THE RISE AND FALL OF OMWENO: His achievements placed him above many officials

Referee Davies Omweno reffing AFC Leopards fans against Sofapaka during their GOtv Shield Semi final at City Stadium, Nairobi on Monday 20/10/14.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Before he was suspended by Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kenyan referee Davies Omweno (pictured) was a man whose refereeing career was headed to greater heights.

This year alone, the Nakuru-based centre referee had officiated in 10 international club and national team competitions.

The biggest match he oversaw this year was the CAF Champions League final first leg between Mamelodi and Egyptian giants Zamalek in South Africa.

Prior to that, Omweno has overseen two 2018 World Cup qualifier matches between South Africa and Angola and another one involving Libya and Tunisia that led to his three month suspension.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had also entrusted Omweno with the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier matches between Gabon and Ivory Coast, Ethiopia v Algeria and Madagascar v Democratic Republic of Congo.

He was also in Rwanda at the beginning of this year for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) finals where he officiated in the group match between Zimbabwe and Mali and the semi-final fixture pitting Congo against Guinea.

Over the last four years, the Kenyan referee has handled 36 international matches proof of his shining star on the big stage.

Omweno looks to have done a good job in replacing retired Sylvester Kirwa, who had previously carried Kenya’s flag high on the international scene and was even invited for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa. Despite his steep rise, it has not always been an easy ride for Omweno who first got his Fifa badge in 2010 after rising through the ranks.

“He is one of the few Fifa referees who started from scratch. He went through the entire process after starting as a class three referee and that is why he was ably to go far,” says retired referee David Gikonyo.

Gikonyo adds that at one time, Omweno was even removed from the Fifa list for one year and was locked out of officiating in the top tier league following a stand-off between KPL and Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

“He did not give up but kept working hard and doing his best whenever he was appointed for some international matches. His stature rose to a level where he became the only Elite ‘A’ Kenyan referee,

“This put him in-line to attend next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon and even attended a seminar in Cairo last month in preparation for the same,” added Gikonyo.

He admitted that it will be difficult for Omweno to rise from the suspension as he will need to do a lot to earn the trust of CAF once again.

“This is the saddest news we have received as the refereeing fraternity when you consider that he was the only centre referee from Kenya getting appointments.”

According to GMT Ottieno it is unfortunate that Omweno has been let down by what he termed as his personal ‘slackness’.