Soka Mag Nov-Dec 2016

www.soka.co.
ke
VOL 1 | ISSUE 3
NOV-DEC 2016
TOP 10
youngsters
to look
out for
One on One with
GEORGE
OPIYO
NAYTHAN DIN
KARIUKIS
dream of
managing
Harambee Stars
The Inside story of
STANLEY
OKUMBIS
battle to transform Harambee Stars to an African giant
ZABLON
AMANAKA
From fame
to isolation
and now
struggling
SOKA FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MAGAZINE
FACEBOOK
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TWITTER
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Editor-in-Chief
Jeff Kinyanjui
Staff Writers
Dan Ngulu,
Vincent Opiyo
Samuel Gacharira
Zachary Oguda
Additional Photography
SportPicha
Design and Layout
Ashish Jha
Published By
Soka Holdings Ltd
Administration
Patrick Korir
Email: patrick@soka.co.ke
Mobile: +254700123366
Office
Suite A5, Silverpool Ofce
Suites, Jabavu Lane,
Hurlingham
P.O. BOX 50633 - 00100,
Nairobi - Kenya
his is yet another edition and on behalf

of Soka, we are delighted to get another
opportunity to tell the untold stories. Our
main story is on Harambee Stars Head
Coach, Stanley Okumbi the journey of a man
who never played football at a professional level
but now manages the Kenyan National team.
On the same note, we catch up with Kenyan
youngster Naythan Din Kariuki who has never
played football professionally but dreams of
managing the Kenyan National team in the near
future and is already making steps in the right
direction. Check his inspiring story on page 16.
Former Harambee Stars defender Zablon
Amanaka is featured on our life after football
section this time. He is a pale shadow of his
former self and despite traveling widely and
playing abroad; he is struggling to make ends
meet. His story should serve as a lesson to
everyone; make hay while the sun still shines, so
they say. On the same note we highlight top ten
youngsters to look out for on page 32.
Muhoroni Youth won the 2016 GOtv Shield but as
they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins
with a step. From a small team in Muhoroni to a
giant killer, check out their story on page 22.
I sincerely hope you enjoy these and more stories
that we have packaged in the fourth edition. Send
story ideas, suggestions, complaints and general
feedback to jeff@soka.co.ke
Phone
(254) 770 160 736
(254) 727 443 540
(254) 700 12 33 66
Email
info@soka.co.ke
Online
www.soka.co.ke
Jeff Kinyanjui
Editor-in-Chief
SOKAMAGAZINE
VOL 1 | ISSUE 3 | 2016
CONTENTS
22 Divided In Opinion, United By Loyalty

The story of Muhoroni Youth FC
28
One on One
Interview with
goalkeeper George Opiyo
32
op 10 youngsters to look
T
out for
39
Star on the rise:
Unleashing
Western Stimas
Kenneth
Muguna
8
The Inside story of Stanley Okumbis battle to
transform Harambee Stars to an African giant
16
aythan Din Kariukis dream of managing

N
Harambee Stars
44
School games:
Barding's
statement of
intent and
future plans
50
Zablon
Amanaka: From
fame to isolation
and now
struggling
58
Soka crossword
and puzzle
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE
INTERVIEW
LEAD STORY
NAME OKUMBI
STANLEY
When Stanley
Okumbi was
appointed as the
Harambee Stars
Head Coach,
many doubted his
ability but eight
matches down
the line the softspoken tactician
is still unbeaten
and slowly but
surely proving his
doubters wrong
8SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
www.soka.co.ke
The Inside story of
STANLEY
OKUMBIS
battle to transform Harambee

Stars to an African giant
T
By Dan Ngulu
he Korogocho slums
in Nairobi are believed
to be among the most
dangerous points in
the city with cases
of runaway crime,
a ballooning population and very
little of good reports coming off the
densely populated area of Eastlands.
However, 35 years ago this same
region produced a man who by a lot
of prospects, is bound to be one of
Kenyas famous sons; Stanley Okumbi,
the Kenya national team head coach.
From afar, Okumbi doesnt cut your
authoritative figure and the fact that
he speaks in a diminuendo with a
soprano kind of tone that betrays
his age all adds to the absence of

that aura of authority. That though is
just from the outset and as they say,
appearances can be deceiving.
Here is a man who has set out to
conquer Africa with the Kenya national
team Harambee Stars and believes he
can do it despite being rated lowly at
the start of his national team career.
Before delving into his time with
Harambee Stars, here is a glimpse of
his journey to the top.
But just how did he start his

coaching career?
Coaching, for him started as an
accidental stop, when he was 19 and
his team in the Mathare Youth Sports
Association (MYSA), Korogocho Youth,

suddenly found itself without a coach
midway through the championship.
Then playing as a defensive
midfielder, he opted to take up the
coaching role while also playing and
he says he was as good as the current
Kenyan international Victor Wanyama.
Though untrained as a coach, he
managed to lead the team to some
good results, helping the side finish
top of the Korogocho region for three
years in a row and his fine run started
attracting attention and in 2003 he
took up the Korogocho Youth U14
team and went on to win the MYSA
Championship that year.
With that, he enrolled for his first
INTERVIEW
LEAD STORY
NAME OKUMBI
STANLEY
succession the advanced course and

diploma.
Mathare United stint
ever-coaching course, a basic course

at MYSA in 2004 after which he
went all the way to win the MYSA
Championships with the Korogocho
Youth Over 16 team in 2005.
The success saw him get the
attention of the MYSA top brass and
not long after he was entrusted with
a bigger job to lead the MYSA U16
team for the Norway Cup in 2006.
That was a big break of sorts for
me. My performance with a team I had
grown up with saw me entrusted to
lead a bigger team out of the country.
It was a special moment, he says.
Before heading to Norway, he had
to beef up his papers and knowing
too well he was creating a niche
in coaching, took two courses in
"Okumbi worked at
Mathare United for
three years without
asking for money. I
don't remember a day
he stood up to me or
the management to
ask for money. That to
me was the ultimate
conviction that he
had real interest in
coaching."
Former Harambee Stars coach,
Francis Kimanzi
He went on to lead the team to a

third place finish in Norway and noting
his potential, MYSA was not about to
let him go; he was offered a role as a
volunteer coach at Mathare United in
2006 after returning from Norway, his
specification then being under coach
Francis Kimanzi.
Kimanzi, one of the most celebrated
Kenyan coaches, passes a glowing
tribute of the man he helped launch
a coaching career having first met
Okumbi at one of the MYSA coaching
clinics. Here Okumbis case was one
of perfect opportunity combining with
luck.
What really excited me about
Okumbi is that here was a young man
very brave and eager to learn. He
approached me at one of our clinics
and asked to get a learning chance
at Mathare United at the time there
was a big coaching team around with
Salim Ali and David Ouma also in the
picture and given we were producing
a lot of good players then, I couldnt
deny him this chance, Kimanzi says.
Here, Okumbi says is where his
real coaching journey started as he
brushed shoulders with the big names
in coaching in Kenya while at some
points still served assigned roles at
MYSA, and he says he gained a lot in
his stint as a volunteer at Mathare
United.
Getting a place on the Mathare
United bench was not a mean feat
then; you had to inspire a lot of
confidence in the management and
even as a volunteer, it was a great step
www.soka.co.ke
Harambee Stars Head

Coach Stanley Okumbi (left)
and his assistants, Musa
Otieno and Frank Ouna
for me; I could not resist and I should

say here the real journey in coaching
had started.
I went on to serve for three years
as volunteer assistant coach then the
team was under coach Kimanzi from
whom I really gained a lot and will
always be thankful to, he notes.
Kimanzi adds that what really
touched him about Okumbi was his
perseverance, having served three
years at the team without a salary.
Okumbi served with us for three
years on free service; I do not
remember a day he stood up to me
or the management to ask for money
unlike many boys his age at that point
in time. That to me was the ultimate

conviction that he had true interest in
coaching.
By that I knew hed do well in the
coaching industry and I am happy with
the far he has come, Kimanzi opines.
With the opportunities getting real
Okumbi traveled to Holland in 2008 to
upgrade his papers to UEFA C category
and in 2010 he got the confirmation
as the Mathare United assistant coach,
elevated from a volunteer, and with
Kimanzi having left the team, Okumbi
served under Salim Ali.
His head would however be turned
in 2011 when Kariobangi Sharks
came calling and for the first time he
served in a setting outside MYSA. That

though, lasted only up to 2012 when
he was lured back to Mathare United,
following the departure of coach
Gabriel Kingi Njoroge and he went
back as the head coach this time.
Taking up the team in bottom place
after a poor start to the campaign was
always going to be a tough task but he
rolled his sleeves for the job.
It was not easy at all taking a team
bottom of the league and with just
four points, but we worked hard and at
the end of the season we were eighth
and the recovery was so good that
I was named the second runners up
coach of the year, he says with pride.
11
LEAD STORY
STANLEY OKUMBI
The second season at the team

would turn to be a nightmare in the
coachs stint as financial difficulties
occasioned massive departures that
saw all but three players leave and he
had to start rebuilding. He terms it the
toughest time of his career.
After performing well definitely my
players were targeted by a number
of teams and with the financial state
there was little we could do to keep
these players. I lost 24 players and
at the start of the year I had only
three players and was forced to start
rebuilding.
I had to prepare a team for the top
flight season by scouting at school
games and estate tournaments and
it was not easy especially without
money. At that point the only thing for
us was to fight to stay in the league,
he adds.
National team break

