For his classy style of play, K'ogalo fans nicknamed George Odhiambo 'blackberry'. Any one who has followed Kenyan football in the past two years would acknowledge the striker has done the nickname justice.
Not only has the player churned out one great performance after another throughout the period, he has also individually won several matches for Gor. Apart from his numerous assists and penalty wins, the talented youngster scored eight goals to help his club into second position in the 2010 Kenya Premier League (KPL) season.
His confident, stylish, dazzling and mesmerising, and often unstoppable goal-bound bursts contributed in great measure to Gor's ranking as probably the most entertaining team in KPL's 2010 season.
As he embarks on his professional football career in Denmark, I can only wish him the best of luck and hope that he will eventually fulfill his great potential in a Kenya national team shirt.
16 November 2010
So what happened to the Mexico v Kenya match?
One of the worst things to happen to Kenyan football recently is the return of Hussein Swaleh to local football management. Whenever the KPL technical committee chairman has opened his mouth, he has uttered what has ultimately turned out to be untruths.
When Kenya returned from Guinea Bissau with a shameful 0-1 score, Swaleh blamed it on bad blood between Mariga and Oliech. A few believed him but most Kenyans knew the true story. Then he announced an impending Kenya v Ivory Coast tie that never was.
When I heard him reveal that Kenya were scheduled to meet Mexico in a friendly on the 17th November FIFA friendlies day, like in the proverbial "wolf! wolf!" cries story, I ignored him. For the sake of his credibility, I hope he is right this time but I highly doubt it. Am writing this on the 16th November and there is not a single sign in sight of the match happening.
When Kenya returned from Guinea Bissau with a shameful 0-1 score, Swaleh blamed it on bad blood between Mariga and Oliech. A few believed him but most Kenyans knew the true story. Then he announced an impending Kenya v Ivory Coast tie that never was.
Ulinzi won the championship but Gor won too
As the Ulinzi brigade decimated Karuturi Sports in the battle of Afraha with a 2-0 thrashing, another different scenario unfolded at City Stadium. Gor Mahia FC, who had forced the title chase to the wire, appeared bereft of ideas on the biggest occasion, when they knew only a win would do if they were to snatch the title from Ulinzi's jaws.
It was on the stands of City stadium that all the action happened. The match was supposed to have been a home game for Nairobi City Stars but the K'ogalo faithful invaded the stadium in their thousands and turned it into 'their home march'.
Like they had done throughout the season, they sung and blew vuvuzelas nonstop in support of their beloved team. The intensity of their passion could have matched any that can be found at the staunchest of European and South American club supporters .
One of the outstanding legacies of the 2010 KPL premier league season will surely be that K'ogalo fans reignited passion in local football. They turned up at City with great hopes of their team being crowned champions but really, fate was not in their hands, it was elsewhere-at Afraha Stadium, where Ulinzi was in no mood for early Christmas gift.
Hopefully, the fans' season-long show of commitment will be enough motivation for Gor to build on their 2010 success and deliver the long missing trophy to their fans.
It was on the stands of City stadium that all the action happened. The match was supposed to have been a home game for Nairobi City Stars but the K'ogalo faithful invaded the stadium in their thousands and turned it into 'their home march'.
Like they had done throughout the season, they sung and blew vuvuzelas nonstop in support of their beloved team. The intensity of their passion could have matched any that can be found at the staunchest of European and South American club supporters .
One of the outstanding legacies of the 2010 KPL premier league season will surely be that K'ogalo fans reignited passion in local football. They turned up at City with great hopes of their team being crowned champions but really, fate was not in their hands, it was elsewhere-at Afraha Stadium, where Ulinzi was in no mood for early Christmas gift.
Hopefully, the fans' season-long show of commitment will be enough motivation for Gor to build on their 2010 success and deliver the long missing trophy to their fans.
12 November 2010
Will Ulinzi take the trophy home?
For their final match of the season, which happens to be their most important too, Ulinzi have spiced their tension filled preparations with combative military lingo, obviously to cow their opponents, Sher Karuturi`Sports. but will karuturi oblige them? will the Naivasha flower men walk out of Afraha with bowed heads and hidden tails?
Coach Benjamin Nyangweso told reporters during his team's training at Afraha Stadium that the match will be total war, fought with all ammunition in their stores. Is that mere big talk or words of conviction? If u ask me, that is how scared men talk, projecting fake bravado to mask their trembling limbs.
