KPL stars whose candles ‘died’ early

Tusker's Bob Mugalia controls the ball against AFC Leopard's Abdalla Juma during their Top8 final match at Kinoru Stadium, Meru County on 15-06-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

When the story of Kenyan soccer shall finally be written, some players will be mentioned in brief, but punchy statements.

These are the stars who emerged from nowhere and mesmerised the crowds before exiting the stage without fanfare.

Of course others like Mike Okoth took the lucrative route to play in professional leagues outside the country. Dennis Oliech, McDonald Mariga, Allan Wanga, Robert Mambo, Ibrahim Shikanda, Anthony Akumu, George Odhiambo, George Ochieng’, Ayub Timbe, Brian Mandela, John Muiruri, Arnold Origi, Victor Wanyama and Paul Were soon followed suit.

Some went to the US on what was referred to as ‘soccer scholarships.’ Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino and Nahashon ‘Lule’ Oluoch were the first Kenyans to go out on soccer scholarships. Allan Odhiambo, Steve Okumu (elder brother to Dennis Oliech), Eric ‘Cantona’ Ochieng’, Vincent Kwarula, Eric ‘Tojo’ Ochieng’ (younger brother to Musa Otieno), Peter ‘Pierre’ Ochieng’ and Bonaventure Maruti were the other players who got soccer scholarships.

Then there are those who made technical appearances on the pitch, conquered the field and left as fans clamoured for more.

Others came, wowed, but quickly lost form and got booed off the pitch by fans. Here is a list of some of the players who rose to temporary stardom, only for fate to redirect their fortunes.

Sammy Kempes Owino

Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, the boy from Ziwani, played for his childhood team Umeme FC.

Barely out of his teens, he joined Gor Mahia.

The football genius deserved the title ‘Honourary Geometry Prize of the Year’ for his ability to run with the ball in measured steps and dissect the pitch with his well calculated angular passes.

‘Calculus’ Owino made mincemeat of goalkeepers at acute angles.

Owino would wittily avoid obvious, glaring openings to squeeze the ball through the tightest of gaps and embarrass custodians.

Sadly, the boy who became a darling of many only did duty for 24 months - between 1979 and 1982 - before leaving for the US on a soccer scholarship at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

After his studies, he stayed on in the US where he runs Advanced Youth Soccer Education System (AYSES), a soccer academy in Texas.

Ignatius Khaduli

This midfielder joined Gor in 1988 from Barclays Bank FC where he also worked as a teller.

I have never seen a slender guy score great goals as did Khaduli. His body frame belied his ability to score spectacular goals from long range shots. At one point, he was referred to as the most slender player in the entire league, but goalkeepers who underrated his shooting strength had it rough.

But work commitments robbed him of adequate play time. Football was more of a hobby then and formal employment was more important. Khaduli played actively for less than two years before hanging his boots.

Mathew Otammax Owino

His story is a sorry one of under-utilised and wasted talent.

Ottamax did not live up to his full potential. He brushed shoulders with all the greats, but left the scene too early. He broke records of sorts, but has nothing to show of it.

Ottamax became a goalkeeper the way most goalies do, by accident. He was hanging around some boys playing soccer who requested to use his shoes as goalposts.

He was then asked to just stand between the shoes and block any balls that came his way. The rest is history. Ottamax was the second player to defect from Gor Mahia to AFC Leopards after John ‘Zangi’ Okello.

He won league trophies with both Gor and Ingwe, and went ahead to play for Uganda’s Sports Club Villa.

The custodian’s penchant for time wasting was legendary, especially whenever they were leading.

As fate would have it, the last time he was in the news was when he was publicly whipped by K’Ogalo fans at Nyayo Stadium during a derby match against Ingwe.

This is after he ran into the pitch to alert the referee about reported deaths at the stadium’s gate following a stampede. He was recently appointed goalkeeper coach for Harambee Stars under Bobby Williamson.

Bob Mugalia

The Kinshasa-born player joined Sofapaka before leaving for Tusker FC in 2014.

He gave Kenyans the impression he was the answer to their national team’s blunt attack, and the perfect replacement to the aging Dennis Oliech.

He had what it takes, even his name sounded like Maragoli. The only snag of course was his nationality. But things were fast-tracked to get him a Kenyan passport.

But as a Kenyan, his form took a dip. He played two times for the national team, both times coming in as a substitute. His game has deteriorated even further and is now a pale shadow of his former self.

Rama Salim

He joined Gor Mahia FC in 2012, where his star rose meteorically.

His partnership with Dan Sserunkuma ensured Gor’s resurgence was achieved. He won the KPL Young Player of the Year Award in 2011 and became quite big.

After being ejected by Al-Markhiya of Qatar, he came back to Gor but seemed unsettled. He joined Paul Were and Kevin Omondi for trials in South Africa and that’s the last we heard of him.

However Internet gossip has it that the SA trials did not materialise, and so he allegedly sneaked into Tanzania, to join, of all the teams, Coastal Union!

Does the Rama we know deserve a better team than Coastal Union? I strongly think so, just the way I think David ‘Calabar’ Owino deserves a bigger team and not Simba or Yanga.

Eric Masika

The alumnus of Sunshine Secondary School and Catholic University joined Gor in 2011 and quickly established himself as a great defender.

K’Ogalo fans nicknamed him PPO (Provincial Police Officer) because he marked his close marking of opponents.

Soon he was the heart and soul of Gor Mahia. The desire to ‘go home’ was strong and he joined Ingwe in 2012.

K’Ogalo fans were heartbroken. But somehow, his star dimmed soon after. At 29, his game might as well be over, and he might be forced to fall back on his bachelor of commerce degree for gainful employment.