The steel in the coach despite all
the challenges kept Mathare United
moving and even the Football Kenya
Federation (FKF) saw his potential and
he was named the Kenya U20 coach.
His stint there was not too enjoyable
though.
He was handed a team that
got really little support from the
federation and nation that his stint
lasted just five matches, the team
winning none.
His appointment to the senior
national team came as a surprise, after
the election of Nick Mwendwa as the
new FKF boss but the coach is known
for his knack for taking up even the
most daunting of tasks. He settled in
the role despite the opposition from
most stakeholders.
While most people felt the job

should have been given to a local,
they were not too inspired by the
announcement that Okumbi would be
the man and two opening losses in his
time at the helm did not help matters
either.
He however doesnt feel his
appointment came too soon and
results have vindicated him as well.
I cant say the appointment came
"I used to compete with

coaches who have been
in the league for long
and I could match them
tactically. That meant I
was ready for the next
level."
Stanley Okumbi
too fast because I had coached for
three years in the premier league and
obviously I had to set my targets high.
I was looking beyond the KPL level; in
the premier league there are coaches
who are satisfied by just being there
but personally I was always looking to
go further.
His confidence when taking up the
Harambee Stars role was definitely
spiked by the fact that he could
compete well with the established
coaches in the premier league; the
likes of Kimanzi, Zedekiah Otieno,
Twahir Muhiddin and Francis Baraza.
I used to compete with coaches
who have been in the league for long
and I could match them tactically and
with a youthful team. That meant I

was ready for the next level, he says.
On the opposition he met when
he was appointed and the defeat to
Guinea Bissau, blamed on his team
selection, the coach says he took all
the attacks positively and vowed to
stay on to make the team better.
Of course we encounter criticism
everywhere; for the opposition I
met upon the appointment, I took
it positively and I should say the
criticism built a lot of courage in me
and the belief that local coaches can
do this job well. It was not all gloomy
because a few fans supported the
team.
My first call ups to the team were
blasted but to be sincere, that time the
premier league had just started and to
select the team I definitely had to use
records from the past season. I did not
have much choice. After that when the
league had resumed I think we started
getting positive results, he clarifies.
The team went five games without
a loss after the two opening losses
and the coach says that is the reward
for stability in the team and getting
a perfect way to blend the locals and
the pros in the team.
He believes for the team to succeed,
there has to be a lot of cooperation
from the local coaches. This comes in
the wake of complaints earlier on that
senior coaches are out to sabotage his
work at the national team.
A fact that is not lost to him is the
standard of Kenyan football, which he
says is still very low and he knows it
can only rise with the local coaches
having an input.
I have been talking to all the
coaches when we meet; formally or
www.soka.co.ke
informally and one thing I always

tell them is that the national team is
not mine alone. It belongs to all of
us. Compared to other nations, say in
Africa, we are still down in terms of
football standards and without their
cooperation we will fail.
The beauty of it all is that if we
perform well as a country our players
will get to be recognized by the teams
in the big leagues and when these
same players get to pro, they get
good training there and when they
come here to blend with the locals
in the national team you note a big
improvement.
Though the coach admits the
Kenyan top flight is still lower,
compared to the other African leagues,
he is pained by the fact that well
established players from Kenya are
still subjected to trials before signing
for teams in the developed leagues.
Vision for Harambee Stars
He says among his ambitions is to
create a strong team that will have
clubs out there treat Kenyan players
with the respect they deserve. This,
he cautions, will come with every
stakeholder giving everything for the
good of the team.
It is painful that a player like
Michael Olunga, a very good striker
who is among the top scorer and the
best in our league, is subjected to
trials when he goes to the Swedish
league. You find that it takes him like
three months to convince the club to

sign him; three months of his career.
But then if we do well as a
team and qualify for these major
tournaments, it will be easier for our
players to go to teams directly. The
message is that everyone, including
club coaches have a role in improving
the standards of football and thus the
lives of our players, he adds.
Okumbi has settled well in the role
and he is proving to be his own man,
which the team is gaining a lot from
and with stability injected in the team,
he can spare some time to plan for the
long term future of the team.
Top of his list, he says with a faraway
reflection, is to be able to lift the
team to compete with the best in the
continent. He is confident there is
nothing the team cannot achieve with
the right dedication.
I have always been telling my
players that we can play at the top
THE WINNING TEAM:

In Musa Otieno,
Frank Ouna and John
Kamau, Stanley
Okumbi has the right
technical bench to
help him achieve his
goals as the National
team Head Coach
13
LEAD STORY
STANLEY OKUMBI
most level but first of all we need to

be able to compete and play at the
same level as teams that regularly
qualify for the World Cup and African
Cup of Nations (AFCON).
We want to be able to play at the
level of teams like Nigeria, Algeria,
Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon and a
few more; we want to be able to play
them at home or away without fear.
That is when we can say we want to
be at the World Cup and AFCON
to not just participate, but also
compete.
Unlike his predecessors, the coach
has been a beneficiary of very good
cooperation from the Football Kenya
Federation (FKF). His team has been
able to go to camp in good time and
players are motivated. The same has
resulted in good performances by the
team and he is very thankful.
He says not just the support, but
trust from the federation is very
important and that, coming with high

profile friendly matches, leaves the
coach very confident that with the
current office, the team will scale new
heights.
The federation has been very
supportive and for them, the ambition
is to see that the national team
plays as many friendly matches as
possible. The more we play these
friendly matches, the more players
gain the confidence and get to express
themselves.
I am happy and satisfied with the
support from the federation and I am
sure with that the team will go far, he
notes.
The federation has a target of seeing
the team make a first ever appearance
at the World Cup in 2022 and the
coach shares the same ambition. He
says with the efforts being put in
place, the team stands a chance.
It is possible and it is a genuine
ambition. If we can play the big boys

without fearing them then we can say
we are ready and that is what we all
want.
And when it comes to the debate of
foreign coaches versus local coaches,
Okumbis answer is coy but he wants
to be judged in matches against the
foreign coaches.
My answer to that is very simple;
I want to be analyzed when playing
against these foreign coaches, he
concludes.
The coach, a CAF A license holder
is a believer in doing things with
keen attention, and that could be well
picked from the story of his time in the
national team thus far, as well as his
stint as Mathare United head coach.
In his parting shot, he notes with a
nod that he only focuses on success
and to get there you have no option
do it meticulously, or dont start it at
all.
INTERVIEW
NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI
NAYTHAN
DIN
KARIUKIS
dream of managing Harambee Stars
Arrigo Sacchis appointment as manager of AC Milan in the late 1980s
by Italian owner Silvio Berlusconi drew mixed emotions from the clubs
supporters with majority doubting his ability to reclaim title glory with
the Rossoneri after a decade of poor performance both locally and
internationally. Prior to his appointment at Milan, Sacchi had never
handled a Serie A side with his only success being taking Parma to within
touching distance of promotion to the Italian topflight. The infamous 1-0
victory over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia, while still at Parma, not only
ensured that he knocked out the limping giants from the cup competition
but also won him Berlusconis trust.
By Samuel Gacharira
Greatest side
His inexperience as a player, given
that he did not play football at
professional level, was bandied around
as reason why he would become
an instant failure at the club but
the Italian successfully applied his
philosophy of high pressing football in
Milan. The result; Milan were crowned
Serie A champions in his first season
in charge--the 1987/1988 season. In
fact thereafter he won back to back

European Cups in 1989 and 1990
seasons; a feat that earned his AC
Milan side recognition as one of the
greatest club sides in world football.
For all his success, Sacchiwho
had a penchant for taking on new
challenges in his fledgling managerial
careeralways brew controversy in the
media with his outspoken personality
rising to the fore. I never realized that
www.soka.co.ke
"I want to coach

Harambee Stars in
the near future. It
doesn't matter if we
are the best or worst
team in the world
- to me there is no
bigger achievement
than managing your
National team."
17
INTERVIEW
NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI
THE MOMENT
ROONEY
SCORED THAT
VOLLEY IS
WHEN I BECAME
A FOOTBALL
FAN.''
www.soka.co.ke
to be a jockey you had to be a horse

first, stands out as one of his most
famous quotes. That was actually his
reply when he was questioned about
his suitability for the AC Milan job
despite having not played professional
football as a player.
While Sacchis success in Milan
etched him in the history of football
as one of the greatest managers in
the game, it also drew him many
disciples with many upcoming
managers looking to perfectly execute
his philosophy in their teams. Pep
Guardiola and his successor at Milan
Fabio Capello stand out as successful
coaches of the current generation that
have applied Sacchis philosophy in
their teams.
Inspirational
Sacchis impact in modern football
can certainly be felt in the way
he has changed how people think
about football. His net has been cast
wide including locally where his
achievements in the game continue
to inspire one Naythan Din Kariuki in
his quest to become one of the most
successful coaches Kenya has ever
produced.
Born and bred in Lavington, 20years old Naythan did not really see
himself anywhere near football past
his teenage given that he was more
into rugby and hockey in his childhood.
Although he still plays hockey for
his university team at Southampton
Solent University, Naythans life has
always revolved around football ever
since 2004.
Naythan has always been very keen
on sports and played in various teams
at school. He has been crazy about
football ever since he was really little,

reveals his mother Gina-Din Kariuki.
Starting point
It only took 90 minutes of
breathtaking football between
Manchester United and Newcastle
United on Sunday 14 November
2004 for Naythan to gain interest in
the game. St James Park hosted this
encounter that saw Wayne Rooney,
a teenage sensation then, open the
scoring with a spectacular volley
before legendary England striker Allan
Shearer restored parity shortly after
the restart. A penalty goal from Ruud
Van Nistelrooy and a neat finish from
School team as a goalkeeper. Although

his stint between the sticks has
little to write home about in terms
of achievements on the pitch, it
cultivated a burning desire in him
to venture into football after his
secondary school education. Upon
completion of his studies, his options
were narrowed down to two degrees
in university; undertaking a degree in
Physics or a football related course.
When I did my research about
Physics I realized that its not
marketable over here. I realized that
football is what really makes me
happy and I felt that if I took a football
related degree I would really be
I enjoy coaching because I am making a

difference. I think as a coach there is no better
feeling than seeing your players improving. It
is great to see that a player can do what he
could not do a few months ago. That is what
makes coaching interesting,
Rooney late on ensured the visitors
bagged maximum points.
The moment Rooney scored that
volley is when I became a football fan.
That was the first ever full football
game I watched because before that I
used to watch matches casually. From
then on football became everything.
I have missed a lot of events just to
be around football, Naythan vividly
recollects.
His passion for football saw him
grow into a Manchester United
diehard fan in primary school before
turning out for Hillcrest Secondary
unique to Kenya. This is because there

is an opportunity for football to grow
in Kenya, says Naythan.
Football Studies and Business