It is true the military side have been consistent throughout the season but Sunday's game is different. It is a really tense affair and Ulinzi have definitely cracked under pressure on more than one occasion this season, including the previous weekend when they came up short against Red Berets. In addition, they are leading the league partly because hot favourites Sofapaka and Tusker floundered along the way.
Although Karuturi have not had as great a second round as they did the first, during which they stringed a chain of credible away performances, securing a number of draws and a few wins on the trot, they have proved enough times already that they are no pushovers in Kenya's increasingly competitive soccer scene. Ulinzi forced a 0-0 result at the flower men's fortress in Naivasha but that is no conclusive measure of what to expect come Sunday.
On the basis of their stubborn performances throughout the season, grinding out one result after another, I can not begrudge them of their deserved victory if they beat Karuturi.
But how I would love to see the passionate and artistic K'ogello and their faithful fans lifting the KPL trophy this year. They really believed in themselves and put up a marvelous fight against the men of present day Kenyan football. It is possible, but Ulinzi must fumble against Karuturi first, let's see what Sunday has in store for us.
Coach Benjamin Nyangweso told reporters during his team's training at Afraha Stadium that the match will be total war, fought with all ammunition in their stores. Is that mere big talk or words of conviction? If u ask me, that is how scared men talk, projecting fake bravado to mask their trembling limbs.
It is true the military side have been consistent throughout the season but Sunday's game is different. It is a really tense affair and Ulinzi have definitely cracked under pressure on more than one occasion this season, including the previous weekend when they came up short against Red Berets. In addition, they are leading the league partly because hot favourites Sofapaka and Tusker floundered along the way.
Although Karuturi have not had as great a second round as they did the first, during which they stringed a chain of credible away performances, securing a number of draws and a few wins on the trot, they have proved enough times already that they are no pushovers in Kenya's increasingly competitive soccer scene. Ulinzi forced a 0-0 result at the flower men's fortress in Naivasha but that is no conclusive measure of what to expect come Sunday.
On the basis of their stubborn performances throughout the season, grinding out one result after another, I can not begrudge them of their deserved victory if they beat Karuturi.
But how I would love to see the passionate and artistic K'ogello and their faithful fans lifting the KPL trophy this year. They really believed in themselves and put up a marvelous fight against the men of present day Kenyan football. It is possible, but Ulinzi must fumble against Karuturi first, let's see what Sunday has in store for us.
05 November 2010
The derbies of armed men and 'two Gors'
Boy! won't this penultimate round of the 2010 Kenya Premier League be intriguing? Ulinzi Stars, the unfashionable military side from Nakuru, are sitting pretty a top the league with 55 points. they can smell the crown, only four points away!
Ulinzi's next opponents, Red Berets, a paramilitary side also from Nakuru, are languishing at the wrong end of the table. fifteenth with twenty seven points, they are a whole three points from safety. They know that any slip up in their next match might be the proverbial last nail that would sink them to the lower league they fought so desperately to avoid last season.
It is due to this contrasting fortunes that the Ulinzi v Red Berets match-up promises to be a cracker. Even without such heightened stakes, encounters between the two are usually supercharged owing to their shared bases and backgrounds. throw in the elements of searching for championship vis a vis survival points and you have a match in your hands,
Though Ulinzi ran away with a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture played in March, I don't see a repeat of the same happening on 06 November. Red Berets have recently become masters of last minute survival and will be in no mood to play flower girls for Ulinzi, I anticipate a draw or win for Red Berets in this one.
It is not for nothing that Sony Sugar go by the nick name Gor B. Both Gor Mahia and the Sugar men draw their staunchest following from Luo Nyanza. Gor Mahia are the more successful of the two, with 12 premier league titles and a continental trophy among many of the achievements recorded by the club over a fairly long rich history. Sony have only one premier league championship and are not in the reckoning for the 2010 honours.
Will they play spoilers for Gor? Sony's last match was away to Ulinzi. They had vowed to 'help Gor win the league' but instead got a 2-0 hiding in Nakuru. The first round encounter between the South Nyanza outfit and Gor was drawn but I expect Gor to come with their guns blazing and bury this one.
They are in inspired form and for the first time after many years, they are within touch of the coveted trophy. Even more significantly, their fans have rediscovered their passion and pride and have literary willed the team to a victory or two with their incessant chants and vuvuzelas.
Ulinzi need not worry that 'Gor B' might throw away the match because the combined passion of Gor players and fans will ensure another sustained assault at Sony Sugar's goal mouth. Watch this space.
