days when the team played home matches in Mumias.
With the renovation of their home venue, Bukhungu Stadium, Homeboyz had to shift base 30 miles to the West and this partly affected their fan turnout during home ties. For a team that largely identifies with the Kakamega town residents, the completion of Bukhungu Stadium in 2017 was welcome news to both the team and the fans. ‘’We have always had a public address system moving around before match days informing the fans of the coming weekend matches. This has worked well in the past and our home matches at Bukhungu are attracting bigger numbers. “To take it a notch higher, we are erecting four huge boards in strategic locations in town where our home match details will always be displayed, the PA system can then be used to try and reach the areas outside town in the villages because we are a people who love football,’’ reveals Imonje- at one time the Coach of the
Mr. Imonje Alfred has been with Homeboyz for four years now as Technical Director. A staggering bulk of a man whose experience as coach in the local game places him among the very few ex-internationals to have recorded success with AFC Leopards. His experience in the field comes as an invaluable asset to Homeboyz, especially as someone who has seen it all before both as a player and coach. ‘’I think the journey has been great. My relationship with the management and the coaching staff is superb and I play my advisory role well. Professionalism at Homeboyz right now is on Mike Mururi has modeled Kakamega Homeboyz into a competitive outfit at the highest level
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CURRENT CURRENTISSUES ISSUES
CURRENT CURRENT ISSUESISSUES
Huddled up in prayer; divine intervention has always been core to Kakamega Homeboyz’s growth
Somali national football team. For a team that only lost twice at home at their temporary residence in Mumias, the prospect of picking anything from Homeboyz when you visit at Bukhungu this year can only get scarier. Coach Mike Mururi joined the club as soon as it made a return to top flight football in 2016 and his tenure has had him finish in the top eight- a stark contrast to their debut season in 2013. Three years later it seems, Homeboyz had finally learnt to get it right, and with former KPL Coach of the Year in charge- possibilities abounded. Young raw ‘’I had to use the material I found in 2016 to try and get results. They were very young and raw but I tried to mold them into premier league caliber of players. Right now looking back one can tell we have grown immensely. This season may be different because after doing so well last year, we were bound to lose a few good players and we did. So when you lose around four or five players you have to begin afresh but after a few signings I have hope that we can do better than last
year. I am not saying that we are there yet but we will be there in a few years to come,’’ says Mururi who won Coach of the Year Award while at Chemelil Sugar FC in 2014. Even though a striker in his heyday
Key amongst Homeboyz’s losses included defenders Eric Ambunya and Charles Momanyi who departed to Tusker FC and Gor Mahia respectively as a Kenyan international, Coach Mururi’s philosophy puts emphasis on defensive astuteness before anything else. Homeboyz have dwelled so well in this area and was the third best performing team as regards goals conceded in the 2017 KPL seasonbehind champions Gor Mahia and a defensively disciplined Posta Rangers.
time to organize their teams. When you come in as a new coach the first thing you have is new faces to deal with. You don’t know the players too well. The first five matches for me here at Homeboyz were only to assess the players and I began making changes in terms of positioning. “Most fans weren’t happy but soon the team turned out to be a fantastic unit. There was no more noise from this point onwards and that is why we really had a good team last year. Homeboyz losses “I even believe had we retained all of those players we would be going directly for the championship this season,’’ says a bullish Mururi. Key amongst Homeboyz’s losses included defenders Eric Ambunya and Charles Momanyi who departed to Tusker FC and Gor Mahia respectively.
Mururi reveals that instilling this at Homeboyz was not as easy, he had to be patient with his players and the fans.
It reminds Mudavadi of the time they lost key players just a few weeks after relegation. Even though right now it might not bother him because he feels Homeboyz has grown wise in scouting for replacements, the first time was a nightmare.
‘’It is not easy to build a team. Even abroad, coaches are usually given
‘’Many players left and those of us who remained felt unsettled. I was soka.co.ke 27
CLUB PROFILE
KAKAMEGA HOMEBOYZ
targeted by Leopards myself but chose to stay due to my contract. I look back and feel it was worth it because I would not have had the chance to grow into the kind of player I am. The second tier is never easy but we labored through and made it back finally,’’ says Mudavadi. Homeboyz’s first attempt to bounce back into the Premier League in 2014 ended in disappointment after a third place finished meant they had to do another year in the league below. Perhaps this is where Mudavadi should have ended it at Homeboyz but he did not. He alongside other mainstays like Momanyi, Michael Wanyika, David Odhiambo and Ahmed Ali Bhai chose to stay and would be rewarded months later when they finished second to Posta Rangers and earned promotion into the 2016 KPL. ‘’With the exit of key players after we failed to get promoted in 2014, the team mainly roped in youngsters who had just completed high school. Add this to the quality that had remained and you had a team that wasn’t going to fluff again,’’ adds Mudavadi whose sentiments lay the basis to what Mr. Imonje describes as a great working relationship between Homeboyz and the community. ‘’There are a few things we did differently as a club, which place us where we are now. First of all we relate well with the community, schools especially. We are always ready to offer even financial aid to these football teams within the county. We know the harm in isolation and that’s why as other teams get relegated, here at Homeboyz we try to soar higher. Sometimes our coaches even go to these schools like the Green Commandos and offer technical support all in the aim of being the leading light in football in this region,’’ echoes Imonje. Kakamega Homeboyz made a huge loot in the January transfer period 28 soka.co.ke
when they roped in former Tusker trio of Allan Wanga, Noah Wafula and James Situma. A financially bold move from the chairman, Shimanyula but also a huge indicator of the kind of outfit Homeboyz wants to be. The County Government of Kakamega offered to support the team and even though everything is still in the pipeline, coach Mururi only wants the best for his players. One key ingredient towards last season’s impressive performance, he says, was the fact that they rarely had off-field issues with the players regarding pay. ‘’Here in the KPL my experience is that most teams that have salary issues struggle when they go to the pitch. I have to laud the chairman’s efforts in the short period I have been here. My players get paid on time and that is very encouraging. We don’t have salary delays and when it happens, maybe by just a day or two. When the county government comes in I believe we’ll even be better off. Three years from now, if I am still at Homeboyz, this is a team that will be participating in the CAF Competitions,’’ concludes the coach.
Ahmed Ali Bai in action for the club
Kakamega Homeboyz finished fifth in the 2017 KPL season, their highest ever finish and it came with just five points behind 2009 champions and second-placed Sofapaka. The air of positivity that reigns at the club even in a normal training session speaks volumes. A team boasting of incredible depth and a supportive chairman, it will be interesting to see what a season Homeboyz will be having in 2018, because a fifth-place finish is a taste of blood for a team promoted two years ago. The big question is, will they want more?
Follow Fabian Odhiambo on Twitter: @Fabian_Odhiambo
Juma David is the team’s captain and was runners up in the 2017 goalkeeper of the year award.
Moses Mudavadi (left) takes on Vihiga United defender Jonathan Mugabi in a game in 2018
Festo Omukoto has also found a home at Homeboyz and is proving to be a key player in the 2018 season
Skipper David Juma makes a big save in Homeboyz’s game against Ulinzi Stars at Bukhungu Stadium
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STAR ON THE RISE
YUSUF MAINGE
Yusuf Mainge The big leap from High School to the top flight places Mainge among the stars to look out for in future
Y By Peter Wainaina
The former Kakamega High School student has his name written in the Confederation of African Football records
usuf Mainge’s star is already up there, it has already risen after his showing for AFC Leopards in the team’s first leg preliminary round of the 2018 CAF Confederations Cup against Madagascan side FOSA Juniors on Sunday 11 February, where he scored on his debut for the team in one of the grandest stages in African football. A long searching ball from just beyond the halfway line evades Leopards’ Ghanaian import Prince Arko and juniors’ keeper Tabibo Bolbano to Bounce once and into the back of the net, 1-0. Arko runs off claiming it but in true honesty he didn’t touch it; it is Mainge’s goal and captain Robinson Kamura clarifies with the referee who awards it to the young full-back. And just like that, only three minutes into his Ingwe debut, the former
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Kakamega High School student has his name written in the Confederation of African Football records and sparked scenes of jubilation from the expectant home crowd that has thronged the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega. It is the stuff of legend considering the story behind it and would make a captivating intro to a book or movie 10, 15, 20 years from now after he has called time on his career. A defensive lapse 13 minutes later would cut short the sense of euphoria that had engulfed the stadium as the Malagasy team leveled to eventually share the spoils and rob young Mainge of all the plaudits. But again in true honesty, they robbed him of nothing as he had chosen the perfect stage to announce himself for all to see.
“I am still in disbelief,” Mainge, who is nicknamed Dani Alves by his peers says, “I would be lying to you if I told you I have the faintest idea of what is going on.” It is hard to fathom that only two months after clearing his O Levels he is here playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country and looking no bit out of place. First steps Born in Kaloleni Kisumu on Boxing Day 1999 to Mohammed Nasor Mainge a City Council worker and Zuhura Majid a small eatery owner, Mainge’s interest in football started at an early age while in class 5 at Highway Primary school. Starting off as a midfielder before his then teacher pushed him out wide. He excelled in the role, once attracting interest from the unlikeliest of places after playing in local football tournaments. “Highway has both primary and secondary schools and I can remember a friendly match where we played each other.
Admittedly in Soka Magazine Issue 8 where we highlighted the secondary school games held in Nyeri in 2017, we fell through the snooze button, failing to give him a single mention as winger James Mazembe took all the approbation after scoring four times as Kakamega High School finished third in the games. Mazembe had made a name for himself even before the games and being named the MVP proved his case. That class was littered with talent as they proved, with the Green Commandos team that won promotion from the National Division One League (third tier) to the National Super League (NSL). Coach Brendan Mwinamo’s charges finished top in Zone B to
required to provide a wide outlet whenever the team is in attack. It is the sole reason that led him to sanction a transfer for Mainge from St. Ignatius Magadi to Kakamega High School in 2015. As in his own words, he saw a player that could “play like Cafu or Dani Alves” if nurtured right. “His nickname is Dani Alves and that should say a lot about what the boy can do. I had Marcelo (Erick Ouma) here with me not too far back and the two are similar. “There are not enough words that I can use to describe him. He is talented, works hard and above all is obedient. He made my work easier and everyone here in the school agrees.
His star has already risen and its meteoric rise has caught most of us flat-footed.
I played well in the game to an extent that the coach of the senior school team wanted to take me on-board,” Mainge says in a chuckle, “Of course it was not possible to make such a leap. I was far too young in class 7 but looking back now even though I didn’t know it, such incidents paved my path.” It would have been a big leap for his young shoulders but considering what we already know now, he would have slotted in seamlessly. After all, this is a player that has taken a huge leap from high school to the 13 time league champions, a leap from playing in the third tier to continental football without kicking a ball in any of the levels in between. His star has already risen and its meteoric rise has caught most of us flat-footed.
automatically seal promotion and eight players from that team have since linked up with teams in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL). Dani Alves comparison “He is one of my best players as a coach. I have seen him develop as a fresh faced teenager when he joined the school in Form Two,” Coach Mwinamo says of the 18 year old who he roped in from the famed Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre (KYOC). A firm believer of attacking football, Coach Mwinamo sticks by the strict rules that have been exhibited by Brazilian national teams over the years as well as the tikitaka style of Barcelona where fullbacks are
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STAR ON THE RISE
YUSUF MAINGE
“To me it is not a surprise that he has made such an impact at such a massive club. As a fan of both Green Commandos and Ingwe I am elated by his progress and if he moves abroad to play for Manchester United then it will be three out of three for me because I am also a Red Devils fan,” an enthusiastic Mwinamo says. “The sky is the limit. You never know where hard work and perseverance might take you.” Turning pro His star was shining bright and AFC Leopards moved in quick to snap him up ahead of fellow heavyweights Tusker who were also monitoring his progress. He played in several of the team’s pre-season games as Coach Robert Matano sought to give him confidence before the start of the season. He sat out the team’s opening league fixture against Posta Rangers, probably a strategy by Coach Matano
Yusuf mainge in action against Madagascan side FOSA Juniors at Bukhungu Stadium
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to help him acclimatize in his new surroundings but as fate would have it, a Dennis Sikhayi knock in the game saw Mainge get in the frame for a possible start against FOSA Juniors and as they say, the rest is history.
himself and also a set of work out routines that includes 100 sit-ups daily. But what stands out most on the last page of the note book is a five point list of things he intends to achieve this year.
