Death robs Kisumu rugby club of their chairman, number one fan

Kisumu Rugby Football Club (KRFC) is mourning its able chairman Fidel Castro Odinga.

The club members, still in shock, remember how the son of former premier Raila Odinga helped them during difficult moments. KRFC patron Gabriel Amollo said the club approached Fidel when it was riddled with financial crisis and power struggles.

Amollo revealed they approached Fidel through former Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Mwangi Muthee where they met at Ruby Court Nairobi. “Fidel agreed to pay for most of the club’s activities,” said Amollo who added there were plans to make him the club patron but this changed after some meetings.

Fidel mediated between wrangling officials and was later elected chairman.

The club was to host last year’s annual Safaricom Dala sevens amidst the wrangles and Amollo said they would have failed to honour the tourney had Fidel not assisted them.

The tournament was held on August 9 and 10 successfully at the Mamboleo Showground. He said Fidel also sponsored KRFC’s trips to Masaku 7s, Kitui 7s and other tournaments in the region.

He brought other people such as musician Jackson Makini aka Prezzo.

Fidel had also wanted to buy a bus for the club to help players’ and managers attend tournaments. Amollo added that Fidel was also considering seeking grounds for the club, either at the historical Kirembe along the Kisumu-Busia Road or at Mamboleo showground.

“Fidel had said he was consulting the County Government of Kisumu and his family to explore the possibility of giving the players grounds,” said Amollo, adding that officials will do their part to ensure that Fidel’s vision is achieved. He also called on the Odinga family to set up a Fidel Odinga Foundation to complete some of the projects he had planned for the youth.

Club Secretary Fredrick Maube expressed his condolences to Raila’s family for the loss of their son.

Fidel’s love for rugby and his club was evident and he would do anything to protect the sport.

At last year’s Dala 7s, drama unfolded at the grounds after Fidel joined fans in forcefully removing motorists who had raided the rugby pitch.

On the club’s Facebook wall, club secretary Fredrick Maube paid tribute to Fidel saying:

“It is with deep sorrow that we, the Kisumu RFC Executive Committee, players and members have learnt of the passing on of our honourable chairman, mentor and brother, Jakom Fidel Castro Odinga. He has been eternally embedded in our club history as the fatherly figure, whom we all ran to at a time when the club faced its most challenging times. He exercised Solomonic wisdom and magnanimity in uniting all members and we have forged ahead as a formidable team. We shall relive his vision for the club (sic),” said Maube.

Former Assistant Minister for Constitutional Affairs and MP for Ndhiwa Zablon Olang’ also mourned Fidel. “We have lost a leader that would have taken the region to greater heights,” said Olang’.