The idea of an excellent Physics
student studying football in university
would certainly not go down well with
the average Kenyan parent who bears
the dream of his child getting a proper
white collar job after his studies.
However Naythans choice got full
support from his parents; his mother
admits that she was taken aback by
his decision.
19
INTERVIEW
NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI
I never really looked at football

as a career. I actually didn't see him
venturing into football as a profession.
He was always very strong in Physics
and I just assumed he would end up
taking a degree in that field.
I think what really impressed me
was his thought process of how he
could combine his passion for football
as well as breaking into the business
of sports. As someone who has
followed my passion all my
working life, I am very supportive of
people turning their dreams into
plans.
The world offers so many different
opportunities now from when I was
growing up. There are now a myriad
of ways to break into working on
something we are passionate about. I
am so excited about Naythan's choice
of career. Its unusual but its also a
huge growth area and in my view
should no longer be seen as "extracurricular". We place huge emphasis
on what we consider "proper" jobs yet
there are enormous opportunities in
the area of sports, pointed out Gina
Din who runs Gina Din group; one of
the most successful Public Relations
companies in Kenya.
Coaching
Two years of study into his course,
Football Studies and Business,
Naythan has already identified
coaching as his area of interest and
he is already preparing for a career on
the touchlines of some of the worlds
biggest football cathedrals by getting
coaching badges.
I have never been a parent that
makes decisions for my children. I truly
believe the role changes from one of
"supervisor" to one of "consultant" the

older your child gets. Naythan was very
clear on what he wanted to do in the
field of football.
I take great interest in what he
is learning on his degree and love
that he is learning everything about
business with the added advantage
of the sport he loves most. What is so
exciting for me is to see his passion
for developing more talent in Africa,
added Gina Din.
I enjoy coaching because I am
making a difference. I think as a coach
there is no better feeling than seeing
your players improving. It is great to
see that a player can do what he could
not do a few months ago. That is what
makes coaching interesting, Naythan
underlines with an assuring tone.
Potential
Interestingly for Naythan, his
internship was at Kariobangi Sharks,
a second tier club that has leaped

from strength to strength under
Nick Mwendwa as its chairman.
Professionalism oozes from every
department of the club and this is
something that excites Naythan who
reckons that local football has indeed
made big strides in the recent past
although there still remains a lot of
room for improvement.
I think Kenyan football is more
developed than when I left for
university in 2014. Before that I never
paid keen attention to local football.
I would occasionally check when the
national team is playing but nothing
much beyond that.
At Kariobangi Sharks I was
impressed to see that the fans are
really passionate about a club that
plays in the second tier. The fact that
there is a lot of passion for the game
is moving, says Naythan with a wide
smile.
www.soka.co.ke
Now that Naythan has made this

choice for his career, I have taken
a much more keen interest in the
potential of football and I must say
I am excited at what it can do for
Kenya if properly managed, added his
mother, a successful entrepreneur in
the country.
UEFA B
Certified by the Royal Dutch Football
Association (KNVB) as well as the
English Football Association (FA),
Naythanwho like Sacchi has never
played professional footballis keen
to amass more coaching badges before
he completes his studies as part of
concerted efforts to make his touchline
debut with a senior club side, say, in
2019.
Football worldwide is going away
from the idea that you didnt play so
you certainly cant coach. I really look
up to Sacchi because he never played
but he achieved a lot as a coach. The
fact that Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas
Boas and Brendan Rodgers have
achieved some success is proof that
you can make it in coaching without
ever playing.
Even if you have the best football
brain in the world it is very hard to
convince somebody if you dont have
the qualifications to show that. My
schedule in school is quite tight but
there is still room to get the badges. I
am working to get my UEFA B license
in two or three years time, remarked
an optimistic Naythan.
Limited opportunities
Sacchis success at the San Siro was
shaped by his previous stints at Rimini,
Fiorentina and Cesena where he had
the liberty to test his philosophy in a

pressure bereft environment. Similarly,
Naythan is hell-bent on launching his
career abroad with lower tier/junior
sides despite the limited opportunities
that exist in Europe.
I want to start off in Europe
because I want to come back here
with experience. You can have all the
qualifications in the world but there is
no better teacher than experience. It is
very difficult to get jobs in Europe as a
coach but thats where I want to start.
Even if it means I have to beg or clean
shoes then Ill do that.
Realistically speaking I would like
to start with a youth team because it
is very difficult to convince people in
Europe that you can manage a senior
side without experience. But I dont
want to be a youth coach forever. I
see myself better suited for senior
sides, reiterated a visibly determined
Naythan.
Flexible and empathetic

Michael Amengahis mentor at
Kariobangi Sharksbelieves that
Naythan will blossom into a coach of
great repute and he singles out his
flexible and empathetic nature
as key ingredients for his success in
future.
Naythan is very sharp and he knows
how to read the game very well. His
relationship with players is also top
notch. I think he is an inspiration to
young people to take up coaching from
a very young age because it makes
you more experienced. He has all the
qualities to make a good coach.
He has the wonderful gift of making
others believe in themselves which is a
great trait for a coach. He is actually in
tune with how other people feel which

makes him an authentic leader. He also
continuously challenges himself and is
able to turn failure into great lessons,
asserts Amenga.
Harambee Stars
Just like his role model Sacchi, who
guided Italy to the final of the 1994
World Cup where he lost to Brazil
on post-match penalties, Naythan
harbors the dream of guiding the
Kenya national team Harambee Stars
to a major international tournament at
some point in his career.
My dream job is to coach the Kenya
national team. For me it doesnt matter
if we are the worst team in the world
or the best team in the world. There is
no bigger achievement than managing
your national team. I look at (Stanley)
Okumbi now and I can only imagine
how great a feeling it is to lead the
national team. It is just fantastic,
explains Naythan with a glow in his
face.
As Naythan embarks on a journey
to join the likes of Lupita Nyongo;
Kenyans who have studied abroad and
proceeded to put the country in the
global map with unmatched success in
their various fields, Soka can only wish
him the best in his endeavours. Gina
Din sums up the load of expectation
around Naythan interestingly saying:
From my own experience, I know
if we do something we love, we tend
to do it very well and succeed in it. I
am thoroughly enjoying watching
his progression and excited for what
he will do for the development of
football not just in Kenya but in Africa.
I truly believe he has made the right
decision!
21
MUHORONI YOUTH FC
C L U B
P R O F I L E
CLUB PROFILE
DIVIDED IN
OPINION, UNITED
BY LOYALTY
The story of Muhoroni

Youth FC
www.soka.co.ke
FACT SHEET
Club: Muhoroni Youth
Football Club
Nick Name: Sugar Boys
Short Name: Muho
Founded: 2002
Ground: Muhoroni
Stadium
KPL Debut: 2012
CEO: Mr. Moses
Adagala
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT:
KPL Top 8 Trophy
STAR PLAYER: Abdala
Hamisi
HEAD COACH: Tom
Juma
By Zachary Oguda
Started in 2002, Muhoroni Youth's rise to the

top has not been a fairy-tale. They've been
through ups and downs but the struggles
have started paying off as they won the 2016
KPL Top 8 trophy ...
23
CLUB PROFILE
MUHORONI YOUTH FC
hen Martin
Luther King
Jnr dared to
dream for
the future,
one team
in the outskirts of Got AlilaMuhoroni Kenya, showed they really
could follow in Luthers footsteps.
Sometimes it just takes a long, long
time.
The story of the clubs astonishing
rise to the Kenyan Premier League
(KPL) in only the 16th year of
existence is one of hope to sports
fans across the country.
The club epitomizes constant
growth and the thought that with
belief anything is possible. The
team was formed in 2002 as a youth
community club and a brain child
of Mr. Moses Adagala, who to date
is the clubs Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), to help keep the areas youth
occupied after becoming suddenly
jobless with the collapse of the
regions biggest employers, Muhoroni
Sugar Company, Miwani Sugar
Factory and the dwindling stature
that is Chemelil Sugar Company; and
according to the CEO, it has not been
all rosy.
Farming
I arrived here in 2000 because I
was involved in sugar cane farming
and I knew what the area needed.
The collapse of the sugar factories
didnt do the youths here any favors
and I had to devise a plan to keep
them busy lest they get involved in
things that werent good for their
growth. With the little I got as a
farmer and with the help of some
friends, we started this team mainly
to keep the boys busy. I couldnt have

imagined of the strides weve made
so far when I started this, Adagala
says.
On the year it was founded, the
club started from the District League
and in 2003 got promoted to the
Nyanza North Provincial League,
progress Adagala admits wasnt a
surprise to him because he knew the
potential the boys possessed.
The young boys then were under
the tutelage of Moses Olaba, brother
to former Kenya national team coach
Tom Olaba and Adagala couldnt hide
his admiration for the coach.
People questioned the benefit of
starting this project and some pulled
out along the way because every
other business man or woman would
want to invest in a place where they
see dividends. I almost gave up but
I thank God for Olaba who gave his
all in ensuring the boys trained. He
could go without pay at times but he
didnt give up, which motivated me
further. I vowed never to abandon
the team and promised to soldier
on despite the challenges that came
with it, Adagala posed.
If Adagala thought that the hurdles
were about to end after his two
seasons in the Provincial League in
2003 and 2004, which earned them
promotion to the Super League, the
countrys second tier, then he was
wrong. Lack of funds for registration
in the Super League, forced them
to settle for another season in the
Provincial League one of the lowest
moments in Adagalas world of
football.
It was a sad moment when I
realized I couldnt register the team
"Financing a
club is no joke
and as much as
I would want to
thank everyone
who has helped
us get where
we are now,
we still have a
shortfall."
Muhoroni Youth
Chair, Moses
Adagala
25
CLUB PROFILE
MUHORONI YOUTH FC
in the Super League due to lack of

funds. The boys had worked their socks
off and as a result I felt the onus was
with me to ensure they were in the
Super League. I knocked on every door
I could but nothing was forthcoming.
Others gave promises that didnt
materialize. The day it dawned to me
that I was to feature in the Provincial
League for the third time in a row was
the lowest moment. I sat the boys
down and explained to them and
fortunately, they understood and we
had to continue working, I was never
going to stop, Adagala remarks.
Promotion
The team would later earn
promotion to the Super League
in 2006 but had serious financial
constraints and the wrangles at the
federation played to their advantage
as they had a few months out to sort
issues, with the league stopped.
At this point in Kenyan football,
there were two factions claiming to
run the game; Mohamed Hatimy on
one side with the Football Kenya
Limited (FKL) and Sam Nyamweya
with the Kenya Football Federation
(KFF). Adagala sided with Nyamweya
and with that Hatimy denied his side
in 2007 and he had to withdraw the
team from the leagues to concentrate
just on tournaments.
I was green then in the football
politics and the wrangles between
both parties dented my ambitions
with the team further. We were against
rogue leadership and we knew we
had done everything right to make
a step further up the leagues ladder
but it didnt materialize. Thats a point
where I can say I gave up and slowed
the progress of the club a bit but I
recollected myself and thought I had

to continue with the journey, Adagala
notes.
Nyamweya-Hatimy wrangles
The team returned to the league, in
the second tier, in 2009 but due to the
wrangles, the league did not conclude.
Adagala wasnt going to give up hope
and soon after he got his reward. The
"The day it dawned

on me that the team
would feature in the
Provincial League
for the third time in
a row was the lowest
moment. We vowed
to work hard and from
then things took a
positive turn."
team finished in mid table in 2010 and

on the following year (2011) topped
the KFF Nationwide League; the
faction led by Nyamweya.
By finishing top, a place in the
prestigious premier league was the
only reward, but that was not assured,
as it required a unified decision
coming from the two factions to have
two teams promoted to the top flight.
The wait was agonizing but after
consultations it was agreed that the
two factions produce one team each
and from the KFF, Adagalas dream to
see his team in the top flight came

true while from the FKL side, Oserian
FC rose.
That was the time I realized the
strides we had made. From being
locked out due to financial constraints
to the politics; it was hard. I wanted
to ensure that whatever happened,
we were in the safest of places to
gain promotion because we had done
everything at our disposal and being
denied a chance in the top flight could
have blown us off, Adagala says.
The first season in the top flight in
2012, was not a memorable one and
the club was just content with staying
afloat, after managing 27 points to
finish a place above the drop zone.
The story was different the following
season as the team gained eight more
points to hit 35 and finish tenth. 2014
was even better for the side as they
managed 40 points and for the first
time finished in the top half to earn
a slot in the 2015 Top 8 tournament.
In 2015 the team managed its best
ever finish, rising to sixth place after
a splendid run in the second half of
the season under new coach Paul
Nkata that saw the team lose just one
match in the second leg; the last game
against champions Gor Mahia.
The team is yet to win honors in its
time in the top flight but Adagala is
confident that they will not wait too
long for silverware.
If you look at our journey to where
we currently are then you have to
believe that nothing is impossible. We
have made strides that I am happy
to show and even though we might
not be up there with the best in the
league, having teams come here in
Muhoroni knowing that it wont be an
easy ride gives me a lot of satisfaction,