“When Leopards offered me a chance to play for them I thought long and hard about it because I wasn’t so sure that I would be able to play. Sikhayi is one of the best in that position and he had just had a stellar period with the national team at the CECAFA tournament.
Two months into the year and he has already achieved one of his targets which is to receive a call up to the national team as he was among the 50 young talents called up for selection for the U20 national team in preparation for the 2019 African Youth Championships qualifiers.
“But Coach Matano gave me belief plus I love taking up such challenges so I joined and marked my debut with a goal,” he says with a smile.
It is just the beginning, Yusuf Mainge’s star is fast on the rise and the sky is certainly not the limit.
Goals One of his dearest of possessions is a note pad that he carries with him everywhere that he goes. On it is a set of inspirational quotes that he says motivate him to keep on pushing
Follow Peter Wainaina on Twitter: @naina_naish
Yusuf Mainge (left) celebrates his goal against FOSA Juniors with team mate Robinson Kamura
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INTERVIEW
WILLIAM MULUYA
THE BIG INTERVIEW William Muluya
Muluya has grown from coaching a youth team to winning the KPL Coach of the Year award By Dan Ngulu You handled the Mathare United U20 team to a good spell, how different/ challenging is it coaching the youngsters’ vis a vis adults as you do now? Not a big difference in terms of player relations. The slight difference comes in with the levels; at Mathare the lads were not participating in a league sort of competition unlike at Sharks where most of our players are still young and playing in the top league. Given a chance to coach U20 and adults which one would you go for? Any, based on the demands of the particular competition they are participating in. I believe coaching is the same and there are no limits to whom and where you should coach. Growing through the MYSA structures was it hard to leave and take an ambitious job at Sharks? I want to state it that am still confined to the same roots that bore and groomed me; I still have my community teams (Indomitable FC) in Dandora that do play in the organized MYSA leagues annually which also clarifies my point.
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William Muluya has risen from a youth coach to win the KPL Coach of the Year award
Taking the job at Sharks wasn’t a hard decision to make nor is it a hard task to handle because I was already attached to the team and its players by having interacted with them from the MYSA teams before and at a certain time a big chunk of the 2013 KPL U20 Mathare United team was made up of current Sharks players. Of course you wanted a big challenge, but how did you handle the transition from a club with fine youth structures to Sharks? Adapting was easy because the vision at Sharks isn’t so different from MYSA. At Sharks we embrace the youth more than anything else, the reason we have a lot of young players here. Also, our scouting system is mainly charged with getting or grooming the best youthful talents around the country. After taking charge, what followed was a long unbeaten run at Sharks. How come you settled in so fast and delivered? I wasn’t too new to the already existing system at Sharks and so it took me less time than expected to gel and bond with the team. Furthermore, the players then worked so well and really dedicated their efforts towards one objective – attaining promotion to the KPL, which was achieved. Your name will go down history as the man who delivered Sharks to the Premier League. What feeling does this evoke? It is a good feeling but cannot be dedicated to me alone but the entire team at large from the topmost management down to the dedicated players who made it happen. A few of your players were really under fire when called up to the national team before and after promotion; how did you, as a manager help them rise through the negativity? The only best way to shun negative criticism is to put up good performance on the pitch and it all starts from training to the matches at
the club level and also the matches at the national team level. I have a duty to make sure that they work hard right from training and their image built through better performance at the club. As a player, Masoud Juma hit his peak at Sharks after struggling a bit at Sony, Bandari, Shabana and KCC. Is there a secret to player handling you’d like to share that made him advance to his current levels? Working relationship between me and Masoud was super and I thank God because the moment came when the guy realized that he had to meet his targets in life as a player through football career. I can’t fail to mention that Masoud worked so hard in training that any match he played looked so easy for him based on the effort he had indicated or shown during the preparations. He is one guy who could revisit and review what went well and what didn’t work well for him and quickly adjust to suit the set objective of the training sessions and matches altogether. Back to you, a tough start to your first season in KPL as Sharks; were you ever afraid things might not turn out as expected? The moment I chose coaching as a career I accepted that it is a high risk job that comes with a lot of responsibilities which are basically judged from the performance of the team. I wasn’t afraid of anything because I had strong support and backing from the management led by the team owner who once was a coach of the same team and understands the modalities around coaching. Of course the team improved as the season progressed and you went all the way to the GOtv Shield final. How would you describe the confidence in the team going all the way after a poor start? Strong character emerged as the season progressed; this was the reason why we started performing
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INTERVIEW
WILLIAM MULUYA
better. Lots of maturity was also evident and the experience got in to the individual players and to the team as a whole. In the league you also bagged some consistently good results finishing third; did you expect at the start of the season that as a team you’d go this far? At the start we knew we had assembled a good team and it only needed time to announce its best. Finishing third we can’t say was a surprise gauging by how best we tried to give in matches. That fine season came with two nominations and one win – the Coach of the Year – how did it feel to get such recognitions on just your first season? It was a great honor that I cannot share alone but with the team as a whole. I believe being the best wasn’t my effort but the whole team’s effort from the management, the playing unit and even the fans who rallied behind us the whole season. As a coach my greatest joy was seeing some of my players get recognized among the best performers of the 2017 season. The Coach of the Year tag comes with expectations from fans and maybe management of the club. There is a bar expected of you; is it giving you any sleepless nights? No sleepless nights knowing very well that this wasn’t all about one person performance but a unit. We only need to strengthen the working ties from training to the matches and all again comes back to smooth running.
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As a coach, what would be your ideal first 11 (players in the KPL)? In my ideal first 11 players would be any player who honestly gives his all in training and works hard during the matches while having a set objective for himself and the club at large. I believe our league has so many of these players that it would be so unfair for me as a coach to come up with only 11 players. Finishing third in 2017 means participation in one more competition in 2018 – the KPL Top 8 – is this your chance to field your fringe players? How do you approach the extra schedule? The cup competitions provide a
The moment I chose coaching as a career I accepted that it is a high risk job that comes with a lot of responsibilities which are basically judged from the performance of the team
William Muluya has engineered tremendous growth at Kariobangi Sharks since joining the team in 2016
CURRENT ISSUES
CURRENT ISSUES
good forum to field the young and upcoming players who are not regulars in league matches. I will gladly use these cup matches to grant the players who don’t get much playing time in league matches. After a third placed finish, what is the ambition for 2018? For the 2018 season my wish and ambition is for all my players to perform better and the rest will follow.
Follow Dan Ngulu on Twitter: @danodinga
Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya with his assistant Bernard Kawinzi ahead of a past KPL match
Muluya (in green top) discusses tactics with his players in a training session
Muluya (c) works on match day tactics with his technical bench members Dick Francis (left) and Bernard Kawinzi
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WOMEN FOOTBALL
ROSEMARY ALUOCH
Rosemary Aluoch The football legend turned community heroine By Terry Ouko
O
ften times, people tend to think that age limits an individual from achieving their dreams. Such is not the case for Rosemary Aluoch who went back to school to finish her secondary school education at the age of 38. After enjoying her football career both at the club and national team levels, the custodian fondly known as Maradona opted to register for adult education classes, partly in preparation for life after her football career. Aluoch seeks to quash the belief that footballers do not like going to school with the notion that it is impossible balancing the two. The single mother of one only got this chance to further her academics when all grown as a result of the demise of her parents just after completing her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
Rosemary Aluoch after receiving the 2017 Community Hero Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Award.
would be one of the most popular goalkeepers in Kenya. But just how did the lethal forward find herself between the sticks? “I used to be a number 10 and that is why I was nicknamed Maradona but my friends preferred to call me Mara. I remember representing my school at the national games and even won the top scorer’s award. A year later I was scouted to play for my first club, Makongeni Ladies. Our first choice goalkeeper then, Karen Awuor had been called to the Harambee Starlets’ camp and so the coach, Erick Ayoo, asked me to assume the goalkeeping duties simply because I was tall. That is how I ended up being the team’s first choice keeper,” she narrates with a chuckle.
“I was tired of ridicule from my peers who felt that I was not good enough since I dropped out of school. I have since completed my secondary education and am currently pursuing as course in Community Development,” Aluoch says as she settles down for our interview.
Not easy Aluoch’s younger years were not a walk in the park; she had to work to make ends meet. Being an orphan, she did not have much support from her relatives hence spent most of her time in the streets. To make ends meet, she resorted to collecting plastic and scrap metals for sale besides collecting garbage at residences.
Early years Born and bred in a rough neighborhood, Dandora, the 42 year old began her football career as a striker, playing for her school, Heshima Primary. Little did she know that she
The money she got from this was not enough to take care of her housing and so she had to live with a coach - Daniel Wasakala - who took her in as one of his children. It is from her street life experience that Mara vowed to give
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back to the community someday. “Our keeper Karen who is currently in the United States had left for the Harambee Starlets U20 team that was travelling to Scotland. I had just joined the team but the coach jokingly told me that am tall so I was the one to stand in for her. That was my last day as an outfield player and I always feel like I got my rightful position on that day,” she states. After establishing herself as a goalkeeper at Makongeni Ladies while playing alongside the likes of Florence Duah Adhiambo - a former Harambee Starlets U20 coach, Aluoch felt it was time to seek new challenges. That is when she opted to join a newly formed team Chipeta FC. This came at a time when Makongeni Ladies was dissolved and a new side Eastlanders FC that is currently known as Makolanders came into being. Women football in Kenya has not always been a rosy affair and this was a similar case when the Kenya Women Football Association (KWFA) was in charge of running the women’s game. It was during the same time that she would get a call up to the senior Harambee Starlets to play in a friendly match against Uganda national team. For a debut appearance at the age of 17, she was feels she impressed in a match that ended 3-0 in favor of Kenya. “When I moved to Chipeta Ladies, it was like a blessing because that is the time I got my first call up to the national team under coach Habil Nanjero. I was young then but I had to cement my place in goal since the competition was stiff with the likes of Mathare United keeper Veronica Achieng in the team. I was not sure if I was good enough but after the Uganda match, I was retained in the team to attend a series of friendly matches with college sides in the United States,” Aluoch reminisces.
