Kenyan soccer stars who failed to make it in foreign leagues

The dream of every budding Kenyan footballer is to play in Europe, just like Dennis Oliech, Arnold Origi and Southampton’s Victor Wanyama.

Fortunately, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has grown immensely and now attracts both regional and international interest. And thanks to South African pay sports channel SuperSport, the world can now follow the goings on in KPL thus showcasing Kenya’s promising pair of footballing talent.

Greener pastures

“Players are now able to get videos of their matches in DvD form and share them with agents and soccer scouts who show interest,” explains Jack Oguda Chief Executive Officer KPL.

In the last three years alone, over 30 footballers have flown out in search of greener pastures. But a big number seem to be landing suspicious deals in little known countries in the Arab world, an occurrence blamed on unscrupulous wheeler-dealers.

Oguda blames some local agents for the exodus but believes it is the responsibility of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) to ensure that the country has sufficient professional football agents.

“Nigeria has over 20 FIFA player agents whereas Kenya has only four. The federation if not clubs therefore, needs to conduct courses and seminars with the players to educate them on contractual obligations,” says Oguda.

Crooked agents

Sam Machuha, one of the Kenyan agents licensed by FIFA, however, blames imposters or crooked agents.

“When the contract is not right, sustainability becomes a problem from the word go. Before one can even think of flying out, they need do some due diligence; be sure of the specific club, know all the details about the club and have full terms of the contract,” says Muchuna.

Muchuna further states that there have been cases of Kenyans leaving the country only to be stranded in the Arab world without accommodation or knowledge of the towns where they are headed to play.

“When we took Victor Wanyama to Belgium, even the parents went to southern Antwerp and were involved in almost every process. Everything was done in a professional way.

Transfer window

But look at what happens here in Kenya! During the local transfer window, KPL clubs are always locked up in war of words over players who have running contracts with a number of officials openly flouting FIFA rules. It is not the best environment for players to learn what to expect overseas,” Muchuna posed.

Mohammed Mukhtar, an expert in Talent Management, says that despite Kenyan market having lots of potential, ‘there’s a big gap in the way we deal with our players’. 

Could this be one of the reasons why a record 15 Kenyan players have failed to flourish in foreign football leagues?  “We tend to look at our players as sports machines and expect them to perform on the pitch forgetting that talent alone is not enough. We need to help them build the required confidence and personality; their inter-personal skills, attitude and communication skills,” explains Mukhtar.

AFC Leopards striker Allan Wanga is one of the biggest names in the local league. But when he left Kenya for Angola as a replacement for Angolan striker Manucho who was headed for Manchester United, it seemed it was only a matter of time before Wanga followed suit. But that and a stint in Vietnam and Azerbaijan didn’t produce much fruit and in three years, the Harambee Stars stand-in-captain was back home.

“It wasn’t easy out there. I had to overcome lots of challenges; from language barrier, to strange diet and eating habits, friction with colleagues on the pitch and the harsh weather. One must be willing not only to adapt but to work hard against all odds,” Wanga told The Nairobian.

The former Tusker FC striker cites constant disciplinary cases as one reason for the fall out amongst African players.

You must be strong

“You meet professionals and everything is done according to plan unlike here in Kenya where some players are used to coaches and club officials who constantly sooth their egos. Out there, no one has the time to baby-sit you. Instead, you must be strong and play by the rules,” said Wanga adding

That lack of youth soccer development programmes is the main reason why Kenyan players don’t fit overseas. Moktar agrees, saying that football development and education begins at a tender age.  

Without a second thought

“At times, a coach will want you to change from being a striker to a winger, but without the requisite football knowledge and attitude, it becomes a problem. You are paid to perform not to come and learn the game. The coaches abroad are also under pressure so, once you start showing signs that you are unable to cope, you are dropped without a second thought,” explains Mukhtar. This could explain why Oliech, Mariga, Origi and Wanyama — who went through high schools with a solid soccer pedigree and experienced youth coaches — made relatively smooth transitions to top flight leagues in Europe.

“A player may also be exceptionally good, but lots of issues off the pitch would keep them from concentrating yet, the competition is so high,” says Mukhtar.

In September 2013 Harambee Stars sensational midfielder Rama Salim was banned for two months by his then club Qatar’s second tier side Al-Markhiya SC. According to his agent Hassan Afif, Rama had been involved in a physical brawl with his teammate after being ‘dangerously tackled in training’ and he (Rama) retaliated with a punch leading to his suspension. Rama has since returned to Gor.