Ulinzi's next opponents, Red Berets, a paramilitary side also from Nakuru, are languishing at the wrong end of the table. fifteenth with twenty seven points, they are a whole three points from safety. They know that any slip up in their next match might be the proverbial last nail that would sink them to the lower league they fought so desperately to avoid last season.
It is due to this contrasting fortunes that the Ulinzi v Red Berets match-up promises to be a cracker. Even without such heightened stakes, encounters between the two are usually supercharged owing to their shared bases and backgrounds. throw in the elements of searching for championship vis a vis survival points and you have a match in your hands,
Though Ulinzi ran away with a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture played in March, I don't see a repeat of the same happening on 06 November. Red Berets have recently become masters of last minute survival and will be in no mood to play flower girls for Ulinzi, I anticipate a draw or win for Red Berets in this one.
It is not for nothing that Sony Sugar go by the nick name Gor B. Both Gor Mahia and the Sugar men draw their staunchest following from Luo Nyanza. Gor Mahia are the more successful of the two, with 12 premier league titles and a continental trophy among many of the achievements recorded by the club over a fairly long rich history. Sony have only one premier league championship and are not in the reckoning for the 2010 honours.
Will they play spoilers for Gor? Sony's last match was away to Ulinzi. They had vowed to 'help Gor win the league' but instead got a 2-0 hiding in Nakuru. The first round encounter between the South Nyanza outfit and Gor was drawn but I expect Gor to come with their guns blazing and bury this one.
They are in inspired form and for the first time after many years, they are within touch of the coveted trophy. Even more significantly, their fans have rediscovered their passion and pride and have literary willed the team to a victory or two with their incessant chants and vuvuzelas.
Ulinzi need not worry that 'Gor B' might throw away the match because the combined passion of Gor players and fans will ensure another sustained assault at Sony Sugar's goal mouth. Watch this space.
Stars draw Cranes, again!
Not only have Kenya found themselves in the same Cecafa Senior Challenge group with their nemesis Uganda, the currently under performing Harambee stars will have to contend with a resurgent Malawi participating as guests and a tricky and unpredictable Ethiopian side.
Without a doubt, Kenya's group C is the group of death and if the stars take their lethargic play to Tanzania, it would not shock me if they were the first from this group to board the plane back home.
However, that said, a motivated and inspired harambee Stars could easily wallop all these teams and march all the way to the trophy - but it depends, on motivation and inspiration. what shall it be, shame or celebrations? both are possibilities - it depends.
Full fixtures available at http://www.cecafa.net/
Without a doubt, Kenya's group C is the group of death and if the stars take their lethargic play to Tanzania, it would not shock me if they were the first from this group to board the plane back home.
However, that said, a motivated and inspired harambee Stars could easily wallop all these teams and march all the way to the trophy - but it depends, on motivation and inspiration. what shall it be, shame or celebrations? both are possibilities - it depends.
31 October 2010
Ulinzi unstoppable
After thrashing Sony Sugar 2 - 1 and stretching their points tally to 55, Ulinzi's march towards the 2010 KPL championship is surely unstoppable, or is it? only Gor are within striking range of the Lanet based military side and K'Ogallo have only two matches remaining to close up the gap. If Ulinzi collects four points out of the remaining six, they are home and dry.
How this team manages to perch themselves atop Kenya's soccer pedestal amazes me. They play, honestly, one of the most boring football in the country. Anyone doubting this only needs sample members of the current national team - why did Twahir Muhiddin ignore them? Why has 'Ghost' Mulee continued this trend?
Whenever I watch these soldiers play, I see eleven men moving around a spherical weapon with a single minded aim of finishing their opponent by all and any means possible - yet, despite their dour style, or lack of it, they have managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack of Gor Mahia, Tusker, Sofapaka, Mathare United and Sony Sugar, all of who play better football.
So what is this that makes Ulinzi so unstoppable? Could it be the military discipline instilled at the training school, or 'the no retreat, no surrender' determination cultivated to win wars, or is it that the military men are physically fitter than their opponents?
My humble request to Ulinzi is this, please if you win the league, incorporate some stylish play, or stylish players? in your squad. When you take the field in 2011's CAF Champions League, remember that you are playing for all of Kenya. I hope you will make Kenya proud. Good luck!