Besides having her fair share of good moments at the national team, Aluoch still had challenges making ends meet, and it got worse when she got pregnant without a stable income. She had to take a break from the game, and go back to living from hand to mouth. It was after taking time off to fend for her daughter, that she decided to join Ministry of Sports sponsored side – MOYAS FC. She got back in shape and even made a trip to Ethiopia for an exchange program during the cultural week. In as much as balancing parenthood and football became a challenge, she often found time to play for her team in the league. Homeless World Cup In 2002, she moved to Old is Gold FC for a season before heading to Uganda for a stint at Kampala City
I used to be a number 10 and that is why I was nicknamed Maradona but my friends preferred to call me Mara. I remember representing my school at the national games and even won the top scorer’s award. FC a year later. She would then move to Bukavu Dawa FC in Congo and Lakolombe in Burundi respectively.
coach, Alex Lalas Mwangi admits that Aluoch’s determination can move mountains. Besides being the only lady in a team that comprised of seven other men, she almost failed to travel due to a last minute setback that saw her miss an air ticket. “I have known Mara for quite a while and what I know about her is that she never gives up easily. When we were going to Melbourne she had missed the trip but singlehandedly fundraised and later joined us after we had travelled. “It was like she knew something good could come out of it because it was after her outstanding performance at the tournament that she landed sponsorship for her education. She has since founded her own organization in Dandora and her dreams of giving back to the community have come to pass,” Mwangi said. National team Career Apart from her earlier participation in National team friendly matches, including a 2-1 win over South Africa and a 4-1 win over Ethiopia; in 2006 Aluoch got her first real test in the Harambee Starlets during the African Championships qualification match against Djibouti. The Habil Najero coached side registered a 7-0 win at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, before their opponents pulled out of the two-legged affair. Cameroon lay in wait and the African giants would then burst Kenya’s
After playing out of the country for three seasons, the lanky custodian opted to come back home since she was not getting much from football. The struggle continued and while at home, she landed a chance to take part in the Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. This is when she met a well-wisher from EnglandRebecca Horn who took her back to school after spotting her at the tourney. Her teammate back then who is currently the Nairobi County FC head Mara up from the bench to prepare a player for warm up in a past Harambee Starlets match
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WOMEN FOOTBALL
ROSEMARY ALUOCH
Fact File Full Name
Rosemary Aluoch Kadondi 5/7/1976
Date of Birth Height
6’1ft
Weight
68 Kg
Position
Goalkeeper
Education 1990-1997
Heshima Pri School
2014
Adult Sec Education
2018
Community Development
away goal rule. In 2015 she called time on her national team career, after being handed the Harambee Starlets Goalkeeper Trainer’s role during the Olympic Games qualifiers against Botstwana and South Africa respectively. She was then switched to the role of the Team Manager, before being given a new role of the Kits Manager; a role she says she
so proud of her,” Petra says. Dandora Dumpsite Rehabilitation Group Amid her busy football career both at club level and at the national team, she founded the Dandora Dumpsite Rehabilitation Group (DEGREG); a community based organization that supports vulnerable youth in Dandora, Nairobi area. The
Being the brainchild behind DEGREG, Aluoch bagged the 2017 Community Hero award at the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year held in Nairobi
Club 1993-1995 1996 1997 1998-2001 2002 2003 2004-2005 2006-2007 2008-2010 2011-2012 2013
Makongeni Youth FC Eastlanders FC Chipeta Ladies Minicus FC Old is Gold Kampala City Council-Uganda Bukabu DawaCongo Lakolombe FC Old is Gold MOYAS Bukabu Dawa
Accolades 2001 2006
2008
Ethiopia Cultural Week-Golden Glove Inter-states tournament– Golden Glove Homeless World Cup MelbournGolden Glove
bubble with a 9-0 win on aggregate. With the then uncertain state of women football, the next Harambee Starlets’ assignment came in 2014 where Aluoch was still tasked with the goalkeeping duties. This time, Rwanda beat Kenya 1-0 in Kigali before Kenya won 2-1 in the return leg staged at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. Starlets were forced to bow out of the competition on the
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enjoys the most. “I cannot say that quitting football at my prime was an easy decision to make. You know goalkeepers get better with age and I believe if I had to go back between the posts I would still do a good job. I was however given a job I could not turn down since form is not guaranteed. We had talented young goalkeepers like Pauline Atieno and Samantha Akinyi who brought in real competition. I took up several roles but the one I enjoy the most is my current role of handling kit,” she states. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice president Doris Petra has worked with Aluoch during the previous regime when she was the U20 national team Goalkeeper Trainer, and is full of praise for the legend. “I have worked with Mara for close to a decade now and I can attest to the fact that her passion for football is second to none. It is more encouraging that her efforts were recognized and she was handed the SOYA gong for community development. “Apart from striving to complete her education against all odds, she is a hardworking lady and that is the main reason she has been recognized. I am
organization was formed mainly to build the capacity of children working in the dumpsite, as well as partner with schools in order to secure scholarships for them. About 21 beneficiaries have been able to complete their secondary school education while 62 are in primary school. In 2016, 10 students sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) with the best performing student Brian Nyaosi getting a B+, while Celestine Awuor and James Otieno scored C+ and C plain grades respectively. “We have several players who have been able to go back to school and we hope to help more acquire football scholarships. Partnerships with schools have also been key in ensuring we help the neighboring schools, for instance we have been able to ensure we get sponsors to equip their libraries. In as much as we use football to engage the kids, we also focus on vocational training in order to increase employment opportunities in the slums,” Aluoch explains. Being the brainchild behind DEGREG, Aluoch bagged the 2017 Community Hero award at the Safaricom Sports
Personality of the Year held in Nairobi, but she admits that the organization is still engulfed in a myriad of challenges. Among the biggest problems is the fact that the children have inadequate equipment. It is therefore hard to conduct effective training sessions due to the growing number of players that use the field on a daily basis. It is therefore Aluoch’s hope that more partners and sponsors can come on board and offer more support. Apart from her role of running DEGREG, Aluoch is a Jack of all trades according to her former national team coach Habil Nanjero. She is one of those active persons that would take up any work, or training as long as it complements her ventures. She is not only a coach but also a trained referee, who mostly officiates the FKF Division one matches when she is not attending to physiotherapy sessions.
“It has been tough running the organization without enough funds, but I believe we have had major milestones and it can only get better. We have a library, and soon we will be offering computer classes from here. We welcome well-wishers to come and donate books or clothes to the children as most of them come from very humble backgrounds. It is my hope that DEGREG can turn into a sports complex in future, and have a school of its own where these children can access free education,” she concludes. NATIONAL TEAM CAPS
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES (AGAINST) COUNTRIES 1. Nigeria 2. Ethiopia 3. Djibouti 4. Cameroon 5. Rwanda 6. Uganda 7. South Africa 8. Egypt HOMELESS WORLD CUP
Competition
Number of matches
1.Spain
African Cup Qualifiers
4
3.Chile
Friendlies
4
Homeless World Cup
5
2.Germany 4.Kryzigstan 5.Nigeria Follow Terry Ouko on Twitter: @Terry_Ouko
“Out of all the players I have coached I would say Mara is the most proactive of them all. Reason being, she is not only hard working but is also willing to try out what people perceive as impossible. “When she started her organization most people thought that she would give up easily, but a decade later, she is still working with children which is commendable. She is also a talented goalkeeper as well as a trained referee which to some of us can be too much to handle sometimes,” Nanjero remarks. But who inspired Mara to start DEGREG? While volunteering at Eastleigh Youth Centre as a life skills peer educator, she met one Martin Solo (Deceased) who tipped her to start her own project to help the youth in the slum. She decided to heed the advice but admits that it is hard to run the organization with the meagre funds she has. That is however just a small stumbling block to her. Mara helps preparing the Kenya U-20 team for warm up in a past duel
Mara watches from the bench as the Kenya U-20 team takes on their Ethiopian counterparts
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GRASSROOT
CHEZA SPORTS
Cheza
Sports
Olimba saw the need for a self sustainable and professional academy By Terry Ouko
A
fter serving at Cheza Afrika as a coach, Cheza Sports Academy Director Collins Olimba a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the Technical University of Kenya saw the need to put up a self-sustainable and professional academy that would serve the needs of young talents in Nairobi. It is now five years of existence for Cheza Sports Academy and with 250 youngsters enrolled, Olimba is proud of the progress realized even as he targets further growth. Scholarships Off the field the academy has been able to secure up to 20 scholarships for talented youngsters who are not able to raise secondary school fees. Kamukunji High School, Moi Forces Academy and Kibabii High School have signed up the likes of Tyron Ndeti, Brian Gudesa, Vincent Otieno, David Otieno, Isaac Oduor and Stephen Kandale for scholarships. “We have managed to get football scholarships for several players. Our long term plan is to strike partnerships with schools where we will be able to
take a big number of our players for scholarships,” he said. Being able to connect children both from the slums and those from well off backgrounds is what excites the Director. To have a consistent academy which they can depend on to shape their football careers makes him really glad. The academy does not only emphasize on developing talents,
We have managed to get football scholarships for several players. Our long term plan is to strike partnerships with schools where we will be able to take a big number of our players for scholarships youngsters at the academy get equipped with off field knowledge deemed essential for their progress. “At Cheza, we give professional Academy training depending on ages, and we have talented Cheza Academy Director Collins Olimba in a past training session. He also serves as Cheza FC head coach
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coaches who deal with talented youngsters of different age groups. Apart from footballing skills, the youngsters are trained on how to relate with people from different backgrounds and other life skills,” he continues. For an institution handling youthful players, the academy has ambitions that would usher the players to the national leagues, which led to the formation of Cheza FC which is now taking part in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi West County League.
League but the league has helped the players improve individually,” he explains. Barcelona trip The academy holds its training sessions at Railways Training Institute in South B and managed to send one of the youngsters to Denmark’s Dana Cup while 20 more are expected to travel to the world’s best soccer academy – Barcelona’s La Masia in August 2018. Olimba is aware of the gains that await them in the trip to Spain.
for the Barcelona trip early and 20 youngsters will travel to Spain. They will have a chance to interact with the best academy coaches in the world during the trip. At Cheza we are sure of producing talents that will be able to feature in the top leagues in Kenya and abroad, that is why we are keen on learning from the best,” he adds.
In running daily activities, the side depends on enrollment fees paid by parents at the start of every month. However close to 60 percent of the players are unable to pay the fees fully and they depend Railways on well-wishers.
The academy holds its training sessions at Olimba says the purpose of Training Institute in South B and managed forming Cheza FC was to have of the youngsters to Denmark’s Dana Cup a platform which the youngsters would have a taste of club football and get the relevant “In 2017 we were planning to take experience. a team of 20 players to Denmark for the world’s biggest youth tournament “We are preparing them for commonly known as Dana Cup. Due professional football. Cheza FC is to financial constraints we managed there to prepare the players for the to take just one kid following a next stage. The team, which is made partnership with other academies in up of our U17 and part of the U15 Kenya,” he revealed. players had an average performance in the first season in the County “This year we started our plans
to send one
“It is a football school; we enroll on fees that help us run our daily activities. We hope to get more sponsorships on board to boost us because the activities of an academy are costly and the enrollment fee is not enough. Close to 60% cannot afford the fees but they are given a chance because they are talented and we ensure we support them fully. We bring on board well-wishers who take some of the kids from humble backgrounds and offer total support,” he notes.
Cheza Academy under 13 squad team photo
soka.co.ke 43
GRASSROOT
CHEZA SPORTS
Just like other local clubs, Olimba says their greatest challenge is funding their daily activities as they have to hire the training venues on daily basis and match venues. Buying training equipment, transport cost to match venues and running of tournaments are other costs that the academy has to meet. He urges corporates to invest in youth football as it is needed for the development of the game.
age of 17 and avoid the process of developing players. There needs to be a shift in the way we think in terms of youth football. The short cuts we take are wrong; we have to follow the right steps of player development because if you give the right training to a young player he or she learns. There is also need to work harder and learn from the successful teams in the world. We have to research and be scientific, in that we can keep records for our players. Whenever you have records it is easy to assess where a player needs to improve and what are his or her strong points,” he concludes.
She has been at Ligi Ndogo Academy, Fisa Academy and Cheza Africa before joining Cheza Sports. Amy admits to have gained a lot in the four years she has been with Cheza Academy. Exposure, mental, emotional and physical growth is what she has achieved at the club. She notes that the academy has helped her become confident besides sharpening her communication skills among other areas. The women’s side has had fewer players over the years but she believes that with the growing standards of women football the numbers will rise.
