Murila cherishes their 3-2 come-from-behind win

By Gilbert Wandera

Every time the line-up for the best all-time players for AFC Leopards is drawn up, one name keeps popping up. That name is Josephat ‘Controller’ Murila, arguably the country’s best ever central defender.

As Kenya’s two oldest rival clubs battle it out this weekend, Murila remembers that meetings between Gor Mahia and Leopards were always preceded by tense moments.

"The tension always started with the fans, who felt that their club was the best, and it caught on with the officials, eventually boiling over to the playing unit who were expected to prove to the fans that indeed they were the best," said Murila in an interview.

Murila joined Leopards in 1979 after turning out for Abeingo United from 1974 to 1978.

He joined Leopards at a time when club officials had contracts and an unwritten agreement with parastatal firms to employ their players.

This is how Murila ended up at his present employers national carrier Kenya Airways. The security of having a permanent job gave the players a sense of stability, because they were assured of continuing with their livelihood even after their playing days were over.

Murila remembers the 1985 derby as the most exciting for him. Then, Gor were leading 2-0, but Leopards cancelled the deficit to win this match 3-2. The match was played at City Stadium, and with less than 15 minutes to go, some Leopards’ fans had already walked out, surrendering to the feeling their team had lost, only to be met by others celebrating.

"The unwritten rule about the derbies was that the team that takes the lead at whatever point always went on to win the match . It was unheard of that we could overturn such a goal deficit, and this still remains a memorable match for me," added Murila.

Murila said at Leopards they dreaded Gor’s Sammy Onyango ‘Jogoo’ and Gideon Hamisi, whom he described as two unpredictable players and could score from whatever angle.

"It is unbelievable what they would do with the ball. Even when they were man-marked they always got a way out and scored from impossible situations," he explains.

After retiring, Murila has largely been inactive on the football front, owing to demanding work commitments, but still finds the time to watch the local league as a fan.

He was briefly drafted into Leopards’ technical bench last year to help revive their fortunes.

This man ‘controller’

Name: Josephat Murila

Nickname: Controller

D.O.B: December, 1954

Position: Defender

Clubs: Abeingo (74-78), Leopards

Achievements: 3 Premier League titles (1980,81,84); 3 CECAFA club titles (1981-83)