By Robin Toskin
Pay television giants Supersport are confident they will on Friday unveil the next big talent that will fill the monstrous shoes of commentators Ali Salim Mmanga, Jack Oyoo Sylvester a.k.a Kaka Jos, Mohamed Juma Njuguna and Leonard Mambo Mbotela in years to come.
For many Kenyans, the quartet in addition to such big names of yesteryears as Salim Mohamed, James Abila and the late Billy Omala were the best there were when it came to commentating football on radio.
Through Supersport’s hit talent search campaign dubbed Bonga Boli that started in Mombasa through to Kisumu and Nairobi, four finalists are bracing for D-Day at Film Studios this afternoon.
From the four; Mohammed Rashid Mwamkondo, Peter Kirumba, Michael Were Mukusiah and Abdinoor Aden Maalim, Supersport’s Marketing Manager East Africa Japheth Akhulia says: “We are confident we have the talent we’ve been searching for among them.”
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Akhulia added: “Supersport channel 9East which is dedicated to local sports in Kiswahili speaking East and Central Africa will definitely get a good addition. We are committed to packaging and delivering local and regional football through a language that is close to their hearts, which is Swahili.”
EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE
The four finalists visited the Standard Group, Supersport’s media partner and each expressed confidence they would take it down to the wire.
“Whatever the outcome, I will remain in football commentary,” declared Kirumba, but quickly added, “I would shed a tear, both of joy of sadness whichever way it goes.”
Mwamkondo said: “Messages from many well-wishers have been flowing. I want to do it, if not for myself for the many fans who have spurred me through this rigorous process.”
The youngest of them all, Abdinoor, 21, from Garissa County said: “Somehow, my parents felt I was wasting time watching football, doing mock commentaries but it means the whole world to me.
Teased by another of emerging talent Ali Hassan Kauleni of Radio Maisha as to how he has managed to polish his Kiswahili in a region (North Eastern) not really known for its command of the language, Abdinoor said: “It is a subject that I have always liked and this final will not wipe out my passion for the game and the language.”
Mukhusia, a cameraman by training, said: “I got into the competition trusting in my ability. Having come this far I want to give it my best shot at the final hurdle and I know things will go well.”