With the systems set up, the director backs the academy to be a major exporter of talents to top clubs in Africa and Europe. Creating formidable As we go to Barcelona, we hope to build a “It is through Cheza Sports partnerships and having I have been able to relationship with the Academy for more that exchange programs with showcase my talent and top academies across the many people got to know exchange programs world is what the 26 year me. I’ve grown as a player old is looking at in the mentally, emotionally and long run. Women Football physically. One of the beneficiaries of Cheza “I have gained a little more “Five years from now Cheza will be Sports Academy is South Sudanese experience from the time I started celebrating 10 years of existence. By born Amy Lasu Lauya. The Kenya playing as a kid till now. I have learnt then we should have a well set up Women Premier League (WPL) side, how to communicate more. I used to academy with boarding facilities and Makolanders attacker is one of the 10 be a very shy person but nowadays I world class training equipment. girls at the academy. am more confident,” she says. “Exchange programs with professional clubs in the world, and having our players play professional football for local clubs and abroad will be justice for us now that we have been working hard day in day out to shape the youngsters’ football careers in the last few years. “As we go to Barcelona, we hope to build a relationship with the Academy for more exchange programs.” Olimba says. Olimba’s advice to Kenyan clubs is to focus on developing youngsters at a tender age and avoid focusing on those above 17 years. He recommends that clubs be keen on players’ records as it is the only way to identify where the player needs to improve. “Our clubs need to be professional. They need to have a different look at youth football. A number of clubs I know only look for players beyond the Cheza FC players team photo ahead of their friendly match against South C Allstars at the CID Grounds. The team features in the Nairobi West County League
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The former Gaspo Ladies and Otto Benecker speedy forward urges those in need of a place to develop their football skills to try Cheza Sports, for its quality coaches, good facilities and fairness to all players. Her dream is to play for her country’s women’s national team, which she feels is achievable. “At Cheza Sports the players get to learn quality football, as well getting a chance at education as it is a key factor to help them in future. It also exposes players by holding tournaments for them where they can be scouted by different teams around the world,” she adds. Cheza FC captain Zablon Musesi is also counting gains after his few years with the outfit. “I came here when I was unfit, after close to a year without playing football. The coaches have helped me grow as a player and given me freedom on the pitch. I have been able to improve in many areas as a player,” Musesi explains. He is confident that with the skills picked at Cheza Sports, his dreams of playing in the Champions League are on course and hopes to match George Weah’s record of becoming the first African to be named the best player in the world. “My dream is to play in the professional leagues in Europe. I want to play the Champions League and win the Ballon D’or. To achieve that I need to be focused and work really hard.
Cheza Sports Academy Director Collins Olimba controls the ball during the Senior team training session at the TUK Grounds.
“I believe I am on the right track because Cheza Sports is shaping me
exploit his or her skills and unleash the full potential.
I came here when I was unfit, after close to a year without playing football. The coaches have helped me grow as a player and given me freedom on the pitch ~ Musesi towards that. I have the right materials to get me there and I am confident the dream will come true one day. Our local football is good but my goal is to play abroad,” Musesi further explains. Musesi has not only improved his playing skills, he has also attended coaching courses and just like Amy, he urges youngsters to join the South B based academy to hone their talents.
“The coaches here focus on sharpening our strongpoints and apart from that our weak areas are worked on. The academy is well organized and teaches us to be organized as well. As senior players we are already learning coaching skills since we are involved in training the younger ones” he notes. The academy has six coaches, who are in charge of the eight age categories available. At the end of every year the Academy awards the best performers.
“Cheza gives one freedom to Cheza Sports FC Captain Zablon Musesi jogs off the pitch during a friendly match at the CID Grounds.
Follow Terry Ouko on Twitter: @Terry_Ouko
soka.co.ke 45
FALLEN GIANTS
KISUMU FOOTBALL
The Declining
STATE
of Kisumu
FOOTBALL
The Kisumu football terrain suffered heavy blows in 2017. Only the future will tell if the county will regain its glory By Fabian Odhiambo
J
ames Onyango Mbidha walks with the aid of a stick. His left part of the body selectively paralyzed by what thirty years ago, initially looked like a routine striker-goalkeeper contact. It wasn’t for him unfortunately, and even though later he got the news in hospital that his team had beaten AFC Leopards 2 - 1, he didn’t the slightest idea that his part to the beautiful game was complete. He would be out for the rest of his life. ‘’I still think it was a malicious knock. Posta had never cowed in the presence of AFC Leopards so we were just having our usual fantastic match against them here in Kisumu,’’ says
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Spings, as he was popularly known at Kisumu Posta. Posta led Leopards 2-0 by the break and he believes his memory serves him right when he insists he saw legendary Leopards forward JJ Masiga pulled aside for a brief talk, by his coach. It would be Masiga with the devastating contact and a few minutes later Spings was rushed to hospital. Even though finally getting a goal after Spings was out, damage had been done to Ingwe and they lost the tie 1-2. The City of Kisumu may not have a team in the Kenyan Premier League right now but even before Spings, there has always been a team. Matter
of fact, he vividly recalls the kind of rivalry that arose from two huge names in the region. Even though hailing from the same region, Kisumu Hot Stars and Kisumu Black Stars never saw eye to eye. Spings would play for Hot Stars immediately after finishing school at Kisumu Boys High School (KB). While at KB, John Okello Zangi and Spings briefly turned out for Kenya Police. Kisumu – and to a large extent their neighbours Kakamega – it was said, were the hub where players were made. Spings doesn’t think any differently. ‘’Those were the glory days. Even
Western Stima brought hope to the City, then flopped just as quick
though we may not have had proper youth structures, the schools produced well molded players who were ripe for the Premier League. “It is funny that when we have structures like today is the time we cannot even raise a team in the Premier League,’’ says the man who would in his career have brief sojourns at Kenya Breweries (Tusker), Kahawa Cannons before coming back to Kisumu to play for the Post Office team.
For a coach who’s been at the helm of over five clubs in the City in the top flight, Omino understands the football terrain better than anyone else; with stints at Agro Chemicals FC, Kisumu All Stars, Kisumu Telecom and of course Posta. Stima’s relegation at the end of 2017, potentially casts the City into another Premier League-deficient spell that may be longer if Stima and the new Kisumu AllStars reincarnate do not execute well in the second tier.
Stima to their hearts. A club-high sixth-place finish in 2016 was the mark of a team feeling at home whenever they took their matches at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu. Whatever lay in wait after that incredible campaign with a team comprising homegrown players is something Coach Omino could never have fathomed. For weeks he languished at the base of the new 18team league and for weeks he sought quick remedy. Even though replaced
Stima’s relegation at the end of 2017, potentially casts That the region should be held in high regard as pertains to matters the City into another Premier League-deficient spell that footballing talent, Henry Omino, may be longer if Stima and the new Kisumu AllStars former Western Stima coach agrees. Omino, who has overseen reincarnate do not execute well in the second tier a number of Kisumu teams in the top flight even marvels at the respect teams from other regions as coach by Ugandan Richard gave Kisumu. Players, he says, would A club originally founded for the Makumbi, Omino stayed close as the just want to come and play here. representation of Western and Technical Director but the script it Nyanza provinces, Stima had base in seems, had long been written, and ‘’I once had Washington Muhanji in Kakamega and played their first seven only characters needed to toe my team, and Frank Wetende (Allan seasons at the Bukhungu Stadium their lines. Wanga’s father) too. Good players until renovation of the venue forced were attracted to good football and them to find solace in Kisumu Kisumu All Stars is coached by a duo we readily provided that,’’ says Omino in 2015. that has previously been coached whose last stint in the top flight by Omino at Posta. Nickanor Aketch came in 2017 when as the Technical Being a people who love good especially, is a name synonymous Director at Western Stima, saw his football - and of course a team to with the national team side bite the dust after a disastrous identify with, football lovers in Harambee Stars. season. Kisumu wasted no time in taking soka.co.ke 47
CURRENT ISSUES
CURRENT ISSUES
Kisumu Hot Stars only wants one more season in the Division 1
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CURRENT ISSUES
CURRENT ISSUES
soka.co.ke 49
FALLEN GIANTS
KISUMU FOOTBALL
Nickanor Aketch (L) and Paul Ogai both played in the Premier League during their time. They are currently tasked with lifting Kisumu AllStars into the top tier.
‘’My take is football is not a one man game. You may have a nice idea but you need to incorporate like-minded people to help you in implementation. We have had two teams in Nyanza drop down and I believe we were never pulling towards the same direction as a region,’’ says Aketch who only wants one season with AllStars to ensure Kisumu has a team in the Premier League. ‘’Not much has changed from our playing days. The players are there. Kisumu as it has always been, is still the factory from which many Kenyan greats emerge. Look at the Nairobi teams and the composition of their units, you’ll find many Kisumu players who had to move because of a lack of team for which to turn out for in their own city. We have a lot of selfcenteredness that should stop. Poor management is another ill that makes our players find solace elsewhere,’’ adds the coach who is assisted by Paul Ogai at All Stars. 50 soka.co.ke
Kisumu Youth Football emerged in 2004, providing a properly structured youth league for players aged between 10 and 18. Managed in Kisumu by one Kevin Obware, KYFA, as it is popularly known, in its 14 years of existence has groomed a rough estimate of 10% of the Kenyan Premier League’s composition.
detriment to the hopeful young lads who were just about to complete their O level of education. Coach Ogai, a KYFA trained coach himself, points this as a loophole to why the region has struggled to convert its bountiful teenage talent to any meaningful entity in the way of a Premier League club.
From KF Tirana anchorman Kenneth Muguna to his replacement at Gor Mahia Bernard Ondiek, KYFA served fresh hope to a region that had not seen top flight football for some time From KF Tirana anchorman Kenneth Muguna to his replacement at Gor Mahia Bernard Ondiek, KYFA served fresh hope to a region that had not seen top flight football for some time. Even though they might have targets of their own as an organization presently, KYFA’s scrapping of the U-18 league many feel served a
“KYFA has done some great things for the region. From those leagues we have seen very good players emerge and most of them actually make an impact wherever they are stationed in the Kenyan top flight. I feel the scrapping of the U18 league removed the gate pass to senior football for our teenagers. Most of them play from the U12’S to U16’S and just when
they think they are ready to transition, they find a blockade and this leads to some of them even opting out of football,” Ogai, who aided the now defunct Palos FC into the second tier in 2015, says. Premier League aside, the existence of many clubs in the tiers that follow is a strong indicator of just how blessed the region is in matters pertaining youthful sporting talent. With the disbandment of Palos FC came Kisumu All Stars, a team itself smacking in a few Palos remnants but immensely equipped with just young players from within the county. After just four matches of play in the National Super League, coach Aketch sees promise within his team, players initially never given a chance but now have the perfect platform to prove their mettle. ‘’We didn’t have the best start as an NSL team but as a coach I have seen what can work for us. There was plenty of untapped talent in this county and now that they have a team they can actually own, I believe they can deliver. I have said it before, my personal target is to just play one season in the second tier.
reduced but you can hardly blame them. There was no team to support in the Premier League for a very long time. These are things that can be remedied however, we can go back to the good old days because our people as I said, love good football,” he adds. Kisumu County may want to rush and have a team back in the top flight, especially after Muhoroni Youth and Western Stima, for the three seasons the latter has played here, reminded everyone of how top flight football looked like. KYFA, for all the success that points back to its foundation, has already endeavored in a quest to fill the gap left by their scrapping of the U-18 league a couple of years ago. This comes in the form of a team, FC KYFA, modestly taking their place in the Kisumu County League, and of course aiming for the top.
another plethora of teams from the City. ASYSA- 2017 Kisumu County League Champions and Kisumu City FC are new entrants into the league. The lowest tier, County League, has even more promising sides with most players still in school. Manyatta United for example even has a player in the Kenya U-20 team one Patrick Ochieng. Maybe Kisumu players thrive too fast, or maybe the many clubs in the lower tiers lack proper management systems. With a huge turnover of players leaving the City for greener pastures (read top flight football) it is only fair that clubs make proper returns on investment or better yet, provide the kind of environment that will enable these players stick and elevate the teams right to the top.
