By Hillary Mukasa Josephat “Controller” Murila theundisputed football giant (Photo Courtesy) Twahir Muhidin “I played against him when I was Coaching Mombasa Wanderers in the Superleague now Kenya Premier League. I really admired him. He was my kind of player. He was not what you would expect from the players of that time who played in … Continue reading “There were football kings and stars. There was everybody. But there was only one Controller. No other name. He was the best”- What they say about Josephat “Controller” Murila.
Remembering Chris Makokha: How good was the legendary coach?
The impact of Chris Makokha’s coaching continues to be as important today as it was before he passed on in the darkest hour in 2013. It takes a great manger to build a great team. It takes an extraordinary manager to build two. Chris won 7 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) titles with Kakamega … Continue reading Remembering Chris Makokha: How good was the legendary coach?
Johnstone Mukonyi: Does he occupy a special place in the hearts of Musingu High School Football fans?
Johnstone Mukonyi (extreme left) with the 1982 Musingu Scorpions team in the Provincial finals in Bungoma. (Photo –Johnstone Mukonyi) He mastermind a tactical victory against the seemingly invincible Green Commandos of Kakamega High School in the finals of the KSSSA National Championship in Mombasa in 1984 to become Champions of the Country? Hats off to … Continue reading Johnstone Mukonyi: Does he occupy a special place in the hearts of Musingu High School Football fans?
Twahir Muhiddin: The football experience in Brazil: Was it the turning point of his coaching career?
Twahir Muhiddin in actionPhoto-(Courtesy) It is October and the FKF Instructors Course is taking place at Moi International Sports Center Kasarani. The head Instructor is the FKF Technical Director from Germany Andreas Spiers and the year is 2016. The Technical Director is assisted by two able Education officers in Michael Amenga and David Ouma. In … Continue reading Twahir Muhiddin: The football experience in Brazil: Was it the turning point of his coaching career?
Remembering Red Brigades football team of University of Nairobi
When you talk about JJ Masiga you talk about University of Nairobi and when you talk about University of Nairobi you talk about JJ Masiga. He is the biggest name of a footballer in the Kenyan Universities. We will have to wait for another generation for a player with the ability of JJ Masiga to … Continue reading Remembering Red Brigades football team of University of Nairobi
EDWIN ESHAPAYA: THE SPORTING ICON IN MERU
It is easy to find a good worker, a good soccer player or a good hockey player but it is difficult to find someone who can perfectly balance the three. If former Kenyan football legend JJ Masiga balanced football, rugby and his medical profession perfectly, then here in Meru we have our own Edwin Eshapaya who has balanced work in the Police Service, football and hockey excellently. “I do manage both hockey and soccer since I have a schedule to train both. I do hockey drills from 5.30 am to 7 am in the morning then attend soccer training sessions in the evening after work. This ensures that I balance the two” Says Edwin Eshapaya. The youths need to emulate him in balancing sports, work and family life. “Most of the time I am performing my duties as a Police Officer and the little time I have in the early morning when I wake up and in the evening after work I dedicate it to sports” Very encouraging sentiments from Eshapaya.
MUSINGU FOOTBALL LEGENDS: Some of the schools greatest players ever
Football is the people’s game. We live it, we breathe it. This article looks at Musingu football legends. Musingu High School has produced some of the most iconic players in the history of Kenyan football. From Washington Muhanji to Keffa Tasso and Bernard Agunda to Steve Oliech Okumu, the school has a catalogue of history makers and record breakers from different generations that is unbelievable. They are the players we wish we were. Putting a list of 25 greatest Musingu football players of all time is no easy task especially since you are picking out of a massive talent pool in the second most successful footballing team in Western Kenya which is the home of football. There are possibly several omissions from the list which would easily fit in. After days of meticulous research and asking living football “Wikipedia’s” this is the list I came up with.
Festus Serenge dominated in the Kenyan football arena like Hercules
By Hillary Mukasa Festus Serenge was born in a family of sportsmen in 1969 and had the genes of a sportsman as well. Serenge started playing in the stellar world of football in Western Province of Kenya. The genesis of his football was at Bukhulunya Primary School before he transferred to Nairobi Garden Estate Primary … Continue reading Festus Serenge dominated in the Kenyan football arena like Hercules
Pius Masinza: No denying the talent that was in his feet
The Kakamega County Senator Cleo Malala Super Cup Tournament held in Mumias last year in December was happiness to the players and the fans that came in large numbers. Apart from watching this meticulously organized football tournament I was able to meet several football legends who retired from the game but still working at the … Continue reading Pius Masinza: No denying the talent that was in his feet
BALANCING SPORTS AND ACADEMICS: IS IT POSSIBLE?
