Kenya Football History
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A brief History of Football in Kenya
Football was introduced in Kenya at the beginning of the 20th century
by British settlers. Kenyans naturally took to the sport due to the
simplicity of its nature. In the 1940s and 50s, The Kenya national
team competed in what was then known as the Gossage cup that pitted
the three East African countries. Among the stalwarts from that era
were Shem Chimoto, Elijah Lidonde and Peter Oronge. Club teams
competed in the Remmington Cup organised by Kenya's then supreme
soccer body the Football Association (FA). Teams from Caost Province
in Particular Mwenge and Feisal, dominated the local scene, producing
classy players like Kadir Farah, Ahmed Breik, Ali Sungura and Ali
Kadjo. .
In 1960, the Kenya Football Federation was formed to govern Football
in the country. Later the Confederation of East and central African
countries was formed to organize regional tournaments.
The 1960s saw the formation of some of the most popular clubs today.
Abaluhya (now AFC Leopards), Luo United ( Now Re-union) , Nakuru All
stars and Feisal of Mombasa were among the most popular club teams in
the early 60s. The late sixties saw the formation of Gor
Mahia ,Maragoli FC, and Ramogi FC ( now Lake warriors). Abaluhya
represented the majority of football fans from the Luhya tribe. Luo
United was the brainchild of the Oginga Odinga and represented members
of the Luo tribe from what was the North Nyanza district. Gor Mahia ,
whose founder members included Tom Mboya represented Luos from what
was then South Nyanza district. Maragoli FC represented members of the
Maragoli community, a sub tribe of the Luhya. Ramogi FC represented
the large Luo community then residing in Mombasa. The tribal element
in soccer added to the excitement, tension and rivalry in the local
scene. A player crossing to a rival team would be risking death.
Notable players from that era include Joe Kadenge, James Sianga, Peter
Ouma , Nocodemus Arudhi, Chris Obure and Fred Siranga. Nakuru All
stars won the inaugural Kenya National football league in 1963. Luo
Union won the second season in 1964 and capped a glorious season by
beating The Ethiopian national team which was then the African Nations
cup champions.
Kenya first made their appearance in the Nations Cup finals in
Cameroon in 1972 - and were unlucky not to qualify for the semi-
finals. In the tournament's opening match, Kenya were pitted against
the hosts, the Indomitable Lions, who edged them out 2-1. Harambee
Stars drew the first blood when player-coach Jonathan Niva slotted
home a first half spot-kick. But the Cameroonians, cheered on by their
home crowd, fought back more strongly in the second half to win 2-1.
Harambee Stars then drew their subsequent matches against Togo (1-1)
and Mali (1-1). But their chances of making it to the last four took a
nose-dive when Mali held hosts Cameroon to a goalless draw. Leading by
example, Niva scored two of three goals Kenya registered - one against
Cameroon and another against Togo. The third one was netted by
midfielder Jackson Aluko against Mali. After the Cameroon tournament,
the CAF selectors named an All-African squad from the competing teams
for a special match against the then World Cup champions, Brazil.
Kenya, despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals, provided one of
the players - Livingstone Madegwa. However, owing to the breakdown in
communication, the talented ace striker missed out.
Kenya Breweries made history in 1973 when they became the first Kenyan
side to reach the Semi finals of a continenetal event. They reached
the Semi Finals of the Champions cup, beating Ismailia of Egypt in the
quarters. In 1975, Kenya won the East and Central Africa challenge cup
(CECAFA Cup) for the first time ever. The arrival of German coach
Bernard Zgoll in th early severties heraldes a new era in kenyan
Football. Besides coaching the national team succesfully, Zgoll set up
a series of national youth development centres all over the country.
These centres produced several excellent players among them Sammy
Owino Kempes, Dick Anyanga, Wilberforce Mulamba, Sammy Taabu, Sammy
Onyango and Jared Ingutia just to mention a few.