With the disbandment of Palos FC came Kisumu All Stars, a team itself smacking in a few Palos remnants but immensely equipped with just young players from within the county
Our people have waited too long to see their team in the top flight. So yes, just one and we are headed into KPL,’’ a buoyant Aketch tells Soka after one of their training sessions at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu. One of the many Kisumu Posta players to have been regulars at the national team Harambee Stars, Aketch however draws a stark contrast between the passion of the game then and now. He has seen proper rivalry as a player and as a fan here in Kisumu. Presently, he admits, people aren’t as passionate about the local game as they were a few decades ago. ‘’It’s important to also point out that viewership in the stadia has declined. Love for the game has greatly
It’s a long journey to even get to sniff the backs of bottom teams in the second tier, but no one ever got there without trying. Currently, Muhoroni Youth, Stima and All Stars represent the county in the second tier NSL. Just below them in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division 1 are Kisumu Hot Stars (formerly Kisumu Youth Olympic Center) and Griffins FC (Formerly Chipolopolo). A tier down and plenty more are to be found. Urussy FC, Kibuye, Muhoroni Young, Miwani, Amani and Y-zone will be doing their second season in the FKF Division 2 but are joined by
The City has been reduced to producing spontaneous talents such as Muguna, but not a premier League outfit
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FALLEN GIANTS
KISUMU FOOTBALL
James Spings Onyango may have had his career cut short during his time, and even though he might labor to even get to the stadium, only good football should be played when you’re honored by the presence of such a man who literally gave his life to football. Spings recalls the time Hot Stars and All Stars could draw a large enough crowd to fill up the stadium. ‘’We were the biggest of rivals. Hot Stars and All Stars never mixed. The sitting arrangement even had AllStars on one side and Hot Stars on the other, and then good football would follow,’’ he recalls. The 70’s Hot Stars, seen as a feeder club to Gor Mahia at the time interestingly shares that trait with the present Kisumu Hot Stars (KYOC) who have had former players Kenneth Muguna, Bernard Ondiek, Joachim Oluoch, Wellington Ochieng and Boniface Omondi all who turn out for Gor Mahia and even won the 2017 league while at it. The 70’s AllStars was a feeder club to Re-Union FC according to Spings and that is why locally, they never saw eye to eye.
So the names are back; Stima with Omino written all over it, should evoke the memories of Kisumu Posta. Hot Stars on the other hand carry a legendary name and might also want to do justice to it, the same goes to All Stars. KYFA’S recent taking up of the then sponsor-less Palos Ladies Football Club points to better days ahead for football in Kisumu. A Women Premier League side Palos, almost had the heartbreak of their lives when it was revealed that their initial support had been withdrawn. They however were rescued by the very noble efforts of KYFA and will be part of the Kenya Women’s Premier League for the second year having finished fourth in their debut season. Wanting structures and poor management should be answerable as to why Kisumu’s state of football looks the way it does. Passion however overrides it all and if only people could pull towards the same direction as Aketch says, a lot more could be different.
Palos Ladies, technically- is the only premiership side in Kisumu
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Follow Fabian Odhiambo on Twitter: @Fabian_Odhiambo
CURRENT ISSUES
CURRENT ISSUES
Kisumu Youth Football Association’s role in the development of the game is unrivaled.
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LEGEND OF THE GAME
CHARLES OKWEMBA
D N E G LE of E M GA s doing
, and i ecades
e, for d m a g e h een in t b s a p flight h o t e He h t year in h t 0 2 s i h
Charles T OKWEMBA
he 2018 Kenyan Premier League season marks Charles Elphas Okwemba’s 20th year in the top flight, a professional career birthed at the Iterio Boys High School and hopefully not to be ended at his current station Vihiga United.
By Fabian Odhiambo
Barely fourteen, he had made a name for himself and would be the subject of push and pull squabbles involving local secondary schools in Busia, as each wanted a piece of the boy the moment he completed his primary education
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The seventh child in a complete football team, Okwemba’s love for the game grew - and later surpassed everyone else’s - at Bulanda Primary School in Busia. He says it is God-given. “I knew I wanted to play football from a very tender age. My brother Benson Okwemba (now late) had been playing for Iterio Boys High School when I was also tussling with grown men during local football tournaments while still in Primary school back home, ‘’ recalls Okwemba. Barely fourteen, he had made a name for himself and would be the subject of push and pull squabbles involving
local secondary schools in Busia, as each wanted a piece of the boy the moment he completed his primary education. However, one fortunate visit to his brother at Iterio had him remain there. Benson had himself raked up a good reputation around the Iterio locality and was already in the eyes of the then premier league side Shabana FC. When his younger brother came to visit him in school then, there was a general feeling that the Okwemba family had yet another generous offering in the way of talent. He trained once and remained at Iterio-and his father, with whom he had made the journey, requested to head back home and bring him a few personal effects. ‘’I didn’t know I would join Iterio just like that, but it happened. They bought me a few belongings to begin my boarding life and my father would return a few days later with others,’’
My brother Benson Okwemba had been playing for Iterio Boys High School when I was also tussling with grown men during local football tournaments while still in Primary school
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LEGEND OF THE GAME
CHARLES OKWEMBA
says Okwemba who at this point was glad he was away from the disputes pitting locals schools back home in Busia. Kisii Posta played in the country’s second tier- and they came for Okwemba’s signature as he began his second year at Iterio. Benson on the other hand had just finished his form four and joined Shabana FC. It indeed was a footballing family. ‘’You know if you go to Kisii and ask for Okwemba they may not know me that way. You ask for Junior - the boy that played for Posta while at Iterio. That name will spark some memory. I was too young to play at that level yet I did. That’s where Junior came from,’’ a nostalgic Okwemba narrates. Posta would have him for two and a half years, but had to fight off Shabana for all that while as the premier league side knocked at Iterio’s doors time and again seeking the boy. Eventually they would figure out how to lure Okwemba out - by simply aiding his transfer from Iterio to Kisii Boys High School, at the time a football powerhouse in Kenyan schools. In the same year that his older brother Benson passed on, Okwemba agreed to join Shabana Football Club - after years of persuasion it seems, the Gusii powerhouse had had their way. This was during his final term at Kisii High School- and he would play 13 times in the Premier League before the season ended. ‘’There was a Tanzanian Coach at Shabana when I was seeing off my high school at Iterio- I believe his name was Zacharia Kinanda. So one day he brings Shabana for a friendly match at Iterio and we gave them a decent hiding. He said there was no way he was leaving without me. He was the first real coach who showed me adoration and I was kind of flattered. So I agreed to join them a couple of weeks later- at this time pressure had also mounted on me 56 soka.co.ke
to ditch Iterio for Kisii and I finally obliged,’’ recalls Okwemba who then played in the top flight at 17 years.
‘troublesome’ young lad at Posta whom they had all failed to lure to Shabana.
The creative midfielder prides himself in a few things unique to very few Kenyan footballers. The first he holds dear is wisdom. For instance, at Iterio he would have easily played in the Premier League while in his second year- roughly a 15 year old then. But
As Okwemba does his 13 appearances for Shabana however, Xavier had already gone to Eldoret KCC and the kid would follow him there upon the end of the 1998 KPL season.
If you go to Kisii and ask for Okwemba they may not know me that way. You ask for Junior - the boy that played for Posta while at Iterio ~ Okwemba he says he wasn’t in a hurry, that as much as the chance of playing in the top flight was right in front of him, he wanted to develop first. In his later sojourns, Okwemba attributes success to the kind of development he got in school and in the second tier with Posta. ‘’I always like to think that I’m a wise player. I play football with a purpose and never rushed to make decisions in my early life,’’ says the man who didn’t last at Shabana either. Francis Xavier may be Okwemba’s coach at Vihiga United today but their paths crossed way back as the latter was beginning his pro career. Xavier in fact- was one of the players at Shabana who had hinted to Kinanda about a
A regular at the continental stage, KCC would provide Okwemba with relatively superior exposure for the two years he would be there. His love story- unbeknown to him- was about to begin with the blue and white. Also unbeknown to him was the fact that AFC Leopards Chairman at the time one Mr. Samuel Angote was a maternal uncle. So Eldoret KCC give Leopards the match of their lives when the teams meet for a league clash at the turn of the millennium in Eldoret and on Ingwe’s return to the capital, senior players vow to
The stint at United brings Okwemba closer to home where he can monitor his
Mr. Angote that if he doesn’t ensure that some kid in KCC’s midfield joins Leopards, then they were sure to have more problems the following season.
in the country preparing for some continental showpiece and that’s when I got the chance to play for the senior Harambee Stars team.
That kid as you may have guessed was Okwemba - painstakingly troublesome to the bone. The chairman had his work cut out as he had in fact boasted that that kid was his son.
Before that I had only been receiving call-ups in the junior categories once with the U17’s while at Iterio and another with the U20’s while at Kisii High,’’ says the midfielder of his national team exploits.
‘’I may have played for 14 clubs throughout my career but I was at AFC Leopards more than any otherin fact it’s very possible that half the time I was at Ingwe,’’ chuckles Okwemba. ‘’Yet there are difficult moments in that journey, but as a club, Leopards is one that I could never say no to.’’
The fame at Leopards didn’t come for nothing- it’s here that he bagged his first real accolade after dismissing defending champions Mathare United 2-0 in the 2001 Moi Golden Cup.
As if the KCC exposure hadn’t done enough, at Leopards- Okwemba sprung into national fame. There was a new midfield general in town and yes, he was as diminutive as they come. It was while at Ingwe that he earned his first national team call-up with German Reinhardt Fabisch as the head coach. At club level, Tusker FC head coach Jacob Ghost Mulee had also started tracking him and wanted Okwemba at Ruaraka. ‘’Ethiopia’s U20 national team was
Ghost Mulee’s efforts did pay off a
‘’Of course an improved contract was a factor in my move. Tusker, despite not having too many fans, offered a chance to try and make something out of my career. Leopards wasn’t very stable financially at the time as it is now. The quality at Tusker also played a huge role because with their packages obviously they were going to have only the best players locally,’’ he reveals. North African nations have always proved a stumbling block to Kenyan opposition when it comes to club football, as it is with the national team too. Okwemba’s first real taste of - in his own words - ‘tactically and technically’ superior opposition,
I may have played for 14 clubs throughout my career but I was at AFC Leopards more than any other- in fact it’s very possible that half the time I was at Ingwe ~ Okwemba year after the Cup win and Okwemba was a Brewer in the season beginning 2003. When asked about this move, the 37 year old is quick to affirm his position on football as a career. He doesn’t just play football, he knows want he wanted from it.
