Game Yetu celebrates 'golden oldies' who have clocked over a decade in the Kenyan Premier League since it was rebranded in 1998.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past sixteen years or so every KPL fan worth his salt would know that they’ve shown character in their football careers and are still in good shape giving the younger generation a run for their money.
1. Name: Charles Odero
Age: 40 years
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Club: Chemelil Sugar
Previous Clubs: Oserian
Brief profile: Having played over 400 Kenyan Premier League matches and closing to his second decade in the KPL, the Chemelil captain holds the record of being the oldest player in the league with the highest number of matches played. He’s in his 17th season in the league.
He won back-to-back league title with Oserian (2001 and 2002) and has been an integral part of the Millers’ impressive display in the first leg of the 2014 season.
Comment:” I’ve had an injury-free career thanks to hard-work, discipline and training. I dedicated my life to God and I thank Him for the far He’s brought me. I am honored to have participated in the first Kenyan Premier League season 16 years ago and I think I’ve like four more years to play.”
2. Name: Sylvester Wanyama
Age: 38 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: Sony Sugar
Previous Clubs: Oserian
Brief profile: He’s the longest serving Sony skipper and the elder half-brother of Mcdonald Mariga (Inter Milan) Victor Wanyama (Southampton) and Thomas Wanyama (Sofapaka). He featured for the Oserian side that won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. Despite his ageing legs, he has cemented his place in Zedekiah Otieno’s team.
3. Name: Oscar Kadenge
Age: 38 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: AFC Leopards
Previous Clubs: Tusker, Moro United (Tanzania), SC Villa (Uganda), Rayon Sports (Rwanda),
Brief profile: Oscar is the youngest of the Kadenge dynasty. Although age is catching up with Kadenge, the human metronome still has a lot left in the tank. With his runs down the flanks, Kadenge has shown Ingwe faithful what an excellent player he’s.
4. Name: John Baraza
Age: 37 years
Position: Striker
Club: Sofapaka
Previous Clubs: Nzoia Sugar, IF Sylvia (Sweden), Yanga (Tanzania) Polis Diraja Malaysia, Rayon Sports (Rwanda) and Chemelil Sugar
Brief profile: He’s arguably one of the most lethal strikers in the league and the best goal poacher that Kenya has ever produced. The four-time KPL golden boot winner (2001, 2009, 2010 and 2012) has claimed three KPL titles with two different clubs; Oserian and Sofapaka. He recently produced a man of the match performance, scoring a brace in Sofapaka’s 3-0 win over Bandari.
Comment: ‘There’s no particular secret, but with hard work and discipline you will stay for long. Although I am planning to venture into coaching soon, age is just but a number.”
5. Name: Edgar Fighter Ochieng
Age: 37 years
Position: Defender
Club: Mathare United
Previous Clubs: Dhofar SCSC Salala (Oman) and Sofapaka
Brief profile: With 34 caps for Harambee Stars, Fighter is arguably the most experienced defender in the Kenyan Premier League. After a two year stint at Sofapaka, the bulky defender rejoined his childhood club Mathare United last season and has formed a solid partnership with Bernard Omondi at the heart of the defense. It seems like the Slum Boys captain is not retiring any time soon.
6. Name: Elvis Ayany
Age: 36 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: KCB
Previous Clubs: Ulinzi Stars
Brief profile: Ayany has been a first team regular for the Bankers since joining them in 2011 from Ulinzi Stars. He was instrumental in KCB’s last season’s fourth place finish.
7. Name: Charles Okwemba
Age: 34 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: AFC Leopards
Previous Clubs: Shabana, Eldoret KCC, Tusker, Rayon Sports (Rwanda), SC Villa (Uganda), Al Hillal (Oman) and Posta Rangers
Brief profile: Despite his age, Okwemba has been invaluable to AFC Leopards scoring vital goals for the club-mostly used as an impact sub. He’s still the best when it comes to retaining possession and dictating tempo of the game.
Comment: “Without God, nothing is possible. I always think about myself as one of the players in the team, but I think discipline, being injury-free and focused has played a key role in my longevity.”
