Players ‘red card’ drugs for soccer

By Francis Ontomwa and Peter Atsiaya

The final in this year’s Tusker Premier League last Saturday was keenly watched by a village team in Western Kenya.

The team, Homeboyz, has qualified to compete in the league next season and if they work hard, they would be competing for the trophy around this time next year.

Kakamega Homeboyz, a team created two years ago in Lurambi, by Kakamega businessman Cleophas Shimanyula, 36, has focused on succeeding in the game that, according to the players, has given them a second chance in life.

Shimanyula’s team is unique in that it is composed of young talented footballers, who had — before joining the team — lost their brilliance to alcohol and drug abuse.

Meaning in life

When the philanthropist came up with the idea of starting the team, everyone, including his close family members, discouraged him. But he was determined to help the young men find meaning in their lives.

His selection criteria was simple: Identify young talented and promising players from the streets and rural homes who abuse alcohol and drug.

“There are millions of young people rotting in the village due to lack of opportunities yet they are good soccer players. Because of their helplessness, they have been ensnared in drugs and alcohol,” says Shimanyula adding that it was his desire to make a difference in their lives that made him come up with the idea.

As a result, tens of young people in Kakamega County have been rehabilitated through soccer and are now earning decent living.

Once he identifies talent, he does not easily let go. One of the regulations is that the team members don’t drink alcohol or abuse drugs.

But if a team member relapses, everyone takes it upon himself to get him back in the fold. If this proves difficult, Shimanyula can have them locked up for abusing drugs and since there are no drugs in the cells, the player will come out determined to discard drug use for real.

The club has special counselling sessions that bring together officials and players and according to tactician Frederick Serenge, the impact is overwhelming.

Deeply rooted

“We have been closely monitoring our players since they came here. Some were deeply rooted in alcoholism and even hard drugs but slowly we are witnessing a change of character and through the counselling sessions that we have during training, there is positive impact,” explains Serenge.

The team currently has 87 points from 36 matches and although they are yet to play their last game, they have already qualified for the Football Kenya Federation division one league.

“It is not by luck that we are where we are; it is through commitment and hard work. Our discipline has also been our pillar and we hope to take the good form to the premiership,” says Serenge.

Riziki ‘Djemba Djemba’ Mwema, 21, is one of the clubs’finest midfielder.
“When I joined the club two years ago, no one would beat me in drinking alcohol. Initially, I would skip training sessions just to hide and drink,” says Mwema.

He adds: “Slowly, however, my patron, peers and trainers talked to me. They did something wonderful, as I am no longer what I used to be. I haven’t touched alcohol for some time now and my perception of life has changed.”

Christen Mwanzo, another rehabilitee, says alcohol and hard drugs nearly killed his football career. He has since ditched the behaviour and has sworn never to touch alcohol again.

“I have never seen any benefit come out alcohol. I will never taste it again as a sign of my gratitude to my patron, who pulled me out of the mess,” says the defender who has also played for KCB and Western Stima clubs.

Club’s kitty

To run the club, Shimanyula taps into his business that run the Respect chain of matatus.

Besides giving the players free transport to and from home, each vehicle remits Sh200 daily into the club’s kitty.

This money facilitates the players’ movements and takes care of their allowances.

Homeboyz Technical director and former football legend Jared Ingutia describes the club as God send as it has transformed the lives of many young people who had no direction before.

“The players are now more disciplined than before. When we started competing in the Football Kenya Limited nationwide league a year ago, we got so many red cards as a result of indiscipline but this year, I think we can earn a trophy for the most disciplined side — we didn’t get any red card during the competition this year,” says Ingutia.

Shimanyula is optimistic of guiding the club to prosperity and his vision is to clinch the premiership next season.

“If we can get sponsors to assist our efforts, our star will be brighter,” he concludes.