1978 was the year when Kenya Brewries captured the imagination of
Football fans countrywide. That year they won the league comfortably
with a star studded line up that included Elly Adero, Binz Mwakolo,
Livingstone Madegwa, James Tiema and goalkeeper Mohammed Magogo, one
of Kenya's best ever keepers.
In 1979, Gor mahia made history by becoming the first team from East
and Central Africa to reach the finals of a continental event when the
reached the Finals of the cup winners cup, eleiminating the much
fancied defending champions, Horoya in the semi finals. It was the
best team ever assebled by a Kenyan club at the time, with quality
players at each position. The defence was marshalled by Bobby Ogolla
and included Otieno Bassanga, Oduwo "cobra" and Austin Oduor. Allan
Thigo quite possibly the best playmaker in Kenyas history controlled
the midfield, ably assisted by Sammy Owino Kempes and Tim Ayieko.
Schoolboy, wonderboy Nashon Oluoch "Lule" and Goerge Yoga played on
the wings supporting centre forward Andrew Obunga.
Between 1981 and 1983, Kenya won three succesive CECAFA cup titles.
That stellar team included among others Mahmoud Abbass in goal, Bobby
Ogolla and Josephat Murila marshalled the watertight defence, Jared
Ingutia and Wilberforce Mulamba were pivotal in attack while Joe
Masiga and Ambrose Ayoyi formed a formidable strikeforce. In 1981,
Kenya beat hosts Tanzania 1-0 thanks to a freekick by James Ouma
"jacaranda " to win the first of three successive regional diadems.
The following year, Mahmoud Abbass gave a spectacular display of
penalty saving to help Kenya beat Uganda in the final played in
Kampala's Nakivubo stadium. In 1983, the tournament was held in
Nairobi at the newly constructed Nyayo stadium. The home team did not
dissappoint there fans winning all games en-route to the title.
Ambrose Ayoyi was the top scorer in that tournament earning himself
the nickname "golden boy".
Mahmoud Abbas, the best goalkeeper Kenya has ever produced. Inset is a
group photo of harambee stars before they departed for Malawi to play
in an Africa cup qualifier.
On the club scene, Kenyan clubs won all except one of the East and
Central Africa club cups between 1977 and 1987. AFC Leopards in
particular were dominant. Boasting a galaxy of stars including
Josephat Murila, Mahmoud Abass, Francis kadenge, Wilberforce Mulamba
and Joe Masiga, they won in 1979, 82,83 and 84, Luo Union were
dominant in the mid seventies, wiinning in 1976 and 1977 , with
players like Agonda Lukio, Appollo Obota and Charles Ochieng. Gor
Mahia won in 1980, 81, and 85. Kenya Breweries won the tournament in
1987. That stellar Breweries team included the likes of Paul Onyiera,
Douglas Mutua, Aggrey Evayo, and Charles Opondo.
1985 saw the formation of Kenya's first ever professional football
team. Volcano United was the name given to the team. Led by national
team players like Henry Motego , Hassan Juma , Davis Oyiela , Pitalis
Owuor and Norbert Anyira, it went on to rank as one Kenya's premier
football teams within a short period. In 1986 , they eliminated AFC
Leopards from the inaugural Moi Golden cup by winning 2-0. Only two
years later, the club was disbanded.
1987 was Kenya's most successful year. Kenya Breweries started the
year by winning the East and central Africa club cup At the 4th All
Africa games, Kenya beat continental giants Tunisia 2-1, drew 3-3 with
a Cameroun team that featured the likes of Jacque Songoo, Emannuel
Kunde, Benjamin Massing, Charles Ntamark and Andre Kana Biyik, beat
Madagascar 2-1 and then beat Malawi in a tense penalty shootout which
had more misses than scores. Out of the 7 penalties taken by the
Kenyans, they only scored 3. Malawi only scored 2 out of 7. David
Ochieng in the Kenyan goal gave a clinic in penalty saving, blocking
four Malawian attempts. In the final, Kenya lost 1-0 to Egypt in a
heartbreaking final.