Adagala remarked
Controversies
The club has had its fair share of
controversies with the CEOs name
constantly in the headlines for the
wrong reasons. From firing coaches
without following the correct
procedure, to attacks on his players,
and accusations that he rules with an
iron fist have created a general feeling
he is working hard to water down
his own legacy but this, he denies
vehemently.
It is true we have had our fair share
of rough patches and found ourselves
on opposite ends but that should not
be the denominator to gauge our
progress. Every club has issues at some
point and even at work places people
disagree. Things have happened but
I think some are always blown out of
proportion.
We have rules to follow and the
players together with the technical
bench are aware of this. Its not easy
to run a club as many think, it revolves
around a lot of things and thats where
people who have not tasted what
comes with managing a football club
will always be quick to judge. We
disagree but come down and talk to
iron out our issues, it has been that
way since I started this club, Adagala
declares.
Adagala knows that for the club to
thrive, there has to be mutual benefit
between it and the community and
as such he runs businesses in the
area with the proceeds channeled
towards keeping the team afloat while
ensuring the locals have their basic
needs addressed.
Financing a club is no joke and
as much as I would want to thank

everyone who has helped us to where
we are now, we still have a shortfall.
We started a water project in 2010 to
help boost the teams finances and so
far it has been a success.
We also try hard to lift the less
fortunate in community by helping in
little ways as much as we can and we
will keep doing that. We have to lay
a foundation where we understand
each other and a place where we can
"Financing a club is no
joke and as much as I
would want to thank
everyone who has
helped us get where
we are now, we still
have a shortfall."
Muhoroni Youth Chair,
Moses Adagala
all thrive for the betterment of the

Muhoroni community, Adagala adds.
For the fans and Muhoroni faithful,
the dream was realized with the team
getting to the premier league and all
they desire now is to see the team
grow each season.
"Getting to the KPL was such a
dream," 22-year-old Collins Dave says.
"Getting better with each passing
season is all we pray for and such
achievements just give me a lot of
hope. I could never have imagined this
in my wildest of dreams."
New League winners
In an era when elite clubs are

getting wealthier by attracting the
best sponsors in town, an outsider
breaking the established order with
a weaker financial muscle seems
unthinkable but Adagala is confident
one day, tables will be turned.
Its always refreshing to see a new
name on the league trophy in any
country. Leicester did it in England
last year. Portugal did it against all
odds to win the Euros. Atletico Madrid
has been sending shockwaves in the
Champions League against clubs that
spend like twice their budget. Through
belief nothing is impossible. I have a
strong belief that one day we will land
the KPL trophy, Adagala poses.
There's a sense of entitlement at
clubs like Gor Mahia, Tusker FC and
AFC Leopards, who believe they should
be regular title winners and whose
supporters cry out when they fall
short. By comparison, the pure elation
the handful of Muhoroni Youth fans
have radiated has been infectious and
refreshing. Everything their club has
achieved since its establishment defies
logic.
The bar has been set; the challenge
will be keeping the squad together
and strengthening it to achieve the
set targets. Just as the clubs surge was
widely forecast to fade in seasons to
come, their improvement is being seen
as a one-off.
The teams regular rise means 2016
will also end in success for the club
after beating holders Gor Mahia to
win the KPL Top 8 Cup; the clubs first
major title and the last word from the
clubs top brass is that Muhoroni Youth
will prove the doubters wrong time
and again.
27
INTERVIEW
GEORGE OPIYO
One on One
Interview with
goalkeeper
GEORGE
OPIYO
Q: In a nutshell, who is George
Opiyo?
I was born in Kabete on 10th
February 1983. Im the 4th born in
a family of 8 (4boys and 4girls). My
dad worked as a messenger at the
University of Nairobi from 1980- 2002
when he retired and moved to the
village in Kisumu. He was also a pastor
and so we got a lot of good advice and
encouragement from him.
Growing up, I was exposed to so
many harmful and dangerous things
like drugs and crime as this is part of
the ghetto life we lived but since I had
made a promise to my parents never
to fall into any of these traps I had to
work hard to achieve my goals.
Q: When, how and why did you fall
in love with the beautiful game?

I started playing football in our U-10
local team and then joined Kangemi
Youth U14 thanks to coach Athanas
Obala (Obango) and the chairman
Simon Mugo who sported me in a
tournament. While at Kangemi Youth I
used to get Kshs 20 daily as transport
allowance since I was the only one
living far from the training ground. I
instead chose to trek for more than
10km to at least save the cash and
give to my mother. The distance I
covered made me mentally strong and
hungry for success.
Q: Where did you go to school?

I started my education at Kabete
Vet Labs Primary School then went to
Nairobi Milimani Secondary School
www.soka.co.ke
then pursued a Diploma in Sports

Administration and Management at
Malezi College
Q: At what point did you realize

football is what you wanted to
pursue as a career?
I started taking football seriously
when I joined Waterworks FC under
coach Mwinyi who was a soldier. I had
hopes of one day joining the army but
even though I missed the opportunity
I don't regret anything since coach
Yusuf Chippo spotted me and gave
me a life changing opportunity to
join a Premier League team, KCB FC.
2008 was my first year in the toptier but I had the best experience
and got awarded as the 2nd runners
up goalkeeper of the year. Sofapaka
came calling in 2009 and the offer
was too good to resist. I can say
without fear we are now harvesting
the fruits of what Sofapaka President
Ellly Khalekwa brought in our league
professionalism, improved salary,
signing fees, personalized jerseys etc.
29
INTERVIEW
GEORGE
NAME
OPIYO
Q: Take us through your career, the

teams youve played for and the
timelines
2008-2009 K.C.B
2009-2012 SOFAPAKA FC
2012-2014 TUSKER FC
2014-2015 KRA (NOW USHURU)
2015-2016 K.C.B
Q: Who would you say has played a

big role in your career?
My family has played a big role in
my career since they have always been
there to encourage and give me all the
support when things were tough.
Q: Who inspired you to pursue

goalkeeping? Which particular
goalkeeper did you look up to?
My elder brother was a keeper and
I used to follow him every time and
copy a few skills from him while my
role model was Francis Onyiso. This
is the player I looked up to when
growing.
Q: High and low moments in your

career?
My highest moment was in 2009
under coach Robert Matano when
I won the Premier League with
Sofapaka. My lowest moment I can
say was in 2014 after my knee surgery.
Tusker terminated my contract and I
had to spend 8 months jobless and
couldn't play.
Q: Which Kenyan keeper do you

rate highly at the moment?
I rate Boniface Oluoch highly. He
is always so relaxed, composed and
always enjoys playing. Outside the
field of play he is very simple, friendly
and God fearing.
Q: Have you retired officially from

the game? How would you sum up
your career so far? Any regrets?
I would describe it as a positive
experience even though filled with
a lot of challenges. I have no regrets
whatsoever as Im doing whatever I
have always wanted to do and I have
diversified to include goalkeeper
training at J4K Kenya. I havent retired.
Q: What is J4K? How did you get to

know about the organisation?
J4K stands for Just 4 Keepers. Former
Everton and one of the greatest
keepers in UK Ray Newland formed
also no one was willing to get them

some basic equipment like gloves and
apparel since they are so expensive.
J4K came in and started offering
all these for free with the help of
J4K Donate Your Glove Program
and partnership with J4K Northern
Virginia under coach Larry Dolph and
J4K Canada under coach Riy Howell.
J4K coaches and parents have so far
helped over 100 keepers with gloves,
jerseys and boots.
We have also entered into a
partnership with Kippure Park FC - this
is a team from Ireland and they have
so far donated several sets of uniforms.
My family has played a big role

in my career. They have always
been there for me especially
when things were tough"
it in 1999. J4K has grown to be the

biggest goalkeeper school in the world
with its own brand. A friend who is
also a J4K coach referred me.
Q: Why did you guys set up J4K

Kenya? What has the organization
achieved locally so far?
The reason as to why we decided
to set up J4K in Kenya is because we
realized that most of the upcoming
young keepers were neglected and
J4K is now the leading brand in Kenya

when it comes to providing quality
affordable professional gloves. All the
16 premier league team keepers
have approved and use our brand.
Nearly half of the NSL teams also
use J4K and this has improved the
goalkeeping department. I have a
contract with J4K and Im the
Director, J4K Kenya. I work with
Regina Tito who is the Marketing
Manager in Kenya.
www.soka.co.ke
Q&A
with Just 4
Keepers founder
RAY NEWLAND
What is Just 4 Keepers?
This is a specialized goalkeepers training school
2. Why did you start this? Detailed

background overview
As a young child I wanted to get goalkeeper
training, but there was nowhere to go. However
I was fortunate to become a professional
goalkeeper for 10 years.When my career came
to an end, occasioned by injury, I was amazed to
see that there was still nowhere for children to
get specialist goalkeeper training. So I wanted to
change this, and thats why I started Just4keepers
in
3. How many countries are you in? Why Kenya

in Africa?
We are currently in 32 countries. I was
approached by George Opiyo to start J4K
Kenya and thought it would be an interesting
opportunity
4. What do you intend to achieve with J4K

Kenya?
Our mission is to help as many young Kenyan
goalkeepers as possible to achieve their dream.
5. How would you sum up your progress in

Kenya so far?
There has been a lot of excitement and this is
down to George being so enthusiastic. I believe
J4K can change lives in Kenya.
6. Any challenges so far?

