The crowning of Kenneth Mugambi Muguna as the Most Valuable Player during this year’s Kenyan Premier League Awards sparked a social media inferno among the local football fraternity that is still raging days after the gala.
To most, Muguna, 20, did not deserve the top accolade and the Sh1.6m he collected on the night having been voted Midfielder of the Year and came second in the New Player of the Year category.
To recap, the Western Stima ace was voted for the top gong ahead of rank favourite Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma of Gor Mahia, Humphrey Mieno and custodian David Okello of title winners Tusker FC and Ulinzi Stars FC forward, John Mark Makwatta who bagged the Golden Boot award.
Cynics tore into the three-pronged judging panel of coaches, team captains and journalists saying Muguna who was nicknamed ‘Miguna Miguna’ by social media wags did not merit his coronation.
“If you have to pick one game in the just concluded KPL Season that Muguna performed in a level that was head and shoulders above all players in Kenya and it can be used as a reference to his qualities, which one was it and how good was he?” Andrew Chico Wanguche posted on Facebook.
“It would be nice to see Tusker FC’s Humphrey Mieno reject the proceeds from the ill-informed kitty some disgruntled journalists and football fans have set up for him. No matter how shambolic the 2016 KPL Awards were perceived to be, this move is a bad precedent. Imagine how chaotic any sports-related awards can be if the fans of losers set up their roadside ceremonies.
“And to the winner, Kenneth Muguna, he is caught up in a show of masked hooliganism. His spirit, and that of every ‘unknown’ player, will be bruised. Mieno should direct those funds to charity and issue a statement urging fans to respect some outcomes,” another fan, Dennis Omolo wrote encapsulating the feelings of most of the aggrieved keyboard ninjas.
It was not all vitriol as some responded to the development by fashioning online jokes.
“Congratulations to Kenneth Muguna Mugambi for being the best footballer of the year. Kama Meru tumetoa footballer of the year why not President Munya (if Meru has produced the footballer of the year, why not President (Peter) Munya,” Mwalimu Mustaafu Mutua posted in jest in reference to the declaration of Council of Governors chairman and Meru County boss who had declared his intention to run for the country’s top office in 2022.
As follows such coronation, reports linking Muguna, who rose to prominence in the domestic top flight by inspiring his side to record their highest ever KPL finish of sixth with moves away from the Kisumu-based side have fed the close-season transfer rumour mill.
The player himself, in following the tradition established by his predecessors as Kenya’s finest, is eying a move to Europe although there is strong belief that Gor secured his signature a day after the season ended last month.
“I also thank my loyal fans and my critics for they all keep me going, without them this day would have been different,” the ecstatic Muguna said when accepting the biggest prize.
Following the online uproar, judges who voted for him have released the statistics to back their choice although the reason why Ouma beat him to the New Player award is still shrouded in confusion.
According to the figures, Muguna completed 2229 minutes of football in 28 matches, netting four goals and earning five yellow cards with his displays catching the eye when Stima held Gor to a pulsating 2-2 draw and their 4-0 demolition of AFC Leopards.
Mieno played 2340 minutes, 26 games, scored twice and was booked four times also from midfield while marauding left back Ouma featured in 22 games, 1798 minutes of football, did not find the net and was also yellow-carded four times.
In addition to his league high 15 goals, Makwatta played 2333 minutes, 27 games and was booked five times while Okello who was instrumental in the title run in for Tusker in goal enjoyed 2250 minutes on the pitch in 25 games.
“Miguna’s consistency since the season started in February is what ultimately led to his choice.
Mieno was largely anonymous in the opening half of the season and it is the promotion of Ugandan Hashim Sempala to the first team that sparked his impressive displays in the second leg.
“The fact that Muguna scored more also tilted the scales in his favour and also completed more passes and his average statistics are better than the rest,” one of the judges involved in the voting process explained.
The awards nonetheless proved KPL still has a long way to go in gathering vital statistics that could tip the balance in the nomination and voting process for recipients of honours.
For instance, the figures available to the voting panel were devoid of assists leading to goals, touches of the ball during play, blocks, tackles and key interventions on both sides of the pitch as is custom in more-established leagues in the world.
Whatever the case, there is no denying that Muguna had a memorable season beyond his wildest dreams when he left his birthplace in Meru aged three, to the football hotbed in Kisumu.
Such is the western region influence in his development as a player and person that he is fluent in Dholuo and can hardly speak his native Meru dialect.
The fact that Harambee Stars coach, Stanley Okumbi is yet to cap the player despite calling him up to his squad also fanned the flames of those against his crowning as MVP.
That is in the offing if he secures a big move since, at Stima he was the jewel in the crown as opposed to his fellow nominees who ply their trade alongside a star-studded cast by local standards.
The former Kisumu-based National Super League Palos FC player dedicated the awards to his father who is also his biggest mentor.
“My father has always supported me and his advice since childhood has been incredible, and he has never doubted my capability,” the soft-spoken player said.
Muguna started his journey to KPL’s MVP at Urusi Football Club in the lakeside city before shifting to Real Kisumu Academy in 2007 where he played until 2010.
At Real Kisumu, he quickly outshone his peers and won a number of accolades at various junior levels from Under 12 through to Under 18 and was recognised as a MVP in successive years.
His senior career started in Kisumu Youth Olympic Club where he encountered the difficult task of balancing playing time with his studies at St Ignatius Loyola Secondary School.
When he completed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, Muguna was signed by Palos where he notched 11 goals and laid eight assists in his debut season.
Stima coach Henry Omino swooped on the player and handed him his KPL debut that ended in the crowning moment of bagging the top award, and setting tongues of both friend and foe, wagging.