On the continental scene, Gor Mahia were crowned the winners of the
Africa Cup Winners cup, becoming the first team from East and Central
Africa to achieve such a feat. That year Gor Mahia had a formidable
unit, which provided no less than 10 players to the national team
including David Ochieng, Austin Oduor, Abass Magongo, Charles Otieno,
George Nyangi, Onyango Fundi , Peter Dawo and Sammy Onyango.
In 1988, both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards participated in the Africa
cup winners cup. AFC Leopards had dispatched FC Kalamu of Zaire 4-1 in
grand style. Gor Mahia dispatched BTM of Madagascar winning both home
and away legs. As they both made the quarter final, an all Kenya final
seemed possible. But it seemed that the continental association had
plotted against the Kenyan teams. (The thought of an All Kenyan final
was unnacceptable to them). Gor mahia visited Inter Club of Congo and
were denied training facilities for 3 days before the match. AFC
Leopards seemed destined to eliminate Diamant of Cameroun before
losing to a quetionable penalty and having defender Wycliff Anyangu
sent off under dubious circumstances.
After a 16 year layoff Kenya had qualified for the Africa Cup of
Nations. On paper Kenya seemed to have a formidable team that could
compete with the best of Africa. They seemed set to reproduce the
magic they had produced at the 4th All Africa games a year earlier.
They embarked on a tour of Brazil as part of their preparations. It
was there that the team came apart. There was intense animosity
between members of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, resulting in a fight in
which George Onyango "Fundi" was supposedly stabbed and had to be
hospitalized for 2 weeks. The lack of cohesion showed as Kenya were
bundled out of the preliminaries losing 3-0 to Nigeria and Egypt
before forcing a draw with Cameroun.
At the 1990 event Kenya gave a better performance drawing against
Senegal and Zambia before losing 2-0 to the Cameroun team that reached
the quarter finals of the world cup only 2 months later . Following
that tournament, Mike Okoth Origi, Washington Muhanji and Peter
Mwololo were offered professional contracts by European clubs. Muhanji
could not make it because he he had a standing contract with the army.
Mwololo had already signed for a middle East side prior to the
tournament.Okoth however was able to join Belgian club KV Ostende.
Mike Okoth Origi is pictured above in the blue strip of his current
club, Racing Genk of Belgium. Besides Genk, Okoth has featured
prominently for other top Belgian clubs such as KV Ostende and
Harelbeke.
Kenya qualified for the Africa cup of nations in 1992 but it was yet
another disaster . Many of the players were apparently unhappy with
coach Gerry Saurer and decided to give a lacklusture performance in
order to have the coach fired. Kenya has yet to qualify for the
tournament since then.
Harambee stars pose for a group photo before their match against
Nigeria at Senegal 92, they lost 2-1.
In 1994, Kenya Breweries reached the finals of the Africa cup winners
cup. After forcing a 2-2 draw away to DC Motema Pembe of Zaire, it
appeared that Breweries were poised for continental glory , only to
loose the home leg 3-1. Breweries however salvaged their reputation ,
by winning the national league, becoming the forst team other than Gor
Mahia and AFC Leopards to win it since 1978.
1997 saw a brief revival of the fortunes of Kenyan soccer under coach
Reinhard Fabisch. Fabisch assembled a youthful team whose average age
was 22 years. The team played extremely well, winning against the
likes of Gabon and Guinea while forcing draws away to Cameroun and at
home to Nigeria. . That team which included Seleman Rashid, John
Odhiambo, Maurice Sunguti, Victor Onyango brought brief joy and hope
to Kenyan football fans. Suddenly the whole country became Football
crazy. Fabisch was later to resign after disagreeing with KFF
secretary James Nyamweya over players allowances.
Kevin Ateku keeps close tabs on Austin Okocha as Kenya Kenya takes on
Nigeria in 1997 read the match report here
The late 90s saw emergence of two new , extremely popular clubs both
of whom have become among the country's best teams. Coast stars was
formed in 1997 to represent Mombasa town and in effect Coast Province.
