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Should Kenyan players adopt Brazilian nicknames?

Kiambu
 Brazillians use nicknames during international matches including the Fifa World Cup. Photo: Courtesy

Football jerseys, and the names inscribed on them, are known to hold sentimental values to most players. Kenyan soccer legend, Allan Thigo, traditionally donned jersey number 13, which according to him, represented the number of his siblings. 

And while number 13 is commonly associated with some European superstition — that of being an unlucky number, Thigo did not mind.

Beyond numbers, players also pick names which is where we have a slight problem best exemplified by former Gor Mahia player, Brian Mandela. I was watching a soccer match between Marizburg FC and Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African League and in which the commentators kept on mentioning two different ‘Onyango’s. I know all Kenyans who play in South Africa, but could not place the other Onyango — I already knew Ugandan goalie Dennis Onyango who plays for Sundowns. But I was not sure I knew the other Onyango. I became curious. Minutes later, the camera zoomed into our own Kenyan defender Brian Mandela-whose jersey had the name ‘Onyango’ on the back.

While some clubs allow players to select the name and number they wish to have on their jersey, others stick to names as they appear on the passport, while still others, have players adopting the jersey numbers that are available.

Brazilian players have traditionally preferred their nicknames. For instance, the current Gor Mahia coach Jose Marcello Ferreira, had his jersey at the 1996 Athens Olympics bearing the name ‘Ze Maria’, a nickname. Apparently in Brazil culture, anybody called Jose Marcello also goes under the nickname Ze Maria.

Nicknames in Brazil are also popularized as Portuguese or Catholic oriented names can be very long and not have space  on the jersey.

Take legendary footballer Pele. His full name is Edson Arantes Do Nascimento. In real sense he had to either use his first name or last name, but picked on the four lettered name ‘Pele’.

Another player Brazillian player, Jose Roberto Gama de Oliveira was simply ‘Bebeto’, while Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira was ‘Socrates’.

If Kenyans were to adopt Brazilian player naming, then Gor Mahia’s Boniface Oluoch’s jersey would read ‘Bonny’, Ingwe’s Lucas Indeche would be ‘Ndesh’, defender Musa Mohamed would don ‘Moha’ as his counterpart Haron Shakava escapes with ‘Harry’.  Eric Ouma would have ‘Erico’, Collins Okoth would go for ‘Collo’ as Enoch Agwanda rests on ‘Agwash’.

Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi would be known as ‘Stano’ as his assistant Musa Otieno picks ‘Otti’. But because we are not as elaborate as the Brazilians, we have remained faithful to our Kipande names.

But why don’t we have a constant naming system in our football? For instance, when Harambee Stars went to play in Congo Brazzaville for an Afcon qualifier, I saw the Kenyan lineup on the screen and thought the coach had called up new players.

Our goalie Boniface Oluoch was listed as B. Otieno, David Owino was D. Odhiambo, Francis Kahata was F. Ng’ang’a, Anthony Akumu was A. Agai, Brian Mandela was B. Onyango, Allan Wanga was A. Wetende, Ali Abondo was V. Abondo, Cliffton Miheso was C. Ayisi. With abbreviated first names and ‘Kipande surnames’ at first, I thought I had switched to the wrong channel. The cameras soon helped because I could see familiar faces warming up on the pitch.

Back to Brazil.

Brazilians get their names from childhood buddies or from football crowds. Some shorten their name sound, use body size or physical features. For instance, Givanildo Vieira de Sousa is physically big and strong, and so he was nicknamed ‘Hulk’ because he resembles Lou Ferrigno who acted in the TV series ‘The Incredible Hulk’. Interestingly, Brazillians use nicknames during international matches including the Fifa World Cup. I guess Kenya has a long way to go.

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