There are challenges big and small everyday.
As long as the coaches involved in Kenya have
a dream to make Just4Keepers big for the
goalkeepers in Kenya, challenges do not matter.
31
TOP TEN YOUNGSTERS TO LOOK OUT FOR
TOP 10
young
sters
to look
out for
By Vincent Opiyo
istory has it that a big

chunk of promising
talents in both the
Kenyan and Women
Premier Leagues are
nurtured in schools. Over
the years, we have seen youthful players
coming out of school to stamp their
authority in the competitive leagues.
From Michael Olunga, now at IF
Djurgardens in Sweden to Mwanahalima
Adam and Neddy Atieno who are
regulars in the Kenya women national
team.
In the months of July and August
some of the most followed competitions

in the country, the Airtel Rising Stars
and the East Africa Secondary Schools
Sports Association games were held in
Kenya, staged in Kisumu and Eldoret
respectively.
Laiser Hill and St. Johns Kaloleni
bagged the national titles while Kenyas
Barding High and GS Remera from
Rwanda went home with the boys and
girls football gongs.
Over 200 players took part in the
tournament and a number showed some
good promise to be stars of the future
and heres a highlight of the ten most
promising stars to keep an eye on in the
coming years.
www.soka.co.ke
JOHN
OTIENO
School: Barding High

Class: Form Three
POSITION:
Goalkeeper
Y.O.B:
2000
tieno featured in ten matches

at both the national and East
Africa School Games, conceding
just one goal. The youngster
was undoubtedly one of the outstanding
goalkeepers across the tournaments,
despite facing stiff competition from Laiser
Hills Emmanuel Juma at the nationals.
Given time, and nurtured well, he can
become one of Kenyas long time shot
stoppers following the footsteps of Duncan
Ochieng and Arnold Origi who have 58 and
35 caps for the National team Harambee
Stars respectively.
amukunji High did not make it to

the national school games but was
one of the best teams in the County
championships held at Starehe Boys
and Eastleigh High. One of the players who
stood out in the team was the team Captain
Elvis Osok, nicknamed Calabar.
Osok, a utility player, was used as a winger,
midfielder and a defender in the games. His best
position however happens to be in defence.
Osok is a strong tackler, he is athletic and
defensively diligent. Rumor has it that he has
been earmarked by a number of KPL and second
tier clubs.
ELVIS
OSOK
School: Kamukunji High

Class: Form Four
POSITION:
Defender
Y.O.B:
1999
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE
33
INTERVIEW
NAME
O
ONYANGO
ARNOLD
School: Barding High School

Class: Form Two
POSITION:
Defensive
Midfielder
inyanjui is a box-to-box midfielder.

His technique in ball passing
and tackling is unique. His runs
and touch are fantastic and he is
definitely headed in the right direction. He
could head to Thika United once he clears
High School as the KPL side are closely
monitoring his situation having featured for
the clubs junior team in the Kenyan Premier
League (KPL) U20 competition.
Achieving in the world of football is any
players dream and so is the case with me.
Thats the only hope I see in helping my
humble family, he states.
Y.O.B:
2001
nyango is a budding
defensive midfielder who
possesses three key qualities;
awareness, great control and
strong defensive skills. The midfielder
played a vital role in the teams title
winning run with crunch but fair tackle
as well as denying opponents easy
penetration.
Though not the tallest in the team,
his work rate in midfield covers for the
qualities he lacks in height. He was
named the national school games MVP
and his focus remains to break into the
major European leagues as soon as he
is done with studies.
My ambition is to play in Europe,
locally, maybe Gor Mahia or Tusker
but I am hopeful that I can make it in
Europe and achieve in football to help
my community. Being an orphan, I have
been brought up by different people so
it will be nice if I give back, he notes.
www.soka.co.ke
acharia always dreamt of

playing at the national school
games, and aiding Laiser Hill
to win the 2016 tourney may
pass as his most memorable moment.
The left-footed player already has his
star shining, with a junior team cap and
a number of league appearances for
Kariobangi Sharks a club that snatched
his services days before completing
his International General Certificate of
Secondary Education (IGCSE) in June 2016.
He made his international debut for Kenya
national U20 team in a 2017 Africa U20
Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan in
April 2016.
A creative midfielder, Macharia can
play as a winger on either flank. He says;
Europe should be the next stop in my
career, perhaps Arsenal or any better outfit
in Europe will do for me.
JOHN
MACHARIA
JAMES
KINYANJUI
School: Laiser Hill

Class: Kariobangi Sharks
School: Passenga
Secondary School
Class: Form Four
POSITION:
Attacking
Midfielder
POSITION:
Winger
Y.O.B:
1999
Y.O.B:
1998
35
T
VICTOR
OMONDI
OGENDO
School: Friends School

Bukembe Secondary School
Class: Form Four
POSITION:
Forward
LILIAN
AWUOR
School: Nyakach Girls

Class: Form two
POSITION:
Goalkeeper
Y.O.B:
2000
he 16-year-old goalkeeper
has been termed one of the upcoming
top custodians for the national team
Harambee Starlets.
Awuor, while captaining Nyakach did well at
the national school games, with a performance
that earned her a call to the Starlets team that
reached the final of the 2016 CECAFA Womens
Championships in Uganda.
Y.O.B:
1998
he Kenya U20 call up

was one of the surprise
packages at the nationals,
scoring seven goals in five
matches on his first appearance
at the tournament. The former
Makhuyu Primary School pupil
showed prime instincts of a striker;
bullying defenders and making the
most of any slim chances coming his
way.
Omondi, born on 11th June 1998
can play in a variety of positions on
the field of play but this time round,
he was preferred as the main man
upfront and proved why he deserved
to wear jersey 10 in the competition.
He is already under contract at
second tier side Nzoia United but
Western Stima and Mathare United
are keen on snapping him up once
he is done with his final exams in
November.
www.soka.co.ke
WINFRED
ACHIENG
School: St. Johns Kaloleni Girls

Class: Form Four
POSITION:
Midfielder
Y.O.B:
1997
usimbi was one of Wiyetas key players

in the last two editions of the school
games. In 2015, she netted five goals
to help the Trans-Nzoia based school
clinch the ARS girls football title and in 2016,
helped the school reach the final, only losing to
St. Johns Kaloleni. Her pace, dribbling skills and
eye for goal is what caught the attention of many
scouts. She was one of the players selected to train
with Harambee Starlets once she is done with her
final secondary school exams in November 2016.
chieng was the pillar in her schools

midfield department, supplying
the passes to the forwards as the
team eventually bagged its maiden
ARS girls football title. Despite falling at the
last hurdle in the regional finals in Eldoret,
Achieng will be looking forward to a bright
future if her qualities are anything to go by.
She plays for Mombasa Olympic in the FKF
Women Premier League.
JUDITH
MUSIMBI
School: Wiyeta Girls

Class: Form Four
POSITION:
Attacker
Y.O.B:
1997
37
CHRISTINE
KITARU
School: Nginda Girls School

Class: Form Three
POSITION:
Striker
Y.O.B:
2000
itaru has scored seven

goals in the last two
editions of the national school games,
held in Machakos and Kisumu. She
is good on the ball and has vision for goal.
Her fine performance handed her the 2016
ARS Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade. She
currently plays for Thika Queens in the FKF
Women Premier League.
JAMINE
KAHINDI
Y.O.B:
2000
School: Olympic High School

Class: Form Two
POSITION:
Defender
itaru has scored seven goals in the last two editions

of the national school games, held in Machakos and
Kisumu. She is good on the ball and has vision for goal.
Her fine performance handed her the 2016 ARS Most
Valuable Player (MVP) accolade. She currently plays for Thika
Queens in the FKF Women Premier League.
KENNETH MUGUNA
Star on the rise:

Unleashing Western
Stimas
Kenneth
Muguna
STAR ON THE RISE
anchoring his beliefs onto it. A lean

Kenneth Muguna not only gracefully plays
football with his head like Pirlo wants, hes
taken his idols name too - Pirlo, they call
him at his current club Western Stima.
How it all started
Its the start of the 2015 season and
theres a boy straight out of high school
and wants nothing but play football. Its
always a long shot to aim for the Premier
League sides when you are just out of
school so Kenneth Mugunas deal with
third tier debutants Palos FC will do just
fine for now. Here, hell meet Coach Paul
Ogai, and a year-long mentorship journey
will begin.
I look at Kenneth now and marvel at
what confidence can do to a player. Hes
the type I had full belief in, sometimes
castigated for playing him whenever we
lost. In a few peoples eyes, he wasnt
Just an year ago,

Kenneth Muguna
was a relatively
unknown youngster
struggling to make it
to the starting team
of second-tier side
Palos FC. But that
is all history now as
he is now a regular
starter at Western
Stima and earned his
first national team
call up recently
still good enough maybe good, just not
By Fabian Odhiambo
enough to start for Palos. I have never

regretted any match I threw him into, Ogai
idely regarded
as one of
goes back in time.

Born on 6th January 1996, Mugunas
Kenyas
first encounter with a football came nine
brightest young
years later at Kondele Primary School, and
attacking
after insisting that this is what he wanted,
talents,
earned himself his first football boots at
Muguna has lit the Kenyan Premier League
nine years. A fathers first sign of approval,
(KPL) on his first season after joining
Michael Muguna had unknowingly told his
Western Stima from second-tier side Palos
son, you can be whatever you want to be.
FC and theres more to come
Urusi Football Club is a name that will
Football is played with the head. The
send shivers across a section of opposing
feet are just tools those were Andrea
teams here in Kisumu. Ten years back the
Pirlos words, and he had a career perfectly
name would also prompt an opponent to
summed up by this phrase. A player whose
fail to honour a match. It was The Team,
considerable lack in burly build- compared
and Muguna already among the best
to his peers, has a Kenyan youngster
among his peers at school, sought to join
39
STAR ON THE RISE
KENNETH MUGUNA
www.soka.co.ke
Urusis junior teams. He would start with
school team (and by extension the club
here who currently play in the Kenyan
the U-10s.
KYOC) was a no brainer to his potential
Premier League but I think Junior stands
teammates who Waore reveals have a
out, a visibly delighted Waore says.
I would play football in school during

break time but this wasnt enough. Back
home after school I always found myself
massive say in who joins the team

At KYOC we leave the onus of selecting
The decision to rope in Muguna and a

few youngsters from St Ignatius paid off
heading to Urusis training grounds. They
new arrivals to the players themselves.
massively for the club in 2013. From Amule
had good players, and I needed a bigger
Yes, we are that democratic. We call new
Robinson, Livingstone Ochieng and himself,
challenge, Muguna who wouldnt last
players for trials and ask the already
all students at St Ignatius, KYOC gained
more than two years at Urusi, says.
registered team members to select whom
promotion into the then Nationwide
they think will add quality to the team. So
league; the countrys third tier of football.
The sunset years in primary school

saw him join another Kisumu colossus in
when Mugunas time came, there werent
football; Real Kisumu, a club that just a
any qualms about whether he was some
Year four in school saw Kenneth partake
few years to come would miss out narrowly
prospect, says Waore who prides himself
in little football related activity and this
on promotion into the Kenyan Premier
in producing such talents as Wellington
might explain KYOCs failure to rise up a
League. Muguna now at Nyabondo Boys
Ochieng (Gor Mahia), Andrew Murunga
league higher. As 2014 came to a close,
High School played for Real Kisumus
(Kakamega Homeboyz) and Thika United
school ended with it but for Kenneth,
U-16s during the school holidays.
football didnt. This is where the story of
St. Ignatius Magadi in their perennial
Palos and Coach Paul Ogai begins. Two
quest to dethrone Nyanza footballing

giants Kisumu Day Secondary School,
snapped up Muguna from Nyabondo two
years into his High School journey in
2012. This is a call he heeded given he
would not only play school football but
also feature in the countrys Provincial
League. St Ignatius School and the then
Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre (KYOC) had
Palos sojourn
stellar seasons at the Olympic Centre
MUGUNA EARNED
HIS FIRST CALL UP
TO THE NATIONAL
TEAM RECENTLY
between 2013 and 2014 sees him join

Palos Football Club debutants in the
Nationwide League.
I think it was time for a fresher
challenge for him. Palos had been on the
rise since its formation in 2012 and its
a club that had its sights firmly fixed on
an upward trajectory. I brought Muguna
a strong bond and the latter, featuring in
alongside Francis Alumba and Bernard
the League, often came to take a few good
Ochieng; all of them from KYOC, Ogai who
players from the school. The only boy in a

family of five was one such player.
The youngsters tactical ability now
would engineer Palos FCs rise into the

vice-captain Vincent Omumbo.
Now having people who understood him
second tier reveals.