came with Tusker FC. The Brewers had done well to dispatch off a few minnows in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Confederations Cup, one of them being Zanzibari side KMKM but Zamalek would prove their demise. Despite boasting the very best in the local scene as Edward Karanja, soka.co.ke 57
LEGEND OF THE GAME
CHARLES OKWEMBA
Abubakar Yusuf and Roy Waiswa, Tusker would flounder at the sight of Zamalek, their very best unfortunately proving too little for the North Africans. ‘’I think we still lack in those basic elements of the game to date. The kind of opposition we faced opened my eyes to a whole new level of football. They were both tactically and technically superior to us and even though we did give our best, there was little chance for beating them. I remember after the match their own fans following us to applaud the kind of show we had put out in the field,’’ Okwemba recalls as a pang of nostalgia hits him. There was youth at this Tusker side, names that would stir up the local scene a little in a few years to come. Current Mathare United skipper George Wise Owino was there, Andrew Oyombe was a young player in Mulee’s squad and so was Macdonald Mariga. This was the youthful burgeoning generation which Okwemba was part of. Three years at Tusker had opened up stints across the Kenyan borders and Rwandan giants APR summoned the lad from Ruaraka. First they needed to assess him as each party negotiated a deal that was supposed to keep him at the Kigali side for three years. As with Rwandan football, APR fans had heard of his arrival and attended the training sessions to sample out their latest catch. They would however be heartbroken as their club never reached an agreement with Okwemba. Unbeknown to APR, local rivals Rayon Sport had been keenly monitoring the situation and immediately had Okwemba taken to their offices. What followed was a deal like he had never seen. A fat signing fee and a house were quickly given to him at Rayon. Money had been the problem at
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APR, but certainly not at Rayon who desperately wanted to topple APR dominance in the season beginning 2005. It was meant to be the beginning of an eventful pro career abroad, only it wasn’t. Sad part is it was never because of his ability. ‘’I am a deeply religious person and if I recall that I couldn’t play football
Money had been the problem at APR, but certainly not at Rayon who desperately wanted to topple APR dominance in the season beginning 2005 because of practices that contradict the good book, it saddens me. I am not afraid to say because that is a long time ago and it deeply affected me. I was a fan favorite no doubt, the management liked me and this didn’t go down too well with most senior players. The climax of the whole problem came when I refused to partake in any of the black magic that we were offered before matches. This was a perfect chance for the coach to victimize me as he had also started getting jealous of my popularity with the fans. Out there in the field, I did my best and we won matches,’’ a sorry Okwemba narrates. It only took him six months at Rayon before he called it quits, came back to Kenya but didn’t join any other team that year. He simply wanted some time off. To aid his cooling off the following year, he joined Ugandan giants Sports Club
Villa on a one year deal that would then spring him back into another meaningful stint abroad. Okwemba’s landing at Salalah Club (formerly Al Hilal) in Oman was least expected even by himself. ‘’I had a friend called Fred Odhiambo whose cousin Vitalis Owuor had played in Oman for very many years. When I left Uganda he mentioned to his cousin that a club in Oman was in need of a midfielder and I was asked if I had any videos. Luckily for me, I had kept some few Harambee Stars tapes and I gave him. Next thing I knew was I was on a plane to Oman,’’ Okwemba laughs at this development himself. For someone who insists he plays football with a purpose, Okwemba’s deal at Al Hilal was more than he could have hoped for. The lad bought his first car upon return from his first year with the club. It was the 2007/08 season and upon return for the
CURRENT ISSUES
CURRENT ISSUES
summer break found AFC Leopards already relegated and fighting to return to the top flight. They asked for help, and he could never say no. ‘’I always found it hard to turn down Leopards so when I was in the off season from Oman, the management asked me to step in and at least aid the club back into top flight. By the time my Oman season was approaching they argued, the local league would be over. I obliged. Three months later, Leopards were back in the Kenyan Premier League and would participate in the 2009 season’’ a visibly proud Okwemba offers. But Leopards were not done with Okwemba yet, with his second season at Oman coming to a close (2008/09), word quickly reached him that Ingwe whom he had helped back into the top flight were in serious risk of relegation in their first year of return. Maybe when next you hear a Leopards fan say ‘once a Leopard always a Leopard’ kindly ask them if they are in fact referring to Okwemba Charles. The midfielder’s first task after seeing off his second year with Al Hilal was to help raise Ingwe from the foot of the table which alongside other club loyalists he did, finishing five points above relegated Bandari FC. With a car bought from his first year in Oman, and a piece of land bought in Nairobi after his second, a job offer from the Postal Corporation proved too good to resist so Okwemba joined Posta Rangers, as a footballer and an employee of the Postal Corporation. Life was good. There’s a general feeling that Okwemba’s name should only be invoked in good breath when past AFC Leopards players are mentioned. Even while at Posta, Ingwe would still come for their blood and bone- only this time, they had sponsorship and life was good at the den; just not the performance.
Total Caps
5
Date
Team
Coach
Venue
Score
1st cap
1/1/2010
Cameroon
Twahir Muhidin Kasarani
Last cap
1/6/2013
Tanzania
Henri Michel
3-1
Nyayo Stadium 0-0
Team palyed against
Date
Venue
Coach
Score
Cameroon
1/1/2010
MISC Kasarani Stadium
Twahir Muhidin
1-3
Yemen
1/15/2010
Ali Mohsin Muraisi Stadium, Sanaa
Twahir Muhidin
1-3
South Africa
10/16/2012
Nyayo Stadium
Henri Michel
1-2
Tanzania
11/14/2012
CCM Kirumba Henri Michel Stadium
1-0
Burundi
1/6/2013
Nyayo Stadium
0-0
Okwemba spent only a year and a half at Posta before joining in the restoration the Leopards paws that were in dire straits. A memorable domestic cup victory in 2013 is a highlight that he and other names such as Jonas Pako Nahimana, Jimmy Bageya and Mike Baraza just to mention a few share.
With a car bought from his first year in Oman, and a piece of land bought in Nairobi after his second, a job offer from the Postal Corporation proved too good to resist Leopards were back in the continental fold and even though losing to South Africa’s SuperSport United in the first round, the Leopard had clearly been missed in the competition.
James Nandwa
‘’I am proud of my stints with Leopards. We had both good and bad times, but even in the bad times it was worth it because playing for the badge has never been so relevant to us it was with Ingwe. After the cup victory there were a few things that may not have gone well for the team but for many that recall, that was one beastly squad,’’ he says. “I did join Ushuru in 2015 and lasted a year and a half. Football had served its purpose in me and everything was very calculated. What is however most important to me and to the teams I played for was that I was a top performer, I don’t recall when I last struggled to earn a starting place in any team I played in,’’ a buoyant Okwemba adds. He may have saved Ingwe blushes a number of times but Sofapaka also reserves a special page for Okwemba, having joined the 2009 KPL champions in January and scored crucial goals in the six – month stint
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LEGEND OF THE GAME
CHARLES OKWEMBA
before Vihiga United made a swift move for him.
since Reinhhardt Fabisch’s tenure, Okwemba has never disappointed.
Even though 37 and still making Coach Edward Manoah’s starting XI on any league day at Vihiga UnitedOkwemba reveals that his main reason for ditching Sofapaka to head to the countryside was partly because he wanted to focus on his business.
Coaches Zedekiah Otieno, Twahir Muhiddin, Mohammed Kheri and James Nandwa are some of the coaches he has played under in the national team, his last appearance being a 2014 friendly match against Libya.
‘’Some two years back I opened a sports house in Busia and a year before had started a transport company with one pick-up truck.
As chequered as his career may be, only one does strike most and that is his love affair with the AFC Leopards. Accolades may have
Moving from Sofapaka was unexpected honestly and I am quite sure if the president had been in the country I wouldn’t have gotten my release. Vihiga approached me and I thought about the deal but told them to directly write to Sofapaka.
Even though the national team has not been too kind in terms of callups in his career, in the very few instances he turned out for Harambee Stars since Reinhhardt Fabisch’s tenure, Okwemba has never disappointed
“There was some strong persuasion but I looked at how well the move was going to place me post-football and insisted I was leaving,’’ Okwemba confides. Vihiga United were in their second year in the National Super League and Okwemba was to do his third stint in this division having been here with Kisii Posta and AFC Leopards. Six months after joining, Vihiga were crowned the division champions hence gained promotion into the KPL. Perhaps it is also safe to say if you need a team in the top flight then Okwemba Elphas Charles is your go to guy. ‘’The County Government of Vihiga gave me the chance to become a sports officer while playing for the side. Here, I’m closer to home (Busia) and it is also just nice to be away from the capital finally,’’ he concludes. Even though the national team has not been too kind in terms of call-ups in his career, in the very few instances he turned out for Harambee Stars
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evaded him at the club given its stature but the two domestic cups won on two different stints heavily eclipse the period he struggled to lift a limping Leopard back in the top flight. He may have made the most out of football while away from the den, he may have even won most accolades elsewhere, but Charles Okwemba, a legend of the game, remains the man who could never say no to Ingwe.
Follow Fabian Odhiambo on Twitter: @Fabian_Odhiambo
Charles Okwemba’s ever smiling face mirrors the way he has handled his career - with honest joy
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LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
JAMES OMONDI
James Omondi
Omondi has dedicated his life after football to helping grow talents both in the pitch and academically By Dan Ngulu
T
he end of a playing career is not always something your ordinary Kenyan footballer anticipates and at the mention of it, many fret at the uncertainty ahead, at least for those who had not planned for it. In Kenya, a big percentage of players’ careers end due to inability to recover from injury, or maybe because of frustrations that come with the game, including management issues and the well-known lack of finances. Stories are told of players who quit the game to focus on more profitable ventures and trying their hand in something else, a quick fix that is normally not well planned for, but James Omondi’s story is different. Even before he quit the game, he had an idea of what he wanted to do. “My calling was in coaching; I saw it way before I even retired,” Omondi says with his trademark broad smile pasted on his face as he settles in. An accomplished Kenyan international striker at his prime, Omondi started off at Tusker and traveled the world, playing in Africa and Asia, winning league titles in three countries – Kenya, Ethiopia and Seychelles – before coming back home to retire. He was a member of
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the Kenya team that featured in the 2004 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). He spent two spells at Tusker; his first coming in 1997 – 1999 before he was spotted by Seychellois giants St Michel and afterwards stints in Vietnam, Qatar, Oman and Ethiopia followed before he landed back in Kenya as he approached retirement. What really prepared Omondi for life
An accomplished Kenyan international striker at his prime, Omondi started off at Tusker and traveled the world as a professional was his stint at Al Muaidar in the Oman second tier in 2003. He was the only foreigner at the time and had to prove his worth at a team seeking promotion. “In Seychelles, it was my first time playing outside Kenya but I had a few people I knew that would help me. In Oman I got vital lessons in my ambitions as a professional; I was the only foreigner at the
team and my performance is what kept me at the club,” he says of the club that gave him a debut on the very day he landed from Kenya. He went on to score eight goals in seven matches and helped the team get promoted but the lessons he picked were the most important; “I got toughened and I became a better player because of the experience in Oman,” he notes. Prior to going to Oman, Omondi had lost his spot in the national team after a barrage of criticism came his way during the qualification for the 2004 AFCON. The experience in Oman only
Song Lam Nghe in the Vietnamese top flight and even managed to get Kenyan keeper Duncan Ochieng fresh from AFCON as well, to sign for the team. A disagreement regarding contract extension at Song Lam would see Omondi take the flight back home in 2005 after which he signed up with Thika United and seeing the lower tactical levels of the Kenyan league compared to the Vietnamese, a desire to give back would spring up and this came in terms of community service. Having grown up in the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) set up, Omondi had all the inspirational figures he’d need around. The late Peter Serry was the first to spot his
Omondi knows the crucial role he has as far as football development in the country is concerned and he is keen to ensure the project sits well with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) long term ambitions served to make him work harder for his slot. “When we played here at home against Togo in the qualifiers I was substituted in the 26th minute and the following day there were all kinds of bashing in the media, that someone like me should never play for the national team and I was dropped. But going to Oman taught me this lesson about working hard and I got better. “I returned to the national team and cemented my place and performed consistently well, scoring important goals, and when the AFCON team was named, there was no way I was going to miss out,” he says. Featuring at AFCON opened up opportunities for Omondi as just a month later he attracted trials in Europe and Asia but would settle at
Fact File Full Name
James Omondi
Currently
TD Ligi Ndogo
National Team Caps
17
AFCON
1 (Against Senegal)
AFCON Qualifiers
1 (against Togo)
“Serry saw something in me that I had not realized, but now I know why he used to nudge me, and my first coaching course was in MYSA under David Ouma in 2009 and through this I got a chance to participate in the FIFA Youth Elite Coaching Course in Seychelles. It was an eye opener,” he says.