How this team manages to perch themselves atop Kenya's soccer pedestal amazes me. They play, honestly, one of the most boring football in the country. Anyone doubting this only needs sample members of the current national team - why did Twahir Muhiddin ignore them? Why has 'Ghost' Mulee continued this trend?
Whenever I watch these soldiers play, I see eleven men moving around a spherical weapon with a single minded aim of finishing their opponent by all and any means possible - yet, despite their dour style, or lack of it, they have managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack of Gor Mahia, Tusker, Sofapaka, Mathare United and Sony Sugar, all of who play better football.
So what is this that makes Ulinzi so unstoppable? Could it be the military discipline instilled at the training school, or 'the no retreat, no surrender' determination cultivated to win wars, or is it that the military men are physically fitter than their opponents?
My humble request to Ulinzi is this, please if you win the league, incorporate some stylish play, or stylish players? in your squad. When you take the field in 2011's CAF Champions League, remember that you are playing for all of Kenya. I hope you will make Kenya proud. Good luck!
Gor v Leopards derby stampede - a postmortem
The 2010 KPL season second round clash between giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards generated real derby tension in its buid up, which was exciting because for an extended period of time, local fans had not witnessed the raw passion, dedication and energy of a derby.
When the final whistle was blown, K'ogallo having bagged the bragging rights with a 1-0 skinning of Ingwe, mourning replaced celebration as Kenyans came to terms with the tragic deaths of eight innocent lives. If everything had gone according to plan every one would have gone home happy.
Gor would have rejoiced for sustaining their assault on Ulinzi's championship march. Leopards performance was quite decent on the night and they almost shared the points but for that penalty. The entire Kenyan fooball family would have celebrated the rebirth of passionate football support- a full stadium of ecstatic fans dancing and singing as a high octane football duel unfolded on a floodlit pitch is not something anyone would have placed a bet on just two years ago.
The icing on the cake should have been the record gate collection of Ksh 2.5 million, which bettered the Ksh 1.5 million raised in September when Gor played outgoing champions Sofapaka. The stampede ruined this atmosphere and instead Kenyans were left wondering why innocent Kenyans in search of fun should be returned to their loved ones in caskets.
I have watched with awe as stadiums in Europe filled up or emptied in minutes - like clock work. Why is our organisational capability so wanting. Why don't we ever plan and implement effective disaster responses? Why is it so easy to shift blame in Kenya? Football Kenya Limited said it was Kenya Premier League Limited, who in turn blamed FKL and Stadia Management Board, who blamed everyone including Gor, who blamed the Police and Stadia... what a circus!
It was sad to hear the head of the KPL medical department, Dr Andrew Suleh lamenting that the young woman, one of the eight dead, died because she could not receive emergency medical attention as there was no entry nor exit through a maze of parked cars and a mass of people. Hopefully, the loss of human life will shame football managers enough for them to take stadium safety and security seriously.
The importance of emergency exits must now be recognised and embraced by all concerned stakeholders. The sad revelations that an emergency exit remained closed as people died and that a public officer charged with opening stadium gates could not be traced during a tragedy must never be entertained again.
In an interview with a local daily, Gor Mahia's custodian Jerim Onyango remarked that they found long queues when the team arrived for the match at 5.30 pm. His remarks took me back to 2005 when I found myself on a similarly long queue full of impatient and rowdy fans, who kept on pushing and shoving, their desperation worsening as kick off of the Kenya versus Morocco tie rapidly approached.
I was lucky to enter the stadium through gate three in time for the start and tirelessly cheered Harambee stars throughout the match. It was only when I left the stadium after the match that I learnt that a fan had been trampled to death at Gate two, a few metres from the gate through which I had squeezed into the stadium ninety minutes earlier.
A stampede on any day in Nairobi is deadly but throw in a dose of rainfall and it becomes especially fatal. Anyone familiar with the disorientation that is visited upon Nairobians by rainfall will quickly appreciate how serious an already bad situation must have become upon the opening of the skies, with it's contents emptying into a roofless Nyayo stadium and pouring on rowdy and impatient fans.
Out of this unfortunate occurrence, a transformation must emerge. Impunity must end. No longer should we tolerate such casual admissions like the one attributed to an anonymous FKL official, who revealed that FKL had knowingly used Nyayo Stadium for international matches in contravention of FIFA's safety regulations.