A nagging injury picked during Palos
starts to emerge and a few can see that
around, Muguna took up light training on
pre-season training rendered Muguna unfit
indeed he would be huge in a few years to
the advice of Coach Wycliffe Odhiambo
for the first six matches of the season, a
come.
so he wouldnt aggravate his already dire
period he admits was one of the toughest
Waore James Dianga, the head of
chest condition. Its here that he would
in his career. Being debutants, the team
Kisumu Youth Olympic Centre believes
spell it out clear that his football would be
was doing fairly well, but fair had never
Mugunas arrival at the centre was a
played in the mind, his frail frame perfect
been in the DNA of Palos, so pressure to
blessing in disguise. Part of the reason
bait to unsuspecting opposition.
perform mounted.
for him leaving Nyabondo Boys had been
We knew he was good from the onset,
It was a difficult time for me and the
cold weather conditions that adversely
and vowed to keep him and give him a
team. Here I was, out injured and for a new
affected his already ailing chest. He thus
chance here at KYOC. He was good in class
signing that only creates more anxiety
joined St. Ignatius on medical grounds but
too, unlike other footballers we know. We
among the fans. As they say though, it is
with massive talent. From here, joining the
have produced a lot of good players from
darkest before dawn; the season that was
41
STAR ON THE RISE
KENNETH MUGUNA
before me is one I will never forget, the
To even name him on the match day
player of the month for August 2016, and
2016 KPL August player of the month
squad for any match was a decision I
Muguna pocketed a cool Ksh 100,000,
recalls.
had to labor hard with because a lot of
a personalized trophy and 42 inch LG
criticism was thrown at me. To be honest,
television set.
Muguna joined Ogais train now at full

throttle seven matches into the season
we had very good and fit players in the
but wouldnt walk right into the first team.
team, and Kenneth was just coming back
is a man of his word, play well and you
David Amimo, Clifford Omondi and Bernard
from injury. He had something special in
will continue getting the chance to play.
Ondiek were in top form so he had to be
him, and Im glad I took the risk to try him
Mugunas entry into the top tier straight
contented with starting from the bench,
out one match at a time, says Ogai whos
from third division is testament to this.
but even here, Coach Ogai admits it is a
vindication would come when Palos faced
decision that raised eyebrows.
an in-form Gor Mahia FC in the 2015 GOtv
to mingle with the big boys the first
Shield round of 16 match in Nairobi.
instinct is to try and learn from them,
Big break
The Shield match is a highlight in
Normally, when one gets such a chance
stay on the ropes and wait for your

chance. Muguna did not, he grabbed the
first chance with both hands and the
Mugunas career, he says. One of the three
successive senior national team call-ups
moments he doesnt want to forget despite
have been the result of sheer hard work
saying bye to teen-hood just a few months
and an unrelenting self-belief that in just
ago. Despite going down 4-2 to Gor Mahia
ten months have brought him a monthly
in the tie, an indelible mark in the two
award.
assists he gave to Calvince Omanga on
Kenneth Mugunas star is on the rise, a
that day remain a source of joy to him. He
very fast rise and he is in no mood to look
had just done it against the champions,
back. Just five months in Western Stima
one wonders if theres anything he couldnt
and three KPL giants in the June mid-
do.
season transfer window flocked Kisumu,
Mugunas exploits to this point have not
each with some hope of walking home
only attracted local plaudits, in August,
with this gem. Stima didnt budge, and all
African soccer pundits named him in the
of them walked away empty handed.
August African Team of the month; a
"Muguna had
something special
in him and I'm glad
I took the risk to try
him out, one match
at a time."
Paul Ogai, Palos FC
Head Coach
Western Stima Head Coach Henry Omino
The 2016 season closes soon and he
monthly curation that involves all African
might just hit another first. On four goals,
players- both local and abroad.
Muguna is Western Stimas second best
Lining up alongside Nigerian Ogenyi
scorer in the league after skipper Frederick
Onazi (Trabzonspor) and Ghanaian Kevin
Shimonyo and a theres a realistic chance
Prince Boateng (Las Palmas) in the eyes of
of him bagging the clubs golden boot.
the soccer pundits only serves to spur the
It is incredible how fast time flies. One
youngster forward. To this point, he is the
moment youre chasing a collection of
only local-based player to feature in the
expertly woven polythene bags in a
team. Good tidings werent done with him
dusty gravel-filled soccer field and the
yet and this time an accolade would follow
next, youre declared the best footballer
him right to Western Stimas training
in the country for a particular month. To
ground in Kisumu.
someone else, his exploits to this moment
Sports Journalists Association of
can serve as lifetime accomplishments, but
Kenya (SJAK) deemed him fit as to be
for Kenneth Muguna, the ship has just set
declared the Kenyan Premier League
sail.
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SCHOOL GAMES
BARDING
www.soka.co.ke
SCHOOL
GAMES:
Barding's statement
of intent and future
plans
By Vincent Opiyo
ritish missionaries started
barding in 1974. Initially,
it started as a church
school, under the umbrella
of St. George Catholic
Mission but three years
later, the government took it over and has
now become a county school. Under the
tutelage of Coach George Owoko, Barding
beat eleven-time regional champions St.
Marys Kitende by a lone goal in the boys
final staged at a fully packed Kipchoge
Keino Stadium with three minutes to go.
Earlier on, they had lost the Airtel Rising
Stars national title to Laiser Hill on postmatch penalties in the final played in
Kisumu in August.
For a little known school, it was not
by luck that they posted memorable
achievement on their first attempt but
baby steps that eventually matured into
Barding Secondary
School clinched
the 2016 East
African Secondary
Schools football
title by edging
out Uganda's St
Mary's Kitende om
Eldoret
45
SCHOOL GAMES
BARDING
real success. The journey started in

November 2014 when coach Owoko
took over the reins in handling the
side through the blessings of school
Principal Mr. Victor Makanda.
The Owoko effect

Born in Kenya and bred in Uganda,
Owokos first test with the boys was
in the Kampala Festival Tournament
the three week competition, facilitated
by Hon. Cornell Rasanga, Siaya County
Governor, simply meant to enhance the
relationship between the coach and
the playing unit.
I first wanted the boys to know
me, know my Ugandan philosophy
of playing possessive football as we
plan for better things. We could go for
road runs early in the morning and
train in the afternoon. In February
2015, we played Muhoroni Youth, then
coached by Francis Baraza and won by
a solitary goal scored by Zico Kombo.
Its then I realized the boys had started
mastering my tactics, narrates Owoko.
The entire 2015 we kept the
boys intact as we participated in
the term one, two and three games.
We managed to win the County title
but lost to Kisumu Day in the Lake
Region final. Kisumu Day scored in the
dying moments and proceeded to the
nationals then held in Machakos. We
didnt give up and kept working hard.
Unfortunately I had to leave
Barding for Tusker FC but my short
stint saw me return to Siaya. I
remember I found the boys in the
regional and guided them to five wins,
beating Usenge in the final to book
a slot in the nationals for the first
time. My assistants Austin Oduor and
Chrisantus Otieno had done a good
job in my absence for the team was a

threat in the county games, he says.
For a school on its debut at the
nationals, a lot is usually expected
from them but what dents debutants
is inexperience. Most schools do fail
to make it to the knockout stages.
For Barding, it was a different tale all
together, putting 13 goals in the net
and only letting in one a record that
saw them reach the final they lost 1
"The boys play in the

league over the weekends
to gain experience and we
are not looking at getting
promoted. Even if we win
we will let the team below
us to take up the chance."
- George Owoko, Head
Coach
3 to Laiser Hill on the lottery after a

one-all draw in normal time.
I was sure that we were going to
win the national title looking at how
solid we were in every department but
it was a heartbreak that I didnt want
to carry on in East Africa. Our motto as
Barding is playing for a win or playing
not to lose, with that, all departments
are always tight.
Strong unit
Midfielder Arnold Onyango AKA Onyi
was undoubtedly the outstanding
player at the nationals capping off
his fine show with the Most Valuable
Player (MVP) award, it was a humbling
moment. It was my first trophy and
despite losing in the final, I felt I had
done a lot to be recognized and thank
God for the same, states the 15-yearold Form Two student.
We do things as a unit and thats
which helped us at the nationals and
guided us to the East African title.
www.soka.co.ke
For the school Principal, winning the

regional title was the schools high
achievement ushering their journey
to joining the likes of Kakamega High,
St. Athonys Kitale among other giant
schools football wise.
First we want to defend the
regional title and we shall ensure
we do that through tooth and nail
whether it will be in Tanzania or
Uganda. We have not made changes to
the team neither did we break camp.
They are still intact, training and at the
same time participating in the Siaya
County League as a way of keeping
them together,
We are using league matches
to strengthen the team but even if
we get promoted, we shall give out
the slot to number two or three.
Logistically we are limited to rising our
way up the league structure, our main
objective is to keep the boys in class
as they gain experience in the league
over the weekends and back in class
on weekdays,
No major changes on the bench,
we have five people on the technical
staff; George (Owoko) is engaged
somewhere but will always be
joining us at crucial stages. We have a
resident coach meanwhile, to handle
the boys. We are also working with
local scouts and coaches to identify
more schoolboys especially in primary
schools who end up getting partial
scholarships at the schools should
they score 300 and above marks,
remarks Makanda.
Makanda believes the school
fortunes changed when he joined
them in 2011 from Obambo Mixed
a giant school in netball, I always
believe in developing a game or two at
47
SCHOOL GAMES
BARDING
my target being called to the national

team. I want to develop into one of the
best defenders not only in the country
but around the world and play for
better clubs oversees, says Omondi
who is sitting for his O-level exams.
whichever school I am posted. When I

joined in 2011, I left Obambo as giants
in netball and started supporting
Barding in both football and netball.
We have been attempting to reach the
top level but always falling at regional
level but finally we made it to the
nationals,
In Kisumu we were competitive
enough and carried the same spirit to
Eldoret for the East Africa. We thank
everyone who offered us support from
the County Government of Siaya to the
school Board. The County government
supported us in 2014 to honour a
tournament in Kampala, Uganda which
exposed our boys more to grassroots
football that is much followed in
Uganda.
Football versus studies
Combining football and studies is
usually a tall order to players and
Makanda admits that indeed thats one
of the challenges they face.
most players would want to

concentrate on football and not class
work, aside from that, facilities is
a challenge that at times we have
to cross over to the nearby primary
school to use their ground.
That said, we want to remain giants,
we can say we are the current giants
because the so called giants are no
longer champions, he concludes.
The school did not only win their
maiden title but also produced the
MVP in Eldoret in defender Abubakar
Sadiki Omondi. He is a good defender,
destined for greater heights. I
identified him in Class Four and hes
been with me all along. Winning the
MVP was not a fluke - he deserved
because we only conceded one goal
and his leadership skills have really
helped the team, notes Owoko on the
youngster who has been earmarked for
Kenya U20 trials.
It would be my first step to hitting
Barding record at nationals

