Kenya's greatest sports teams

The 1972 4*400m Relay team

That team consisting of Charles Asati, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Hezekiah Nyamau, surprised everyone when they won the men’s 4 * 400m gold medal at the 1972 Olympics, beating even the fancied American team. Four years earlier, at the Mexico Olympics, The Kenya 4 * 400 metres quartet comprising (Daniel Rudisha,Matesi Nyamau, Naftali Bon, Charles Asati had won the silver medal only for the European and North American journalists and officials to come up with excuses like "The altitude favored the Kenyans"

The 1987/88 Hit squad

The Kenya boxing team ( hit squad) of 1987 won an unprecedented 8 gold medals at the 4^th All Africa games

And later claimed a gold and a bronze medal at the Olympics. Among the members of hat crack squad were Morris Maina, DK Kamau, Mohammed "boddy" Orungi, John Wanjau, Patrick "mont" Waweru, Steve Mwema, Robert Wangila, Christopher Sande and Chris Odera.

The Mens National Hockey team of the 70s and Mid to late 80s

In the mid to late eighties. Kenya was ranked among the worlds best hockey teams and was by far the best team in Africa. They regularly represented the country in such prestigious tornaments as the World championships, The Indira Gandhi Cup and the Olympics. Among the stalwarts in that team were Peter Akatsa, Chris Otambo, Simi Goyal, Paul Omany, Lucas Alubaha and Mike Omondi among others.

Going back in the further to the 1970s, Kenya was ranked amongst the top 5 nations in the world.

In large part due to disorganization, Kenya hockey is not what it once was.

The 1987 edition of Harambee stars.

That was the year when Harambee stars a, as Kenya’s national football team is popularly known , surprised everyone including themselves by reaching the finals of the All Africa games before losing in a heart breaking final to Egypt. On the way to the final , they beat Tunisia 2-1 drew 3-3 with Cameroun, beat Madagascar 2-1 , and beat Malawi in a heart stopping penalty shootout. The standouts from that team included David Ochieng in goal, Mickey Weche, Austin Oduor, Charles Otieno, Hassan Juma, Ambrose Ayoyi, Wilberforce Mulamba , Wycliff Anyangu and Sammy Onyango. The coach was none other than flambuoyant German Reinhard Fabisch.

AFC Leopards of the Early 80s

AFC Leopards were a force to reckon with both locally and regionally in the early 80s. They won the East and Central Africa club cup an incredible 4 times between 1978 and 1984. Many of the players featured in the national team which won the East and Central challenge cup 3 times. The squad anchored by Mahmoud Abbass, arguably Kenya’s best ever goalkeeper also included Josephat Murila, John Arieno, Mike Amwayi , Joe Masiga, who also featured in the Kenya Rugby team ,Wilberforce Mulamba and Francis kadenge.

Gor Mahia in 1987-89

This was the crack Gor Mahia squad that provided nearly half of the players to the national team. Besides winning the National League in 87, they won the Moi Golden cup 3 consecutive times and became the first team from East and Central Asfrica to win a continental diadem when they won the 87 edition of the Cup winners cup. They also made it to the Semi finals of the 89 cup winners cup. That team included David Ochieng , Tobias Ocholla, Austin Oduor, Charles Otieno, Peter Dawo, Abass Magongo and Sammy Onyango among many others.

The Women’s Volleyball Team.

The Kenya women‘s volleyball team has been a model of consistency. For more than a decade they have maintained their position as the best team on the continent despite several logistical and financial problems. Additionally, they have represented the continent at the Olympics and the World Championships. Among the movers and shakers in this successful era are Maragaret Indakhala, Doris Wefwafwa, Ann Wekhomba, Hellen Elele, Violet Baraza and Mary Ayuma just to mention but a few.

Kenyans in action during the world cup qualifiers at Kasarani.

The Kenya Cricket Team 1996 to 2003.

Another recent success story is the Kenya Men’s cricket team who surprised many with their meteoric rise from obscurity to test status. They have recorded surprise wins over traditional giants such as India and the West Indies while earning rave reviews following their creditable performance at the Cricket world cup. Some of the stars in this team include Tom Tikolo, Maurice Odumbe, Kennedy Otieno and Hitesh Modi. In 2003, Kenya surprised the world when they progressed to the Semi Finals of the cricket world cup, finishing ahead of the likes of South Africa, West Indies and England.

Kenyans celebrate their victory over India at the 2001 Triangle series in South Africa.

Mean Machine in 1990/91

Rugby fans will never forget that Mean Machine team that streamrolled its way to an unprecedented Kenya cup win while winning several other local tournaments, and drawing record crowds. They entertained fans with an exhilarating display of running rugby while leaving usually tough opponents such as Nondies and Harlequins to bite the dust. That squad was led by none other than the legendary Edward Rombo and included Musalia Kihamba, the late Ken Kanyi, Martin Ndeda, Edwin Obuya, Oliver Khabure and John Moore Ohaga.

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