Political expediency scuttled the last serious attempt to refurbish the stadium, whereby the Coca Cola company had struck a deal with the Stadia Management Board to fit the stadium with seats and construct a player's tunnel to link the pitch with the dressing room for security reasons. However, disagreements between politicians and the company over naming rights ensured this plan became a non-starter.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, The Government must initiate a comprehensive programme to refurbish our stadia and promote effective disaster preparedness to ensure that these venues remain the arenas of enjoyment they were meant to be and not the death traps they have become.
When the final whistle was blown, K'ogallo having bagged the bragging rights with a 1-0 skinning of Ingwe, mourning replaced celebration as Kenyans came to terms with the tragic deaths of eight innocent lives. If everything had gone according to plan every one would have gone home happy.
Gor would have rejoiced for sustaining their assault on Ulinzi's championship march. Leopards performance was quite decent on the night and they almost shared the points but for that penalty. The entire Kenyan fooball family would have celebrated the rebirth of passionate football support- a full stadium of ecstatic fans dancing and singing as a high octane football duel unfolded on a floodlit pitch is not something anyone would have placed a bet on just two years ago.
The icing on the cake should have been the record gate collection of Ksh 2.5 million, which bettered the Ksh 1.5 million raised in September when Gor played outgoing champions Sofapaka. The stampede ruined this atmosphere and instead Kenyans were left wondering why innocent Kenyans in search of fun should be returned to their loved ones in caskets.
I have watched with awe as stadiums in Europe filled up or emptied in minutes - like clock work. Why is our organisational capability so wanting. Why don't we ever plan and implement effective disaster responses? Why is it so easy to shift blame in Kenya? Football Kenya Limited said it was Kenya Premier League Limited, who in turn blamed FKL and Stadia Management Board, who blamed everyone including Gor, who blamed the Police and Stadia... what a circus!
It was sad to hear the head of the KPL medical department, Dr Andrew Suleh lamenting that the young woman, one of the eight dead, died because she could not receive emergency medical attention as there was no entry nor exit through a maze of parked cars and a mass of people. Hopefully, the loss of human life will shame football managers enough for them to take stadium safety and security seriously.
The importance of emergency exits must now be recognised and embraced by all concerned stakeholders. The sad revelations that an emergency exit remained closed as people died and that a public officer charged with opening stadium gates could not be traced during a tragedy must never be entertained again.
In an interview with a local daily, Gor Mahia's custodian Jerim Onyango remarked that they found long queues when the team arrived for the match at 5.30 pm. His remarks took me back to 2005 when I found myself on a similarly long queue full of impatient and rowdy fans, who kept on pushing and shoving, their desperation worsening as kick off of the Kenya versus Morocco tie rapidly approached.
I was lucky to enter the stadium through gate three in time for the start and tirelessly cheered Harambee stars throughout the match. It was only when I left the stadium after the match that I learnt that a fan had been trampled to death at Gate two, a few metres from the gate through which I had squeezed into the stadium ninety minutes earlier.
A stampede on any day in Nairobi is deadly but throw in a dose of rainfall and it becomes especially fatal. Anyone familiar with the disorientation that is visited upon Nairobians by rainfall will quickly appreciate how serious an already bad situation must have become upon the opening of the skies, with it's contents emptying into a roofless Nyayo stadium and pouring on rowdy and impatient fans.
Out of this unfortunate occurrence, a transformation must emerge. Impunity must end. No longer should we tolerate such casual admissions like the one attributed to an anonymous FKL official, who revealed that FKL had knowingly used Nyayo Stadium for international matches in contravention of FIFA's safety regulations.
Political expediency scuttled the last serious attempt to refurbish the stadium, whereby the Coca Cola company had struck a deal with the Stadia Management Board to fit the stadium with seats and construct a player's tunnel to link the pitch with the dressing room for security reasons. However, disagreements between politicians and the company over naming rights ensured this plan became a non-starter.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, The Government must initiate a comprehensive programme to refurbish our stadia and promote effective disaster preparedness to ensure that these venues remain the arenas of enjoyment they were meant to be and not the death traps they have become.
10 September 2010
FKL's excuse for failure does not wash
That Macdonald Mariga and Dennis Oliech are currently the most famous and highest paid Kenyan footballers is non-contestable. After all, the two were the first Kenyan players to feature in the glamorous UEFA Champions League. If stories doing rounds in the media are to be believed, this same fame and fortune has gone into the players heads, resulting in bad blood between them.
When Kenya visited Bissau, Guinea Bissau, for her maiden qualifier match for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, she was given a 1-0 hiding by the host nation.