Scored 13 goals; conceded one
Full results at ARS:
Barding 2 0 Bukembe Secondary
(Zico Baraza, Benjamin Odhiambo)
Cheptenye 0 6 Barding (Albert
Baraza 2,Zico Kombo 3, Ali Dennis 1)
Barding 2 (Teddy Sewe) - 2 Kathungi
(Salim Hamad own goal, Shida Edward,
David Musyoka)
Passenga 0 2 Barding (Benjamin
Odhiambo 2)
Barding High 1 (Ibrahim Mohammed)
1(Geoffrey Ouma) Laiser Hill 2 3
penalties
Brookside games record; scored seven
conceded one
Full results
Barding 2 - 0 Hanika TSS (Rwanda);
(Goals: Lameck Omondi, Hannington
Odhiambo)
Barding 1 0 Kibuli SS (Uganda)
Quarters: Barding 2 - 0 College
Gisenyi (Goals: Abdallah Sadiki and
Zico Kombo)
Semifinal; Barding High 1 0 Kibuli SS
(Goal: Denis Junior Oduor)
Final: Barding 1 -0 St. Marys Kitende
Secure, Faster & Comfortable

way to take you to your preffered location.
COMING SOON ON
www.teketaxi.com
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
ZABLON AMANAKA
Zablon Amanaka:
From fame to isolation and
now struggling
By Samuel Gacharira
ad I dont want anything to
do with football because it
wasted you. You could have
been very successful were
it not for football, that is
the standard response from
Jesse, Zablon Amanakas
first born child, whenever
anything football related is
mentioned at home.
To some extent I
understand my children
because at my prime I
hardly spent time with them
when they were young since
I was busy playing football.
Many years after a long

career nothing good came
out of it and that is why they
hate football with a passion,
opens up the former
international amid gritted
teeth as we settle down for
our interview.
Spotting his trademark
dreadlocks, a fitting yellow
Tusker Wazee Adidas jersey,
a black Adidas track suit
as well as white Adidas
sneakers; you would
mistake him for an Adidas
ambassador as he still walks
www.soka.co.ke
with a spring in his step. He still

walks like the man who was a
rock at the back for Harambee
Stars.
Standing at 6 6, the towering
figure of Zablon Amanaka formed
one of the most solid partnerships
in the national team alongside
Musa Otieno who is Kenyas
most capped player to date and
also Harambee Stars assistant
coach. In fact so good was their
combination that it can be
mentioned in the same breath as
that of his mentor Mickey Weche
51
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
ZABLON AMANAKA
Zablon
Amanaka during
his heyday at
Mahakama
and Bobby Ogolla who starred for Stars

in the late 80s and early 90s.
Career sunrise
Born in May 11 1976, Amanakathe
second born in a family of four
developed interest in football at the
tender age of six while still growing
up in Madiwa, Eastleigh. His love for
the game went a notch higher when
he enrolled at City Primary School
where he met the likes of Sammy
Pamzo Omollo and Richard Madegwa
who were classes ahead of him and
had successfully cultivated a culture of
football in the school.
I developed interest in the game
by following the Bundesliga through

television. I really kept a keen eye on
the games and I believed that one
day I will also become a professional
player. I used to train in the estate but
when I joined City Primary the likes of
Pamzo and Madegwa really inspired me
to take up football seriously, recollects
Amanaka.
After graduating from primary school,
Amanaka joined Milimani High School
as a 15 year old who still considered
football as a hobby. Spotted by one
Anthony Chole, a laboratory assistant
who doubled up as head coach of the
school team, playing in inter-classes
competitions Amanaka was recruited
to the school team while still in Form

One.
I did not join Milimani on football
scholarship. It is my grades that took
me there. I had no idea that Milimani
also had a culture of playing football.
I was actually surprised to find out
that many students in the school were
good in football. Honestly I did not
realize that I had the talent so I was
just playing football for fun in interclasses competitions, revealed the
father of four (Jesee, Ashley, Blessing
and Davies).
Interestingly they qualified for the
national school games in his first year
of study but his stock would rise in
www.soka.co.ke
Form Two when he caught the eye of

Kenya Pipeline coach Allan Thigo after
they achieved the same feat.
Club breakthrough
Amanaka was a very good defender
and at that tender age he was really
playing beyond his level. He was very
good on the ball, intelligent and he
could also read the game very well. His
discipline was also top notch, recalls
Thigo who later coached him in the
national team in 2006 as Mohammed
Kheris assistant.
It was really challenging for me
to play for a top tier club when I was
still in school because my family had
relocated to Upper Hill and we used
to train at Jogoo Road. Connecting
from Milimani to Jogoo Road then
later to Upper Hill was quite tough
but I am happy that my coach was very
understanding.
He used to encourage me to
concentrate on my studies because I
still had the chance to play football
even after school, Amanaka recounts.
The collapse of Kenya Pipeline in
1993 cut short Amanakas experience
of the demands of playing topflight
football at a tender age but he carried
with him invaluable experience that
saw him star for Milimani in the final
of the 1994 National school games
against Ofafa Jericho played at the City
Stadium.
Playing against older players in
Pipeline really hardened me because I
was working hard to get to their level.
It worked to my advantage because
when I came back to school games I
was miles ahead of my peers. It really
helped me to mature.
In the final against Ofafa Jericho
"Amanaka was a very

good defender and
at that tender age he
was already playing
beyond his level; he
was good on the ball,
intelligent a good
reader of the game."
Former Harambee
Stars assistant
coach, Allan Thigo
which had the likes of Musa Otieno

and Eric Omondi, I really impressed
and that earned me an opportunity to
join AFC Leopards the next year, said
Amanaka with a grin on his face.
AFC Leopards
Arguably the best club in the
country, AFC Leopards under head
coach Clement Malola (now deceased)

was trying to pump new blood into
the team and the quartet of Zablon
Amanaka, Edward Karanja, Kevin Ateku
and Charles Achia were some of the
youngsters recruited for the 1995
season.
Amanaka was very competitive and
he worked very hard in training. He was
up to the task and he played with a lot
of passion. He was talented because
he could initiate moves from the back.
His physical presence also helped the
team because he was very good in the
air.
At that time I was almost retiring
because it was challenging for me to
juggle employment and football. So
Amanaka was the perfect replacement
because he really showed great
potential at his age, AFC Leopards
skipper then Reginald Asibwa told
Soka.
Being a junior and largely
inexperienced, it was going to take the
prodigies some time to get going and
Amanaka had to wait for the second
leg to make his debut in Ingwes Rio
Tinto.
It was not easy to break into the
first team because we had experienced
players in defence like Asibwa who was
like a father figure to me when I joined
the team. He really used to motivate
and encourage me because he wanted
me to take up his position when he
retired.
I started getting playing time in
the second leg after getting used to
playing in the topflight. From there I
went ahead to cement my place in the
team and I became a regular in the
team, Amanaka told Soka.
Despite his bright start to life at the
53
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
ZABLON AMANAKA
den, Amanaka had to cut his stay at the

den short in June 1996 after wrangles
within the management destabilized
the team. His next stop was at Utalii FC
where he won his first major trophy in
the local topflight.
League Champion
After leaving school my aim was
to join a good college and study a
course that would help me get a good
job even as I continued playing. So
I started training with Utalii FC who
were offering scholarship opportunities
at Utalii College and they signed me
up. We had a very good run in the 1997
season where we won the league title,
vividly recalls Amanaka.
With Utalii FC set to represent
Kenya in the CAF Champions League,
it was widely expected that they
would maintain the bulk of their title
winning side but that was not the
case. Amanaka topped the list of the
outbound transfers as he sealed a
return to AFC Leopards alongside Tom
Gazza Juma and Kevin Ateku for the
1998 season.
Back to Ingwe
The scholarship opportunity did not
come through at Utalii so I decided to
leave the club because the salary they
were offering was too low. Given that
I was solely depending on football for
a living I decided to go back to AFC
Leopards who had put their house in
order and were rebuilding their team
after poor performance in the previous
season, said Amanaka who was now
growing into a household name in
local football circles.
The gods of the mighty Ingwe smiled
for Amanaka that season despite
finishing outside the top four in the

league as he landed his first national
team call up from Nigerian Christina
Chukwu for a friendly match played in
Djibouti.
Harambee Stars debut

It was a very high moment in my
career because I was doing very in the
league at Utalii but my efforts did not

go unnoticed this time. I played the
full 90 minutes in that match against
Djibouti,
With his career set to take an upward
trajectory after earning his maiden
cameo for the national team, Amanaka
suffered a major setback in his life
when wrangles returned at the den
www.soka.co.ke
feed. I used to train at Camp Toyoyo

in the morning hours since it was just
a walking distance from my home in
Madiwa. Then in the evening I would
do odd jobs just to sustain my family
because my wife was unemployed and
I had to provide the daily bread, recalls
Amanaka as he digs his hands into his
dreadlocks.
After a yearlong struggle, a lifeline
arrived the following campaign in the
shape of a full time job at Securicor
who signed him as part of concerted
efforts to beef up their squad for the
upcoming campaign.
I signed for Securicor for the 2000
season and I was offered a job as a
security guard. It was a big relief for
me because I was now assured of a
salary and that would allow me to
concentrate on my football without
worrying about meeting the needs of
my family, a relaxed Amanaka explains.
Amanaka turns pro
and the side became cash strapped. A

father of one at that moment, having
being blessed by his first born Jesse,
Amanaka had to fend for his young
family and he made the tough decision
to stay out of football for the entire
1999 season.
There was no money at AFC
Leopards yet I had a young family to
Zablon
Amanaka during
his playing days at
Mahakama FC
His stay at Securicor was however

short lived as he ditched them for
Oman side El Ittihad Salalah the
next season in what was his first
professional stint abroad.
I got a chance to play in Oman and
I actually had to borrow money from
my mother to finance that move. I
joined El Ittihad Salalah on a one year
contract and won the Sultan Qabus
Cup during my stint there. They used
to pay well and their league was also
very competitive because there were
many players from different countries,
he said.
After his contract lapsed he returned
to Kenya in 2002 where he joined
Kenya Pipeline in June and won his
second major trophy in local football
55
INTERVIEW
LIFE
AFTER FOOTBALL
ZABLON AMANAKA
the Moi Golden Cup. Unfortunately the

team was disbanded in early 2003 and
Amanaka was once again rendered
clubless.
Fortunately he got a second chance
to play professional football in
Seychelles where he turned out for St
Michels and played for two seasons
before coming back to Kenya in 2005.
He received his second Harambee Stars
call up under Twahir Muhiddin for the
2006 World Cup qualifiers where
Kenya was pooled in the same group
with Morocco, Tunisia, Guinea and
Angola.
After returning to Kenya, I used
to train at Camp Toyoyo with a local
estate team. We would organize
friendly matches with top tier sides
such as Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
We once played against Harambee
Stars and I impressed in that match.
That is how I got my call up, offers
Amanaka.
Harambee Stars return

