Mike
Okoth Origi is pictured above in the blue strip of his club,
Racing Genk of Belgium. Besides Genk, Okoth has featured prominently for
other top Belgian clubs such as KV Ostende and Harelbeke.
In 1991 , Kenya played Sudan in the final Africa nations cup qualifier. Having held Sudan to a goalless draw in Khartoum, Kenya needed to win the return leg at Kasarani. However with seconds left, the score was 1-1 and Sudan looked set to eliminate Kenya on away goals rule. Just as Kenyans were losing hope, winger Sammy Onyango picked up the ball on the left wing, lost his marker and suddenly had acres of space. He sent one of his trademark inch perfect crosses to Mike Okoth who duly headed home Kenya;s second goal. Kenya thus qualified for the Africa cup of nations
in 1992 but it was yet another disaster. As the tournament started, many of the players were apparently unhappy with coach Gerry Saurer and decided to give a
lacklusture performance in order to have the coach fired. Saurer was actually a hotelier masquerading as a football coach. He got the job thanks to his close friendship with KFF caretaker chairman, Mathew Adams Karauri. Kenya did not qualify for the tournament again for 12 years.
In 1994, Kenya Breweries reached the finals of the Africa cup winners
cup. After forcing a 2-2 draw away to DC Motema Pembe of Zaire, it
appeared that Breweries were poised for continental glory , only to loose
the home leg 3-1. Breweries however salvaged their reputation , by winning
the national league, becoming the first team other than Gor Mahia and AFC
Leopards to win it since 1978.
Kenya was selected to host the Africa nations cup in 1996. Initially the government had agreed to construct a new stadium in Mombasa. However as the tournament drew near, it became clear that the government was not going to come through on their promise. It is rumoured that they were afraid that the opposition parties would claim credit if the country hosted the tournament succesfully because KFF chairman, Job Omino was then in the opposition. As a result Kenya did not host the tournament and was banned for two years.
1997 saw a brief revival of the fortunes of Kenyan soccer under coach
Reinhard Fabisch. Fabisch assembled a youthful team whose average age was
22 years. The team played extremely well, winning against the likes of
Gabon and Guinea while forcing draws away to Cameroun and at home to
Nigeria. . That team which included Seleman Rashid, John Odhiambo, Maurice
Sunguti, Victor Onyango brought brief joy and hope to Kenyan football
fans. Suddenly the whole country became Football crazy. Fabisch was later
to resign after disagreeing with KFF secretary James Nyamweya over players
allowances. Kevin Ateku keeps close tabs
on Austin Okocha as Kenya Kenya takes on Nigeria in 1997 read the match
report here The late 90s saw emergence of two new , extremely popular clubs both of
whom have become among the country's best teams. Coast stars was formed in
1997 to represent Mombasa town and in effect Coast Province. Within two
years of its formation , it reached the final of the Moi golden cup,
finished second in the National League, and qualified for the CAF cup. One of the biggest stories in Kenyan Football in recent times is that
of Mathare United FC. The team which based in one of Nairobi's poorest
slums and is sponsored by Bob Munro, started out as a local neighborhood
team playing in youth tournaments locally and abroad. It consisted of
street children who would othrewise spend their days sniffing glue and
ramaging through garbage damps. Mathare United has now become one of
Kenya's premier Football teams. In 1999 they won the local cup and in 2000
they made it to the second round of the Africa Cup winners cup and
retained the Moi Golden Cup.
In 1999 Mumias Sugar came close to becoming the first team from Western province ever to win the league. In fact they finished at the top of the standings but were disqualified after an investigation determined that they had bribed members of Kisumu All Stars in their final league match.
Also In 1999 Kenya won the inaugural CECAFA under 20 tournament ,indicating
that Kenya does possess talent which if nurtured and given good exposure,
can go places.
Harambee stars
pose for a group photo before their match against Nigeria at Senegal 92,
they lost 2-1.
Mathare
United midfielder, Simon Mulama, tackles John Utakka, the Nigerian forward
of Egyptian club side Ismailia. Mathare came agonisingly close to
eliminating the fancied Egyptian side during the 2001 Cup winners cup.
Kenya takes on Uganda
at the CECAFA tournament for players of age 20 and below.