This obviously disappointed Kenyan fans, who have not been given any reason to celebrate by the national team over the past two years. When the team finally returned from Bissau after enduring frustrating flight delays,
Controversially appointed FKL Technical Committee Chairman Hussein Swaleh, who was head of delegation for the Guinea Bissau match, readily supplied an explanation for the loss - bad blood between Oliech and Mariga - how convenient!
That is a cleverly crafted scapegoat intended to get FKL off the hook - and it is being embraced everywhere, including in the media circles. Kenya's latest false start in a football championship is clearly a responsibility of FKL. this ought to be crystal clear to everyone.
After the abrupt resignation of controversial coach Antoine Hey, FKL settled for Twahir Muhiddin, to whom, with all due respect, nothing substantial in terms of football achievement can be attributed. His appointment, as was that of Hey , was unprofessional in the extreme.
Recently, Muhiddin somehow conjured up a draw and a win for Harambee Stars against Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively. Even the most of skeptical Kenyan fans began to believe that Kenya would secure a positive result against Guinea Bissau.
Then the usual ineptitude of local football mandarines set in. Harambee Stars were locked out of Kasarani and had to relocate to Karen, then someone forgot that the team had to fly to Guinea Bissau, hence the need for early flight arrangements.
Consequently, the team barely made it to Bissau in time for the match. Muhiddin messed up the routine task of appointing a captain, thus adding unnecessary tension to an already tired squad, what other outcome could one expect against an inspired (albeit lightweight) home team, barring lady luck choosing to smile on Kenya?
Some have bought FKL's excuse and blamed Oliech and Mariga for the loss but I lay the blame squarely at FKL's door.
When Kenya visited Bissau, Guinea Bissau, for her maiden qualifier match for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, she was given a 1-0 hiding by the host nation.
This obviously disappointed Kenyan fans, who have not been given any reason to celebrate by the national team over the past two years. When the team finally returned from Bissau after enduring frustrating flight delays,
Controversially appointed FKL Technical Committee Chairman Hussein Swaleh, who was head of delegation for the Guinea Bissau match, readily supplied an explanation for the loss - bad blood between Oliech and Mariga - how convenient!
That is a cleverly crafted scapegoat intended to get FKL off the hook - and it is being embraced everywhere, including in the media circles. Kenya's latest false start in a football championship is clearly a responsibility of FKL. this ought to be crystal clear to everyone.
After the abrupt resignation of controversial coach Antoine Hey, FKL settled for Twahir Muhiddin, to whom, with all due respect, nothing substantial in terms of football achievement can be attributed. His appointment, as was that of Hey , was unprofessional in the extreme.
Recently, Muhiddin somehow conjured up a draw and a win for Harambee Stars against Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively. Even the most of skeptical Kenyan fans began to believe that Kenya would secure a positive result against Guinea Bissau.
Then the usual ineptitude of local football mandarines set in. Harambee Stars were locked out of Kasarani and had to relocate to Karen, then someone forgot that the team had to fly to Guinea Bissau, hence the need for early flight arrangements.
Consequently, the team barely made it to Bissau in time for the match. Muhiddin messed up the routine task of appointing a captain, thus adding unnecessary tension to an already tired squad, what other outcome could one expect against an inspired (albeit lightweight) home team, barring lady luck choosing to smile on Kenya?
Some have bought FKL's excuse and blamed Oliech and Mariga for the loss but I lay the blame squarely at FKL's door.
03 September 2010
Are Kenya's football administrators primed to self destruct?
Just when pieces were nicely falling in place to roll-off another pleasant stretch for Kenyan soccer lovers, the local mafia that is Kenya football managers spoilt the party - again.We are coming off a celebratory mood after Supersport extended their sponsorship for the Kenyan Premier League, the national under 20 lads have walloped Sudan 3 -0 to book a date with Lesotho, the senior team has drawn 1-1 with Tanzania - in Dar es Salaam - before teaching Ethiopia a footballing lesson with a 3 - 0 hiding - in Addis Ababa, our stand out professionals Mariga and Oliech have kicked off the new season with valuable match-play time, spirits are high in camp as the team prepares for Guinea Bissau - what more could a football romantic ask for?
Then come departure time, a shocker! Football Kenya Limited had forgotten the simple logistical necessity of completing travel arrangements in time. After the coaching and playing units have shown so much enthusiasm in the training camp, why should the administrators display such ineptitude?