By Hillary Mukasa Balancing Sports and Academics is tough but not impossible. If sportsmen don’t plan for their life after sports they are likely to experience problems such as poverty, downward income mobility, unemployment/unemployability, psychological crisis, depression, confusion, lack of direction, substance abuse and marital breakup. This article covers iconic figures in sports who have … Continue reading BALANCING SPORTS AND ACADEMICS: IS IT POSSIBLE?
Kakamega versus Musingu High School Football Derby. Is it a battle of titans – The Story
By Hillary Mukasa The phrase ‘Derby’ most likely originated from the Derby, a horse race in England in 1870. It has been used as a noun in English to denote any kind of Sporting Contest. Football Derbies may be about factors involved like history, animosity between a country’s different regions, religion and footballing honors. This … Continue reading Kakamega versus Musingu High School Football Derby. Is it a battle of titans – The Story
THE NEVER FORGOTTEN FOOTBALL LEGENDS OF KAKAMEGA HIGH SCHOOL: GREEN COMMANDOS “CLASS OF 1986”
By Hillary Mukasa The “Green Commandos” of Kakamega High School is music to the ears of many football lovers countrywide. The Green Commandos is the hottest football property in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) football competitions in Kenya for the obvious reason. In 2018 they clinched their 14th National Secondary School games football … Continue reading THE NEVER FORGOTTEN FOOTBALL LEGENDS OF KAKAMEGA HIGH SCHOOL: GREEN COMMANDOS “CLASS OF 1986”
Top 50 Greatest Women Footballers In Kenya
By Hillary Mukasa GOALKEEPERS Rosemary Aluoch Her love for the game is something else. She was very aggressive and with good communication between the posts. The legendary goalkeeper was known as ‘Mara’ short form of Maradona by her peers when she started playing as a number 10. She discovered she was better at saving balls … Continue reading Top 50 Greatest Women Footballers In Kenya
Flashback: Just how good was Simon “Seppe” Mulama, the jewel in the midfield-The Story
By Hillary Mukasa When Mr. Peter Mulama and Mrs. Dymphina Mulama were gifted by God with twins, He did not just bless them with children. Simon Mulama “Seppe” and Titus Mulama “Tito” were half children and half football geniuses. Just like the football dynasties of the Origi’s, Serenge’s, and Oliech’s, the Mulama’s would also have … Continue reading Flashback: Just how good was Simon “Seppe” Mulama, the jewel in the midfield-The Story
The Giants of Kakamega High School “class of 1995”. Is it the best assembled school team to ever grace the game?
By Hillary Mukasa If there is a high school that has ever made the greatest football impact in Kenya then it has to be Kakamega High School. Popularly known as the Green Commandos (GC), they ruled Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) football competitions for almost a decade between 1980 and 1990. During that period … Continue reading The Giants of Kakamega High School “class of 1995”. Is it the best assembled school team to ever grace the game?
THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF WOMEN FOOTBALL IN KENYA. THE SUPER ROLE OF NICK MWENDWA- THE STORY
Looking Back Habil Nanjero goes down into the history books as one of the pioneers of women football in Kenya. In the mid eighties while studying at the NYS, Habil and Selebwa encouraged women to play football. It is after completing his studies at NYS that Habil the “unsung hero” formed Eastlanders football team that … Continue reading THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF WOMEN FOOTBALL IN KENYA. THE SUPER ROLE OF NICK MWENDWA- THE STORY
CLEMENT KAWERE: The inside story of Bidii Sports Academy’s wonder boy
Nurturing talent from a young age has always been the key factor to the success of any football club. Studies have shown reduced crime rates in areas with sports-based youth development initiatives. This story is about the boy who started playing football at Bidii Sports Academy when he was a mere standard two pupil at … Continue reading CLEMENT KAWERE: The inside story of Bidii Sports Academy’s wonder boy
Odongo “Alaba” Michael: A two footed player whose pace and ability frightens defenders-The story
When two high school boys joined KeMU FC in 2013 to play in the Upper Eastern Provincial league they were relatively young. This was part of CSR by the University to develop football at grassroot level. One lacked strength but boosted mesmerizing technique. The other had a combination of strength, added to the technique and … Continue reading Odongo “Alaba” Michael: A two footed player whose pace and ability frightens defenders-The story
WOMEN FOOTBALL IN KENYA: HOW DID IT START?