8. Name: Evans Jadu Omondi
Age: 34 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Top Fry AllStars
Previous Clubs: Mtibwa (Tanzania), Nzoia Sugar, Gor Mahia, Kenya Pipeline, Congo United, World Hope (Now City Stars), Chemelil Sugar and Sony Sugar
Brief profile: The experienced custodian is fondly remembered for winning the Moi Golden Cup (now Gotv Shield) with two different clubs in a span of three years. He’s in the Kenya Pipeline team that lifted the 2005 domestic cup alongside Zablon Amanaka and McDonald Mariga before winning it with World Hope Centre in 2005. He’s established himself as a first choice keeper at the struggling Top Fry AllStars.
Comment: "For you to last in this industry you must be patient, hardworking and dedicated."
9. Name: Marwa Chamberi
Age: 34 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: Sony Sugar
Previous Clubs: Polisi Mara, 82 Rangers (Tanzania).
Brief profile: He’s one of the longest serving players at Sony Sugar. won title with sony 2006, have been sony since 2005
Comment:
“Personal discipline, I don’t use drugs and alcohol. Maintain fitness. Humble and work with all coaches.”
10. Name: Justus Basweti
Age: 34 years
Position: Striker
Club: Nairobi City Stars
Previous Clubs: Kawangware United, AFC Leopards, Nzoia Sugar, World Hope (Now City Stars)
Brief profile: He’s one of the late Reinhard Fabisch boys still playing in the Kenyan Premier League and seems to be enjoying a rich form of vein at the Kawangware-based outfit.
Comment: “It’s all about keeping fit, work hard and being disciplined. I’ll keep playing as long as I enjoy it and my body is in good shape.”
11. Name: Duncan Ochieng
Age: 33 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Sofapaka
Previous Clubs: Mathare United, Utalii, Tusker, IK Sleipner (Sweden) and Sông Lam FC (Vietnam)
Brief profile: Although Ochieng’ is yet to recuperate fully from an arm injury he suffered in March, in the Kenyan international Sofapaka have one of the best goalkeepers in the Kenyan Premier League.
Comment: “It’s all about hard work and focusing on what you are doing. I’ll continue playing as long as my body allows me to.”
12. Name: Hillary Fordy Echesa
Age: 33 years
Position: Midfielder
Club: Chemelil Sugar
Previous Clubs: Transcom, Nzoia Sugar, Ulinzi Stars, Mumias Sugar, Yanga, Simba SC (Tanzania), Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Polis Diraja Malaysia, Deltras Sidoarjo (Indonesia), Tusker, Muar (Malaysia) and Sofapaka
Brief profile: Having plied his trade in two continents; Africa and Asia, Echesa is known to many fans as Kenya’s journeyman. His creativity, passing skills and ability to unlock stubborn defenses is the reason to why Chemelil recorded a 12-game unbeaten record before Gor Mahia broke it. He’s still a pure joy to watch.
Comment: “I was inspired by Musa Otieno (former Harambee Stars captain). He played for a very long period and I was lucky to have played with him in the same national team before he hanged up his boots.”
13. Name: George Wise Owino
Age: 33 years
Position: Defender
Club: Sofapaka
Previous Clubs: Kenya Pipeline, Tusker FC, Simba SC and Yanga
Brief profile: A knee injury he suffered in 2011 has really derailed his performance Sofapaka. However, he remains one of the experienced players at Batoto Ba Mungu with whom coach Sam Timbe uses as substitutes.
14. Name: Mulinge Munandi Ndetto
Age: 33 years
Position: Defender
Club: Ulinzi Stars
Previous Clubs: KCB and Tusker
Brief profile: Having made 32 appearances for the national team, the hard tackling defender and throw-in ball specialist, has certainly proven himself as a force to be reckoned with.
15. Name: Lawrence Owino
Age: 32 years
Position: Offensive/Striker
Club:
Previous Clubs: Sony Sugar
Brief profile: He scored seven goals and helped Ulinzi win their last Kenyan Premier League title in 2010. Was in the Soldiers’ team that clinched the KPL title three times in a row (2003, 2004 and 2005)
Comment: “I am still playing football thanks to my determination, passion and talent. You must keep fit, cope with life temptations and sacrifice a lot of things.”
16. Name: Francis Ochieng
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Ulinzi Stars
Previous Clubs: Kangemi United
Brief profile: The striker turned goalkeeper has never paid much attention to his age. Ochieng claimed the 2010 best goalkeeper award after steering Ulinzi to win their fourth Kenyan Premier League title.
rokumu@standardmedia.co.ke
