Cradle of ‘Golden Boy’ Ayoyi not spared

By Ben Ahenda

It is hard to imagine that a region that produced such great players as Ambrose ‘Golden Boy’ Ayoyi, the late Jack Sihul, goalkeepers Washington Muhanji and David Sawe and defender Josephat Murila among others no longer has anything to write home about.

That is the sad story thanks to the attrition brought by leadership wrangles.

Since the last Kenya Football Federation Central and South Rift branch elections, football activities have literarily come to a grind.

No district or provincial leagues are going on across the two branches.

Teams have died natural death. The latest disbandment was in 2001 when former champions Oserian Fastac bowed out of the league after their main sponsor – Oserian Development Company, withdrew from supporting it citing financial constraints.

Those relegated and later disbanded include former super league sides Abeingo, Nyanam and Gema.

Scarlet alongside other military teams were amalgamated to form Ulinzi Stars.

Fierce Derbies

The enthusiasm that was there when Transcom, KFA, Nakuru Police, and Scarlet played out some of the fiercest Derbies in the land has now been replaced by apathy.

An official who did not want his identity revealed said the passion of the local game has been killed by rivalry between Kenya Football Federation and Football Kenya Limited.

"Football cannot be run by a limited company whose owners are three directors not elected by clubs as was in the past and a procedure world over," the former official said.

The situation is so confusing that some officials feel uneasy to be identified with any of the rival factions.

The only semblance of organised football in South Rift is played actively at secondary school level, something that has led sponsors to identify with schools games.

But outside that, it is pass-time thing that hardly raises the eyebrows of passersby.

At best the game is played as a welfare activity either in churches or local football tournaments.

As a result, Afraha Stadium, which in the past hosted local and international matches, is most of the time booked for private functions that include church activities and other welfare functions.

The situation is the same in Central Rift branch.