By Hillary Mukasa We cannot talk about Habil Nanjero and not talk about women football in Kenya and neither can we talk about women football history in Kenya and not talk about Habil Nanjero. Born in 1964, Habil Nanjero is married to Florence Adhiambo and they are blessed with 3 Children all who are footballers. … Continue reading WOMEN FOOTBALL IN KENYA: HOW DID IT START?
Antony Njeru: Growing up and toughening up in football – the story
Born in Makongeni estate Nairobi to Josephat Njuki and Dorcas Kauro, Antony Njeru started playing football at Masa FC. When the family moved to Meru to start their business he had to migrate too. The beginning When he came to Meru his objective was not to play football since he never knew much about football … Continue reading Antony Njeru: Growing up and toughening up in football – the story
Francis Xavier: The story of a winner and a star
By Hillary Mukasa If a player has represented Shabana, KCC and AFC Leopards in his career, and is still highly respected by all three groups of fans, you know he is something special. Francis Xavier begun to show his football brilliance while a teenager. He started playing football in standard 8 because of his small … Continue reading Francis Xavier: The story of a winner and a star
When Meru County girls were crowned football queens- The Story
When the first Inter County Sports Tournament in Kenya was held in Laikipia County in Nanyuki from 27th April to 1st May 2015, few people knew about the Meru County women football team before the competition kicked off but after the week long tournament the name “Meru County” was on the lips of everyone. This … Continue reading When Meru County girls were crowned football queens- The Story
BIDII YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT: WHY IT WAS A SUCCESS
Jubilant fans in Meru County have always enjoyed watching the beautiful game of football live at Kinoru Stadium from the times of Meru bombers, Mafuko bombers, Kisima bombers to Tusker FC. Players such as Moses “Dube” Odhiambo, Muna Kalayia, Frankline Obare and many others were bred and started their careers in this beautiful county known … Continue reading BIDII YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT: WHY IT WAS A SUCCESS
KeMU FC 2015. Where Are They Now?
By Hillary Mukasa In 2015 KeMU FC is best remembered for a decent display in the FKF Super league and reaching the KUSA finals in JOOUST Bondo only to lose to KU on post-match penalties. In the Super League they provided excellent competition to teams such as Police, Green Berets, Administration Police, Kangemi All Stars … Continue reading KeMU FC 2015. Where Are They Now?
Remembering Secondary School Football in 1987: An Iterio Master Class.
By Hillary Mukasa Standing L-R is Nyambane (Games Master-Coach), Jared Imbo, Mike Okoth, Henry Nyandoro (RIP), Charles Ogembo, Vincent Abuga, Henry Motego. Squatting L-R is Orare John, Richard Otambo, Salim Mabruk, Anthony Waliuba and Evans Omoyo. The team had beaten Homabay boys in the Provincial finals in 1986.(Photo Courtesy-Richard Otambo) Richard Otambo was admitted to … Continue reading Remembering Secondary School Football in 1987: An Iterio Master Class.
From the Law Court To The Football Pitch: Ken Muriuki Wakili’s Football Impact in Meru
By Hillary Mukasa The Lucrative awards on display before the final match. The winnersTrophy could easily be mistaken for the EPL Trophy. A tournament with meticulous organization Ken Muriuki Wakili has undeniably made an impact in developing football at the grass roots in Meru and keeping the youths gainfully busy. The last time the Lawyers … Continue reading From the Law Court To The Football Pitch: Ken Muriuki Wakili’s Football Impact in Meru
The sensational football journey of James Nandwa
It is June 2021 and I decide to go to Camp Toyoyo to watch a Kenya Women Premier league match between Thika Queens and Mathare United ladies. In the Thika Queens squad there are 3 former KeMU Queens FC players Esse Akida, Monica Karambu and Cheris Avilia whom I coached at Kenya Methodist University. These … Continue reading The sensational football journey of James Nandwa
Remembering chris Makokha: How good was the legendary coach?
The impact of Chris Makokha’s coaching continues to be as important today as it was before he passed on in the darkest hour in 2013. It takes a great manger to build a great team. It takes an extraordinary manager to build two. Chris won 7 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) titles with Kakamega … Continue reading Remembering chris Makokha: How good was the legendary coach?
Mukasa Football Diary 