AFCON Qualifiers
1 (against Togo)
World Cup Qualifiers
2 (against Malawi, Botswana)
CECAFA
5 (against Uganda [2], Eritrea, Sudan [2])
The transition to coaching was not very smooth for Omondi. He started off as an assistant coach at Thika United and though he says it looked appealing, it was not the most ideal.
Friendly matches
8 (against Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, Libya UAE, Rwanda [2])
technical and leadership qualities and suggested to him that a career in coaching would suit him after his playing days.
“My transition to coaching had some starts and stops but the most crucial bit about it all was that I started from the top, then much later I realized I was cut for the youth so within a short span of years, I found myself leaving a coaching role at a premier
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LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
JAMES OMONDI
league team to coaching U13s and U15s,” he adds.
and that their educational needs are met as well.
In his current job as Ligi Ndogo Technical Director, Omondi knows the crucial role he has as far as football development in the country is concerned and he is keen to ensure the project sits well with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) long term ambitions for football in the country.
While the thought of dealing with the youths is a handful, the coach has to dedicate a lot of time for the other coaches as well who also handle the players.
“We start ushering the children to the real challenges of the football world from the age of 13. When they hit teenage they start seeing and doing things differently and this is when as coaches we come in strongly to not only aid them become good players but also help them fit into the federation’s structure of youth football.” While he handles a big group of youngsters, trying to develop all aspects of their game, Omondi admits not all of them end up as footballers, so his program is designed to ensure they have holistic growth
“It is a bit challenging handling coaches to prepare them for the young players because they come in all packages; some with good qualifications, other with just the experience in coaching but at the end you know they have to handle players and the way they do it from leadership to communication is very key,” Omondi says. A league winner in three countries and having sizeable experience in coaching, Omondi is confident in his capabilities but says at the moment, he finds it very fulfilling handling the youth and impacting at a player at the earlier possible time of his
career. “I made a name for myself as a player, and I am very capable of handling a senior team even in the premier league but I found out that I am more of a development coach; I tend to teach more and to fulfill my desires I realized I need to take up youngsters from age 20 downwards and I do not regret taking this route for my career,” Omondi quips. His influence, he expects, in the long term will not only be in football as he holds that the young players should be given all the opportunities they can get to grow. Omondi has registered a company – Big James Connect – whose intention is to use football to bring out the best in players from early in their lives. “I realized that there a lot of deficiencies in the way we bring up the youth, given their different backgrounds so I registered this company so that it can target the youth from poor backgrounds with tournaments driven by focusing on education whereby they will be brought together through the tournament but we also get them to face off in academics,” he reveals. The aim of the company is to come up with partnership programs with school and tally the youngsters’ playing and academic skills, get them to a set up depending on their strengths in the various disciplines and nurture the same for the long term benefit of the youngsters. Even though Omondi feels he is doing well with the youth, he is not ruling out the chance to get back to coaching older players and handling such systems. He is on course to boost his coaching qualifications to place him well for future opportunities and he believes the youngsters he has molded will make a big chunk of the senior team he will handle.
Follow Dan Ngulu on Twitter: @danodinga
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James Omondi watches players in training during the Kenya U20 national team selection in February 2018
James Omondi speaks to a player at the Kenya U20 national team selection in February 2018
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SPORTS INJURIES
CONCUSSIONS
SPORTS SCIENCE THE MENACE OF CONCUSSIONS IN THE GAME Imran Otieno
E
very footballer’s dream when walking into the sport is to conquer and win every trophy available to them on the table, but sometimes the unexpected happens and a concussion occurs. Concussions have been on the rise as the game’s competitiveness also soars.
unfortunately finds the head of a player or when a player knocks his head on the post. Of course there are more other scenarios where a player can sustain a concussion. Dr. Bogonko has vast experience, working over 10 years as a physiotherapist picks out improper tackling technique, aggressive headers which pose dangers to the opponent, poor state of pitches and lack of awareness of about concussions as the main causes of this injury.
Concussions can be fatal hence the need to create awareness on them in the game, I caught up with a Lamech Bogonko a physiotherapist at East Africa Physiotherapy Sports Injury Clinic who also doubles up as the Kenya Sevens Physio to shed some light on this injury that is becoming a real menace. A concussion
is a traumatic brain injury which causes disturbance in the brain function or even hemorrhage or a bruise in the brain
Harrowing head injury A concussion is a harrowing head injury that affects brain functions and as Lamech explains, “it is a traumatic brain injury which causes disturbance in the brain function or even hemorrhage or a bruise in the brain.”
Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination which is usually caused by a violent shake the head or upper body. In football concussions can be caused in the event of a 50-50 aerial challenge for the for the ball between two players, when a player lands on the ground head first, when a goalkeeper tries to punch the ball away but 66 soka.co.ke
Although football is regarded a contact sport, concussions are not as frequent as compared to other sports like rugby and American football which, a game can turn into a miracle if a player isn’t sent for a concussion test, needless to say though the rate of concussions in the world of football is steadily rising with the increase in levels of competition and fast paced action. What exactly happens to the head when a player suffers concussion? One may ask. We must understand the position of the brain to get a clearer understanding of the brain which is made entirely
CONCUSSION FACTS What is Concussion? • A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. • All concussions are serious.
• Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness. All athletes with any new symptoms following a head injury - must be removed from playing or training - must not return to playing or training until symptom free or until all concussion-related symptoms have cleared or have returned to pre-concussion level - must complete a Graduated Return To Play programme - should be assessed by a medical practitioner
Specifically, return to play or training on the day of a concussion or suspected concussion is forbidden
• Recognise and Remove to help prevent further injury or even death. • Head injuries can be fatal - do not return to play if symptoms persist.
Most players with concussion recover with physical and mental rest. soka.co.ke 67
SPORTS INJURIES
CONCUSSIONS
of soft tissue. It is surrounded by spinal fluid and encased in the protective shell which is known as the skull. When you sustain a concussion, the impact can jerk your brain, causing it to move around in your head. Traumatic brain injuries can cause bruising, damage to the blood vessels, and injury to the nerves. Functioning abnormally This results in the brain functioning abnormally. If a player suffered a concussion, vision may be distorted, you may lose balance, or you may fall unconscious. Dr. Bogonko lists some of the symptoms of a concussion as, “nausea in some of the players, dizziness, blurred vision, loss of memory, lack of balance, severe headache these are the key symptoms of a concussion.”
The keeper would go on to spend three months on the sidelines and has worn a protective head gear ever since. Chelsea went on to win the match 1-0 but the incident was one in the drama – packed clash as the substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini also suffered a concussion after a midair collision with Ibrahima Sonko rendering him unconscious.
When you sustain a concussion, the impact can jerk your brain, causing it to move around in your head
Even before both teams could settle into the game former Chelsea and current Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech had a collision with Steven Hunt. Cech rushed out to secure a 50-50 loose ball, he got to the ball first but ended up clashing with Hunt who couldn’t get out of the way quick enough, with his trailing boot hammering Cech in the forehead.
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Torres Another high profile footballer who suffered a concussion is former Chelsea player Fernando Torres who now plies for his trade for his boyhood club Atletico Madrid. Torres cheated death after colliding with Alex Bergantinos in the game against Deportivo La Coruna in March 2017. He was defending a ball from his own penalty area when Bergantinos arrived a second late and knocked him down. Players from both teams rushed to give Torres first aid after he lay unresponsive on the ground. The 33 year old received first aid treatment for about five minutes before being placed in an ambulance that rushed him to hospital. The
Over the years we have seen renowned footballers who have suffered from concussions while in some leaving a permanent impairment. Nothing comes close to a game full on concussions like Chelsea vs Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday 4 October, 2006.
It was a double whammy for Cech as he suffered a concussion and a fractured skull and required immediate brain surgery where pieces of his skull had to be dislodged from his brain, and replaced by metal plates.
John Terry took up the gloves and aided Chelsea to a clean sheet. The game also saw two players sent off with John Obi Mikel getting his matching order on his debut together with Andre Bikey.
Collisions when going up for headers is a major cause for concussions
World Cup winner with Spain hit the ground so hard with Atletico boss, Diego Simione quoted saying, “We still don’t have any official information but he’s conscious.
“The nature of the injury also alerts a medic that the player has suffered a concussion for example is the player falls head first he is likely to suffer from a concussion,” Dr. Bogonko says.
Worried, nervous … those are the feelings after he suffered such a heavy blow. We heard the blow from the bench, we saw how he fell and we were afraid. We didn’t know if that noise was Fernando’s neck or not.”
The interesting twist of the moment in the final came when referee, Nicola Rizzoli revealed his conversation with Kramer in the final, “Shortly after the blow, Kramer came to me asking: ‘Ref, is this the final?’” Nicola Rizzoli told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Luckily for Torres he was discharged from hospital a day later and went on to make a return to the field two weeks later. Brazil 2014 Perhaps one of the most interesting events of a concussion came on a very big stage in football, the 2014 FIFA World Cup final in Brazil, pitting Germany against Argentina.
“I thought he was joking and made him repeat the question and then he said: ‘I need to know if this is really the final.’ When I said: ‘Yes,’ he concluded: ‘Thanks, it was important to know that.’ In an interview after the World Cup captain Philip Lahm, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller further reveled the drama that ensued on that day, Lahm in the interview revealed that,
has also seen the ugly side of concussions with a handful of players suffering trauma while on the field. Goalkeepers are often on the receiving end judging from the fact that they are more often than not challenging for aerial balls with players who are trying to head the ball past them. Wilson Obungu Bandari custodian Wilson Obungu who is the current assistant team manager and the goalkeeper trainer for the costal side suffered a concussion back in 2013 while playing against Gor Mahia. The former Sofapaka and Tusker custodian suffered a concussion after a collision with former Gor Mahia striker Paul Kiongera three minutes into the encounter and required seven stitches to his nasty gash on the head. The veteran goalkeeper was unconscious after the collision but
The game will always be remembered for Mario Gotze’s extra time winner that sunk To deal with concussions, a medic needs to be very alert and Argentina and ended their hopes of lifting check out the symptoms because at the point, the player is mostly the World Cup at unable to explain the feeling their sworn enemies’ backyard but Christoph Kramer’s concussion dampened the mood early in the “everything started with him coming regained consciousness after being game following an elbow from to me and trying to rip away my rushed to hospital. Ezequiel Garay. captain’s armband, and I thought what’s going on here?” Obungu found himself in no man’s Amazingly, he managed to continue land when he came out to stop a for 14 more minutes until he Muller’s tale of the drama was, “He goal bound Kiongera, he required 10 fell again and was eventually kept on calling me “Gerd” [Muller] and minutes of treatment before being substituted for Andre Schurrle. This congratulated me for the final.” While rushed to hospital. decision not to take out Kramer telling his side of the drama Manuel immediately attracted sharp criticism Neuer said that Kramer told him, “Hey Dr. Bogonko says there is a protocol from including the World football Manu, let me be in goal?” developed to ensure players return to governing body FIFA. action, “if a concussion is suspected Muller also talked of how Kramer one needs to go through SCAT-5 To deal with concussions, a medic started shouting “great atmosphere (Sports Concussion Assessment Tool) needs to be very alert and check out at Ruhrstadion” which is the home or HI-1, those are tools developed the symptoms because at the point, stadium of Bochum a side he was by medics to test concussions in an the player is mostly unable to explain sent on loan to while he was in the athlete.” the feeling; “we use a protocol known books of Bayer Leverkusen. Lahm as Recognize and Remove, which went on to say that Kramer wanted to He went on to add that, “seeking requires a medic to pick out all the trade jerseys with the referee. medical attention after a concussion symptoms of a concussion recognize depends on the symptoms suffered, if and remove. Back home, Kenyan football you tick the list of all the symptoms soka.co.ke 69
SPORTS INJURIES
CONCUSSIONS
then you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, if the concussion is mild then you should take some rest ensuring that the room is free from noise and bright light.” Former AFC Leopards striker Mike Baraza experienced the tough and relentless action of the Mashemeji Derby when he suffered a concussion after ramming into the then Gor Mahia keeper Ronnie Kagunzi in an FKL Cup semifinal clash at the Nyayo Stadium.
worry about.” K’Ogalo’s long standing skipper Musa Mohammed who recently moved to Albania, is in the list of Gor players who have suffered concussions over the years. In the game against Western Stima back in 2016, Musa suffered a concussion after clashing with Wesley Kemboi. Khalid Aucho who is currently on loan at Serbian club OFK Beograd, also had this setback during his time at Gor. He suffered the concussion in the game against Ushuru in 2016 as he was challenging for an aerial ball and got hit in the head just after 37 minutes of the game. In a shocking
To ensure that players return to action when they have fully recovered one needs to go through a GRTP Protocol (Graduated Return to Play) which is a five - step 14 day program. The first step is to Rest. At this stage you are recommended to stay at home and avoid engaging in activities with the aim of a recovery. The second stage is Returning to normal activities with light or minimal physical exercises like jogging and swimming.