Under Twahir and later Mohammed
Kheri he grew into a regular in the
team where he played alongside
Edwin Mkenya, Musa Otieno and Adam
Shaban at the back. His inclusion into
the first team was however the subject
of criticism in local football circles
since he was still unattached. As if to
silence his critics, Amanaka landed
a golden chance to play in Europe
and after passing his trials he was
signed up by Bosnia topflight side FK
Zeljoniscar in January 2015.
There was a European agent who
was impressed by my performance
when we played Guinea at the Nyayo
Stadium and he got me a deal in
Bosnia. I played there until June
because there was war in the country

and the league could not continue. The
president of my club advised me to
come back to Kenya because it was not
safe to stay there,
An on-song Amanaka moved to
Ethiopia in July where he joined St
Georges upon the recommendation of
Twahir Muhiddin. He guided the club
to the league title that year and played
in the CAF Champions league the next
season where they went all the way
to the quarter final stage before being
eliminated by Ghanaian giants Accra
Hearts of Oak.
Outspoken nature
Arguably the best center half in
the country at that time, Amanakaa
master of his tradebegan rubbing
shoulders the wrong way with Kenya
Football Federation (FKF) officials as
he was vocal about poor treatment of
national team players; an act he never
regrets to date.
The mentality of many players
was that captains used to liaise with
federation officials to eat their
allowances. I like telling the truth and
that is why I wanted to stand out as a
different captain. Many players feared
raising such issues because they were
afraid of being axed but I never feared
to bring them up because at the end
of the day it is the local based players
that used to suffer.
The previous captains of the
national team (Musa Otieno and Mike
Okoth) were very silent and never used
to present the woes of the team to the
federation. I am happy that it is out of
my cries that the likes of Dennis Oliech,
Macdonald Mariga and Victor Wanyama
gained the confidence to defend the
rights of players, stated a buoyant

Amanaka.
His outspoken nature also saw
him fall out with Sofapaka president
Elly Kalekwa in 2009 that saw him
suspended from the team after he
openly dismissed reports in the media
that he was the highest paid player in
the team.
There were claims that I was the
best paid player at Sofapaka yet we
hardly received any salary. I came
out to quash those rumors but I was
wrongly accused of inciting the team
and that landed me a two months
suspension. However at that time we
had already established a good gap at
the top and they went on to win the
league comfortably, revealed Amanaka.
The twilight years of his career saw
him return to Seychelles where he
featured for Anse Re Union and La
Passe; a period he describes as the
highest moment in his career having
won all domestic cups in the country
during his three year stay. With no
new challenge in Seychelles, Amanaka
returned to Kenya where he joined
second tier side Mahakama in 2012
before finally hanging his boots in
2013.
Hand to mouth
For all his globe-trotting and
dedication to the game, Amanakawho
now lives from hand to mouthhas
little to show. In fact he is often the
subject of stick in Maji Mazuri, a suburb
in the east side of Nairobi where he
currently resides.
After hanging my boots life became
difficult because I no longer had a
reliable source of income. I spent
majority of my life outside Kenya so
www.soka.co.ke
when I retired I finally came to terms

with the tough life in Kenya. With such
a long CV, people expect me to be
leading a good life and they are always
quick to judge me.
The truth is that I was not earning
a lot of money even during my
professional stints. At that time it was
very difficult for players to go abroad
because you had to look for money
to pay your air ticket, International
Transfer Certificate (ITC) and other
logistics. So the little salary I earned I
could first repay the loans that I took
to facilitate my moves then save a
little for my needs and send the rest to
my family in Nairobi.
It hurts me when people say that I
made a blunder in life but honestly I
did not earn much abroad. My plan was
to save some money and venture into
business when I retired since I really
looked up to my father who was a
successful businessman, says Amanaka
with a withering voice.
The reality of life after his playing
days seems to have hit Amanaka
hard as he painfully admits despite
spending majority of his life abroad
playing football. He feels betrayed by
the game despite dedicating his life
to football. That notwithstanding he
is willing to serve in any capacity in
football just to lead a decent life once
again.
I think the federation should not
forget the heroes of yesterday who
fought so hard for the national team
during their playing days. Even in
Europe it is former footballers who run
the federation but in Kenya that is not
the case. Such opportunities are given
to people with very little experience
about football.
Coaching courses are very expensive

nowadays and it is impossible to
enroll for them because I am actually
struggling to survive. I believe if
somebody really wants to help you
then he should be willing to go out
of his way to help you. I am willing
to return to football even if it means
working as a guard in the stadiums.
I just want a job that will earn me a
living, says Amanaka as bitterness
billows into his voice.
"After hanging my
boots life became
really difficult. The
truth is is that I was
not earning a lot of
money even during
my professional
stints."
Odd jobs
As he patiently waits for a
breakthrough to arrive in football,
Amanaka is content with working as a
broker for farm produce, a driver, a gym
instructor and a truck off-loader just to
make ends meet.
I assist my brothers in their
businesses just to earn a living. I look
for willing buyers to buy farm produce
and also work as a gym instructor just
to make sure that I survive. I also work
as a part time taxi driver whenever I
get the chance from some friends who
are in this business.
There are some days that I really
lack money and I am forced to go

to Industrial area where we offload
containers from trucks. However I have
not yet given up on returning to the
game. I hope to coach young players in
an academy and develop great talents
for this country one day, says a visibly
determined Amanaka.
Football return
His long-time friend, Kevin Ateku,
who played with him at AFC Leopards
and also in Seychelles believes that
Amanakas case is down to bad luck in
life and believes the giant defender
who is passionate about football
has what it takes to bounce back if
accorded the right support.
Amanakas case is just an example
of the normal up and downs of life.
During our time we played out of
passion because football did not really
pay well. He was an outstanding player
and he still has a lot to offer to the
game. I think if he can be sponsored to
take up a coaching course he will lead
a decent life again because he cannot
survive through hand-outs and odd
jobs every day, recommends Ateku who
is now an IT guru.
Amanakas parting shot took in
his unmatched achievements during
his heydays and his current state in
life. His advice to the current crop of
players is brief and simple:
Players should not entirely rely
on football because it is a very short
career. It would be wise of them to
invest their earnings in a course
that can earn them a living even
after football because they have
better salaries than we used to get,
concludes the man who has *** caps for
Kenya.
57
SOKA CROSSWORD AND PUZZLE

INTERVIEW
Crossword
1
4
5
10
Soka Crossword
Across
1. The fourth Kass Marathon
male winner ion 2010 (5,6)
11
5. Juventus is a club based in__ ,
12
Piedmont (5)
13
14
7. An ultimate goal is a__ goal (5)
15
9. AFC Leopards (5)

11. A stadium near the city centre
16
18
17
in Nairobi (5)
13. Netted structure (7)
19
14. Gifted footballer Daniel__

20
21
22
played soccer in 1960s (8)

17. S. African football club ;plays
23
in the Premier League (7,7)
24
25
26
27
20. Sporting __ is a soccer club

based in Missouri (2)
21. Sofapaka FCs goalie also
called Duncan (7)
28
22. Kenya's sevens rugby head

coach also called Benjamin (6)
24. Run at a slow pace (3)
25. County that hosted the AllAfrica Games in 1987 (5)
26. Equals the score (4)
27. They compete (11)
Down
1. FIFA president also called
Gianni (9)
2. won the Kenyan Sportsman of
the Year award in 2009 (7-6)
3. Cameroonian footballer also
called Fabrice(6)
4. High Altitude Training Centre
is in __ in Rift valley province
(4)
6. The __ League Headquarters
are in Princeton, New Jersey (3)
8. A ball sport played by two
teams of seven players (7)
10. Former Wales football
manager who was found dead
(4)
12. Fawley A.F.C is also called__
United (4)
15. Russian pro footballer also
called Arshavin (6)
16. Mike Powel is a world record
breaker of__ (4-4)
18. Short-handled paddles used in
table tennis (7)
19. Slide smoothly along (5)
22. Authorized to act on anothers
behalf (5)
23. A maxim (5)
Path Finder 2: Sports Games
By Lenny Ruvaga
ruvagalenny@hotmail.com
Athletes Path Finder
The path finder grid below contains a selection of sports games,

starting with the highlighted K.
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 15 games to find in total.
Solution
Karate, Darts, Handball, kayaking, Diving, Canoeing, Netball, Surfing,
Judo, Baseball, Boxing, Swimming, Badminton, Golf, Soccer

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One on One with

The Inside story of

SOKA FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

his is yet another edition and on behalf

The story of Muhoroni Youth FC

transform Harambee Stars to an African giant

 aythan Din Kariukis dream of managing

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

8SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

The Inside story of

battle to transform Harambee

his age all adds to the absence of

But just how did he start his

Association (MYSA), Korogocho Youth,

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

succession the advanced course and

Mathare United stint

ever-coaching course, a basic course

10SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

He went on to lead the team to a

Harambee Stars Head

for me; I could not resist and I should

in time. That to me was the ultimate

served in a setting outside MYSA. That

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

The second season at the team

National team break

While most people felt the job

"I used to compete with

12SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

with a youthful team. That meant I

informally and one thing I always

three months to convince the club to

THE WINNING TEAM:

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

most level but first of all we need to

important and that, coming with high

14SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

ambition. If we can play the big boys

NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI

16SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

fact thereafter he won back to back

"I want to coach

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI

18SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

to be a jockey you had to be a horse

football ever since he was really little,

School team as a goalkeeper. Although

I enjoy coaching because I am making a

unique to Kenya. This is because there

Football Studies and Business

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

NAYTHAN DIN KARIUKI

I never really looked at football

"supervisor" to one of "consultant" the

20SOKA MAGAZINE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

a second tier club that has leaped

Now that Naythan has made this

the liberty to test his philosophy in a

Flexible and empathetic

tune with how other people feel which

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 SOKA MAGAZINE

aythan Din Kariukis dream of managing