FALLEN SOLDIER: Before his death, Siang’a shone within football circles in Kenya and beyond the borders

Football fraternity in Kenya is mourning the death of legendary goalkeeper James ‘Abawa’ Siang’a who died in a Bungoma hospital on Friday night.

Siang’a will be remembered for what he offered within football circles many years back. The calibre of Kenya’s football opposition in the years gone by is amazing.

Eat your hearts out Nick Mwendwa, the current national soccer boss and followers starved of decent international fixtures — in 1963 Kenya (current world ranking 88) played a full-fledged Scotland (current ranking 51) national team. Kenya won 3-2! And at where? At the City Stadium — a beautiful park those days, now an eyesore along Jogoo Road.

It was the launch of the career of one of Kenya’s most famous sportsmen ever who played perhaps his first ever fixture for his country in that match. The coach was colonial times hand-over, Ray Bachelor, who put his trust on the fresh face high school boy and putting him at the goal.

Siang’a would go on to play in his country’s debut at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 1972 — to date, the best performance ever, two draws, one loss — and reach dizzy heights in African football by taking Tanzania giant club Simba to the Group Stage of the 2003 (Africa) Champions League and coach Kenya and Tanzania national teams.

But the most memorable match, according to long-time friend, club and national team-mate John Otieno Owiti, was that clash with Scotland.

Like Siang’a, Owiti comes from Ukwala, Siaya County and was yesterday coming to terms to the end of an era of a great Kenya and said: “Nothing can surpass that match with Scotland in 1963.

We stunned Scotland 3-2 and won the Cup in the Uhuru (Independent) celebrations in a Triangular with Scotland, Uganda and Tanganyika. We were just good and Siang’a was brilliant in goal.”

Kenya wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for the naïvity and complete lack of fear of the young man who apparently did not know what it meant to face some of British history’s most famous footballers — Peter Lorimer (Leeds), Tommy McClean (Kilmarnock) and Billy Murdoch (Motherwell).

The then (English) FA Cup holders, West Bromwhich Albion also made a high profile tour to East Africa playing all the home nations and finally a Combined East Africa XI in Kampala.

Siang’a turned out in the Nairobi match for his country but was kept out of the No.1 slot in the EA XI by Uganda Cranes stalwart Joseph Massajagge.

In Nairobi, Siang’a played first top league football for Luo Union. There was another team known as Luo Sports Club and both were to merge to found the now famous Gor Mahia FC in 1968.

However, a Gor split occurred not long after, and players, mainly from Kisumu and Siaya, returned to Luo Union while Gor Mahia remained a composition chiefly from South Nyanza.

Sianga’s Luo Union was to become the first most successful Kenyan club in East African club football, winning the now known as Cecafa [Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations] Kagame Cup Club Championship back-to-back in 1976 (Mombasa) and 1977 (Dar es Salaam).

Throughout, John Owiti was to remain close to “fellow villager” Siang’a at Luo Union and the Kenya team.

A terrific centre half, Owiti was fondly known as Otieno “Hatari” in club and country XIs that had an amazing consistency.

“In the Kenya team guys with me at defence were almost permanent for years and years; the dedication was amazing and we had Siang’a, Jonathan Niva, Anthony Mukabwa, Moses Wamwayi, Daniel Anyanzwa, Steve Yongo in the midfield and out there in front Ali Kadjo, John Nyawanga, Noah Wanyama, William “Chege” Ouma and even Joe Kadenge who we initially found already as a veteran.”

Otieno “Hatari” said many Kenyans and Tanzanians will fondly remember Siang’a’s contribution to the sport in the region.

“I wish groups in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu and even Dar-es-Salaam will mobilise so that we can give our hero a suitable send-off once the burial date is announced.”