An ambulance was required to ferry The intervals between stages have Baraza to hospital no rigid time frame, where he received Avoid driving, drinking and noisy places also avoid it all depends on further treatment the progress of the direct contact with light like watching TV, using a and was released player but a 24 hour hours later. Kagunzi computer or even activities that engage the brain in window is usually also felt the wrath recommended. a lot of thinking of the impact and Drills was replaced by Stage three involves Jerim Onyango the sport specific while Augustine Etemesi came in for revelation by Aucho he said, “I was drills like running and passing, which Mike Baraza. dead for 30 minutes because I didn’t shouldn’t include contact or heading know what was going on but am the ball. Stage four is the non-contact Gor Mahia has been a power house in getting better.” Training this is where you resume football since independence and have the normal training regimes but bamboozled their way plundering 16 Other notable players in the Kenyan with no or little contact with other league titles under their belt. They Premier League to have suffered players since contact might trigger have always been known to be a concussions include Eugene Asike, recurrence of the concussion. physical and tactical side perhaps this James Saruni, Ronald Omino, Jackson is the reason most of their players Macharia and Tom Onyango. Stage five is where the player is suffer concussions. Released to a full contact practice, In the event that a player has but this should be eased on to Masika suffered a concussion Dr. Bokongo the player. If the symptoms of Back in 2011 in a game against Ulinzi takes us through the steps that concussions completely disappeared Stars who were reigning champions ensure the player is out of danger then the player is declared match fit. at the time, rock solid defender Eric as soon as possible, “the first thing a Masika suffered a concussion and was player needs to do is to ensure that Conducting a concussion test is substituted at half time as, Gor went they are out of play, take a good rest something that Dr. Bogonko has on to draw. after seeing a doctor. administered a number of times and After the game Eric Masika was sheds some light on how the process quoted saying, “I want to reassure “Avoid driving, drinking and noisy is done, “I’ll talk more on rugby as it fans that I am ok and it was just a places also avoid direct contact is in my work line, as for concussions mild concussion. I would like to really with light like watching TV, using anyone can identify a concussion be thank everyone for their support. a computer or even activities that it the referee, players or the medic on engage the brain in a lot of thinking site which will then require a HIA-1 In football you have to expect such because they do affect the brain’s (Head Injury Assessment) or SCAT-5 incidences but there is nothing to cognitive function.” (Sports Concussion Assessment Tool)
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that’s what medics use immediately they suspect concussion. If the test is a success you are cleared to return to the game, in the event of a failed test a 90 minute window is given to the player then a HIA-2 is administered, if one passes he his cleared to proceed to a HIA-3 test which is usually done 24 hours after concussion, if the player passes he is cleared to resume action but if he/ she fails then one is registered in the GRTP program.” In many cases of concussions the player resumes action within four weeks unless it is a severe case but it is worth noting that concussions are serious and career threatening as Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace player Kevin Doyle’s story would suggest.
There is hope that concussions can be reduced significantly and as Dr. Bogonko explains, “awareness is key if there is any chance of cutting down the number of concussions, which include sending flyers to teams, withdrawing from play can also reduce the severity of a concussion. Head gears also reduce concussions in the world of rugby, although in football one has to be cleared by the football governing body of a country to wear a head gear.”
In many cases of concussions the player resumes action within four weeks unless it is a severe case but it is worth noting that concussions are serious and career threatening
Follow Imran Otieno on Twitter: @Imran_Otieno
Doyle quits At the age of 34, Doyle decided to call quits due to the constant concussions he had suffered in his career. The Irishman suffered two concussions in one season and had recurring headaches every time he headed the ball. He penned a heartfelt message upon his retirement, “This year it has been clear to me that heading the ball was becoming problematic and causing me to have repeated headaches, two concussions this season and numerous others over the years have made this more concerning.” Extreme cases of concussion can at times cause death, stroke, dementia or permanent brain damage, according to Dr. Bogonko. Ulinzi Stars team doctor John Imboywa and referee Badr Yassin help Ulinzi midfielder Cliff Kasuti who had picked a head injury
soka.co.ke 71
graduated return to play (GRTP) programme S t a g e 2 a (Symptoms persist at 24 hrs)
Stage 1 Rehabilitation stage ° Initial Rest (Physical and Cognitive)
Rehabilitation stage ° Symptom-limited activities
E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° N o d r i v i n g o r exe r c i s e . Minimise screen time. Consider time off or adaptation of work o r s t u d y.
E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° Initially activities of daily living that do not p r o v o ke s y m p t o m s . Consider time off or adaptation of work o r s t u d y. Objective ° Return to normal activities (as symptoms permit)
Objective ° Recovery
Stage 3
S t a g e 2 b (Symptom free at 24hrs)
Rehabilitation stage ° Sport-specific exe r c i s e
Rehabilitation stage ° L i g h t a e r o b i c exe r c i s e
E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° Running drills. ° No head impact activities Objective ° Add movement
Stage 4
Rehabilitation stage ° Non-contact training drills E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° P r o g r e s s i o n t o m o r e c o m p l ex training drills,e.g. passing drills. May start progressive resistance training
E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° Light jogging for 10-15 minutes,swimming or stationary cycling at low t o m o d e r a t e i n t e n s i t y. N o resistance training. Symptom free during full 24-hour period Objective ° Increase heart rate
Objective ° E xe r c i s e , c o o r d i n a t i o n a n d c o g n i t i v e l o a d A return to learning must achieved before returning to sport
Stage 6 Stage 5 Rehabilitation stage ° Fu l l c o n t a c t p r a c t i c e E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° Fo l l o w i n g m e d i c a l c l e a r a n c e , p a r t i c i p a t e in normal training activities Objective °Restore confidence and assess functional skills by coaching staff 72 soka.co.ke
Rehabilitation stage ° Return to sport E xe r c i s e a l l o w e d ° Normal game play
SUNGUTI
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Sunguti
recalls Bobo-Dioulasso By Patrick Korir
I
n 1997, AFC Leopards striker Maurice (Ngoka) Sunguti, then 20 years old, earned a deserved call to the Kenya national team, Harambee Stars for a trip to Burkina Faso for a sixth and final round 1998 World Cup qualifier. Being a newbie in Reinhardt Fabisch’s squad, Sunguti was left on the bench when the German named his squad for the August 16 clash at the Municipal Stadium in Bobo Dioulasso, 327.91 kms from the Capital Ouagadougou. Away win By virtue of Kenya having been beaten 3-0 in the penultimate qualifier by host Nigeria on 7 June, Kenya’s hope for the World Cup was all but over.
other than the Nigeria one, had been lost 3-1 to Guinea on 10 November 1996. Red card The game started bizarrely as, in just the second minute, Burkina Faso keeper Ibrahima Traore was slapped with a straight red card for tagging on Nzoia United striker Kennedy Simiyu who was charging down on goal.
Kenya 1-0 up in the eighth minute. Marching orders But Kenya was to lose its man advantage six minutes after Simiyu’s opener when central defender Musa Otieno was given his marching orders
The team, then coached by Jabir Malick was forced to sacrifice a player - Ismail Koudou and in his place came substitute keeper Abdoulaye Soulama Traore in the third minute. With the hosts yet to get organized, Simiyu sent
After that game, Nigeria took an unassailable 13 - point lead leaving Kenya third in Group 1 with seven points, two short of Guinea who were placed second. But the side needed to finish off their campaign on a high – with the first away in the qualifiers considering the other away game,
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for bringing down the dangerous 17 year old Mamadou Zongo who had a clear path on goal.
very easy to please – that I deserved to be part of the team.
Just two minutes on, in the 16th minute, Zongo, who scored twice in Kenya’s 4-3win during the first leg played at Kasarani on 6 April, sent the ball past Francis Onyiso in Kenya’s goal for the leveler.
“I remember we had to take a six – hour bus ride from Ougadougou for the very remote match venue in BoboDioulasso. I was very determined to score and make sure that Kenya won the game.
But Kenya was to take a 2-1 half time lead as, a minute to the break, Reli striker Francis Were – who scored as a substitute in the first leg clash between the two, sent Kenya ahead.
“I also remember scoring just within minutes of coming on and adding a second which finished off the home team. Bobo-Dioulasso gave me a memorable start to my international career,” he says.
Debut Till midway through the second half, Kenya still carried the slim 2-1 win till Fabisch decided to try something new; he pulled out Were in the 67th minute and handed Sunguti his debut.
Ended how it began After his debut, Sunguti went on to be a regular with the National team. Interestingly his international journey ended how it began – against the same Burkina Faso during Kenya’s third and final 2004 Africa Cup of Nations Group B game on 2 February which Kenya won 3-0.
It only took him just three minutes to prove his mettle as he sent Kenya 3-1 up in the 70th minute. Five minutes later he completed his brace in scoring Kenya’s fourth goal on the day. Ten minutes to time, the scores, in the game officiated by Benin’s Coffi Codjia, settled at 4-2 after Osumane Sanou – who scored a 42nd minute penalty in the first leg, got the second consolation goal for the hosts. Sunguti recalls that game all too well and in sharing with fostats.com had this to say; Remote “It was the first time I was considered for the National team and I had a lot to prove to Fabisch - who was not
With the Burkina Faso win, Kenya finished the campaign placed third with ten points. On the same day Guinea beat the already qualified Nigeria 1-0 to finish second with 12 points as Burkina Faso took the wooden spoon with zero points having lost all their games.
Maurice Sunguti in numbers
Caps Goals
36 17 Follow Patrick Korir on Twitter: @tipkorir
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SOKA CROSSWORD
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ACROSS: 1. Van Persie 7.Stewart 9.Amos 10.Cramp 12.Ingwe 13.Sam 14.Dander 16.Offday 20.Nimblest 22.Half time 23.Test 24.Free kicks 26.Shu 27.Leg 29.Pick 30.Odede 31.Tie 32.Power
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PATH FINDER The path finder grid below contains a selection of clubs Allan Wanga has played for and rejected by, starting with the highlighted ‘T’. 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 10 clubs to find in total. soka.co.ke 75 By Lenny Ruvaga ruvagalenny@hotmail.com
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