Within two years of its formation , it reached the final of the Moi
golden cup, finished second in the National League, and qualified for
the CAF cup.
One of the biggest stories in Kenyan Football in recent times is that
of Mathare United FC. The team which based in one of Nairobi's poorest
slums and is sponsored by Bob Munro, started out as a local
neighborhood team playing in youth tournaments locally and abroad. It
consisted of street children who would othrewise spend their days
sniffing glue and ramaging through garbage damps. Mathare United has
now become one of Kenya's premier Football teams. In 1999 they won the
local cup and in 2000 they made it to the second round of the Africa
Cup winners cup and retained the Moi Golden Cup.
Mathare United midfielder, Simon Mulama, tackles John Utakka, the
Nigerian forward of Egyptian club side Ismailia. Mathare came
aginisingly close to eliminating the fancied Egyptian side during the
2001 Cup winners cup.
In 1999 Kenya won the inaugural CECAFA under 20 tournament ,indicating
that Kenya does possess talent which if nurtured and given good
exposure, can go places.
?Kenya takes on Uganda at the CECAFA tournament for players of age 20
and below.
At the dawn of the new millenium, Kenya's football still appears to
lack direction despite the arrival of a new executive led by Maina
Kariuki. The sport is still beset by a myriad of problems notably lack
of funds among clubs.
The millenium edition of Harambee stars includes among others, John
Muiruri and John Baraza pictured as they prepare for the match against
Morocco.
As the year 2000 ended, Kenyan fans were subjected to another surprise
when popular German coach, Reinhard Fabisch was hired in a six year
contract, with his stated objective being to help kenya qualify for
the 2006 world cup which will be held in his homeland of germany.
Kenyan fans continued to wait with bated breath hoping that Fabisch
will be able to reproduce the magic he produced previously.
The return of Reinhard Fabisch was welcomed by most Kenyan football
fans.
Upon his return, Fabisch was able to raise the standards of the
national team substantially. Kenya nearly qualified for the Africa cup
of nations. Had Fabisch been available from the start of the
qualifying campign, Kenya might have qualified. They finished behind
continental giants Morocco and Tunisia.
Harambee stars fans expected the world from Coach Fabisch.
In the year 2001, several Kenyan players were able to secure contracts
with European first division teams : Ronald Ogonda, John Muiruri and
Robert Mambo went to Belgium while Bonaventure Maruti and Paul Oyuga
went to Sweeden. Maruti and Oyuga in particular were able to make a
good impression in the Sweedish league, hopefully opening the doors
for more Kenyans to join the elite ranks of European leagues.
Bonaventure Maruti, formerly of Gor Mahia, is seen here playing for
top Sweedish side, Orebro, was among the leading scorers in the
Sweedish league in the 2001 season. Teammate Paul Oyuga, originally
from Alaskan of Malindi, also made a significant impression in the
Sweedish league
In 2002, Coach Reinhard Fabisch was once again dismissed by the KFF
secretariat. The decision was based on a personal vendetta held by KFF
chairman Maina Kariuki ostensibly because of comments made by Fabisch
to the effect that the KFF team does not take care of Harambee starts
player welfare. This however was the tip of the iceberg. The KFF team
led by Mr Kariuki will go down as the worst and most incompetent ever
(see articles).
Maina kariuki's incompetence led to a decision by Sports Minister
Francis Nyenze to dissolve the KFF secretariat and appoint a caretaker
commitee. Nyenze's deciosn was however reversed by a high court
judge.
Fabisch did his best to point the stars in the right direction but was
once again derailed by a myopic self seeking KFF chairman.
The year 2002 will also be rememebred as the year when perennial
giants, Gor Mahia finally hit rock bottom after years of decline. They
finished second last in the national league and were consigned to
relegation. They however received a reprive from the KFF.