Someone should have impressed upon the government the need for early allocation of air tickets. Someone should have learnt in ample time of the difficulties of finding connecting flights to Guinea Bissau and West Africa in general.
How is it that players can be aware of these difficulties and not the the football managers? Could someone be sleeping on the job? As it is, players might arrive in Bissau quite jaded - if they make it in time at all.
Let us hope that this unfortunate turn of events does not rob us of the great opportunity we have of starting the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on a winning note. If we come back from Bissau carrying a defeat, we all know whom to throw it at.
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For an up-coming poor footballing youngster in a Kenyan backstreet, there probably can never be a more apt motivating factor than Macdonald Mariga driving into camp in an imposing red Hummer.
17 August 2010
Things looking up for Kenyan football
Recently, the Kenya Premier League company (KPL) received about Ksh one billion from Supersport to run the league between now and 2015. Mr Elly Kalekwa, the KPL chairman, revealed that thanks to the deal, KPL clubs will earn almost double what they got under the expiring deal.
This is definitely a strong statement of commitment to Kenya football from Supersport, which envisions a future of football where the huge sums currently spent to acquire broadcast rights for European leagues will be committed to African leagues.
Already, the benefits of the expiring US$ 5.5 million deal are visible to football lovers-the Kenyan league has greatly improved. Football fortunes in Kenya have been so transformed that foreign players are being lured to display their talent here, which is remarkable considering that barely five years ago, there was no foreign player in the local league and Kenyan players had grown accustomed to seeking greener pastures in the regional leagues of Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
KPL players are now very competitive and motivated, which can only lead to better football performances in the country. The latest evidence of this progress is Kenya's qualification for the next stage of the African under 20 chamionships, after the local lads bundled Sudan out with a 3 - 0 thrashing.
With the improving organisation and compensation for local footballers, one can only hope that it is only a matter of time before Kenyan clubs return to winning ways on the continental stage.
It is important to point out that Supersport's intervention itself was preceded by a confidence-inspiring professionalism injected into the game by KPL, which has greatly transformed the running of Kenyan football within a span of five years. Gone are the days when league champions were determined through boardroom deals or when relegation of a team depended on whether it enjoyed political or administrative patronage
The achievements attained point to greater possibilities, if only we can banish politics and corruption from the country's football administration. Every aspect of local football, from the living standards of players and officials, the competitiveness of Kenyan football, to officiating and coaching, would receive a tremendous boost if we embraced this mindset.
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Local referees are set to benefit from a three year Ksh four million kit sponsorship deal, where Umbro, the British sports manufacturer, will donate kit for all 64 referees. The downside, however, is that the deal is not inclusive of boots supply. Shouldn't KPL have negotiated some more to obtain a complete package?
This is definitely a strong statement of commitment to Kenya football from Supersport, which envisions a future of football where the huge sums currently spent to acquire broadcast rights for European leagues will be committed to African leagues.
Already, the benefits of the expiring US$ 5.5 million deal are visible to football lovers-the Kenyan league has greatly improved. Football fortunes in Kenya have been so transformed that foreign players are being lured to display their talent here, which is remarkable considering that barely five years ago, there was no foreign player in the local league and Kenyan players had grown accustomed to seeking greener pastures in the regional leagues of Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
KPL players are now very competitive and motivated, which can only lead to better football performances in the country. The latest evidence of this progress is Kenya's qualification for the next stage of the African under 20 chamionships, after the local lads bundled Sudan out with a 3 - 0 thrashing.
With the improving organisation and compensation for local footballers, one can only hope that it is only a matter of time before Kenyan clubs return to winning ways on the continental stage.
It is important to point out that Supersport's intervention itself was preceded by a confidence-inspiring professionalism injected into the game by KPL, which has greatly transformed the running of Kenyan football within a span of five years. Gone are the days when league champions were determined through boardroom deals or when relegation of a team depended on whether it enjoyed political or administrative patronage
The achievements attained point to greater possibilities, if only we can banish politics and corruption from the country's football administration. Every aspect of local football, from the living standards of players and officials, the competitiveness of Kenyan football, to officiating and coaching, would receive a tremendous boost if we embraced this mindset.
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Local referees are set to benefit from a three year Ksh four million kit sponsorship deal, where Umbro, the British sports manufacturer, will donate kit for all 64 referees. The downside, however, is that the deal is not inclusive of boots supply. Shouldn't KPL have negotiated some more to obtain a complete package?
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