Players always ‘divorce’ K’Ogalo then troop back!

Kenneth Muguna Celebrates his goal against Zoo Kericho at Kisumu Stadium [Courtesy]

Have you ever wondered why players leave Gor Mahia only to return after going round the world?

Take Kenneth Muguna and Kevin Omondi for instance.

Fresh from being declared the 2016 ‘Player of the Year’, midfielder Kenneth Muguna joined Gor Mahia and tasted fame. Before K’Ogalo fans confirmed whether he was ‘Muguna’ or ‘Miguna’ he was off to KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga in 2017.  Big mistake. Tirana had worse issues than Gor and he rushed back into the arms of ‘Yours truly’ Gor Mahia FC. Last week I saw him smiling having penned a deal with the club he deserted a few months ago. Whether he will manage another title at next year’s gala night is a matter of let’s wait and see.

Kevin Omondi recently left for South Africa on a botched transfer to Amazulu but before he could say ‘erokamano’, he was bila club until the warmth of Gor beckoned.

Then there was also George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo who hurriedly went to Randers FC of Denmark but was back via Azam FC of Tanzania where he also failed to settle down. He has never looked elsewhere to date. It is like he is now K’Ogalo ‘ni baba na mama’

Hot on his tail was Anthony Akumu who quietly went to Randers FC. His departure had no drama because he was still not a fully-fledged superstar. He never secured any deal and came back as quietly as he went. When he finally joined Zambia’s Zesco United FC fans gave him all the goodwill.

Kenneth Muguna of Gor Mahia shields the ball away from Hashim Sempala of Tusker FC during the super cup match at Afraha stadium in Nakuru [Courtesy]

Meddie Kagere sneaked out of Gor Mahia and went to Tunisia. He was back after six months to help the club win another league cup. Talented but not serious Collins ‘Gatusso’ Okoth had his entries and exits at Gor Mahia’s swinging doors. He did it so many times that I doubt whether he still has any luck left.

The question why players return to Gor has mesmerised football fans in Kenya and as a local football historian, I can tell you it did not begin with Muguna and Omondi.

The jury is still out there as to what re-attracts these players to Gor Mahia. Is it only us who read stories about delayed salaries and allowances? Are they nostalgically attached to the crazy Gor Mahia fans or the winning mentality?

For one, most return because Gor Mahia is among the best of the worst clubs in Kenya compared to either AFC Leopards or institutional clubs like Tusker FC. Then there is the ego boost of playing for the club with one of the biggest fan bases in Kenya. These fans imbue them with a winning mentality which rubs off on players. They make them feel like they’re playing for the biggest club in East and Central Africa. Never mind there are bigger clubs like TP Mazembe and Vita Club in DR Congo.

Gor has also had a retinue of very good foreign coaches who came to Gor year in, year out. They leave a mark in making Gor win big local and foreign titles. When they leave, these players, having received the best tutelage return for that which gave them a chance to go for foreign trials.

Then, of course, there are nostalgic reasons from club history and traditions and which started way back in 1973.

At the time, and after an acrimonious club election, there was a major fallout within the club ranks. Peter Anyumba was elected Chairman to succeed Zack Ramogo who had served as the founding Club Chairman from 1968.

A group led by Dan Owino a former diplomat and career civil servant cried foul. They immediately purposed to Gor Mahia by reviving Luo Union which had earlier been declared moribund after the late Tom Mboya convinced the community to form one formidable outfit to compete effectively in the national league.

Dan Owino, Rading Omolo and others took away nine senior stars — almost a complete team. Were it not for Peter Anyumba’s determination and resilience Gor would have collapsed. Among the players who deserted were James Siang’a and William ‘Chege’ Ouma. Siang’a was a formidable goalkeeper who had kept goal for Kenya since 1964 and for Gor since its formation in 1968. Indeed Siang’a had no competitive rival. Chege on the other leg was strong, intelligent and hard to mark and was arguably the best striker in the region at that time. His position in the national team was inherited by JJ Masiga.

Luo Union became a serious competitor to Gor Mahia due to their very brand and their galaxy of tried and tested stars.

Chege Ouma, however, had a change of heart and rejoined Gor Mahia in 1978 playing his last game at the 1980 CECAFA tournament when Gor beat their archrivals Abaluhya FC in Blantyre, Malawi. His return to Gor Mahia was to be the beginning of a history of players leaving sometimes in a huff but still coming back to the same club.

I once likened Gor Mahia to Franco’s TPOK Jazz. The Grandmaster of rhumba music once said any musician who passes through his academy gets hooked to the band’s philosophy and would never be locked out. He actually said ‘once TPOK always TPOK’.

Charles ‘Engine’ Otieno sneaked out of the K’Ogalo camp in Nyahururu and swore never to return in 1986 only to return and help it win the historic 1987 continental trophy. Abdallah ‘Wuod Amina’ Shebe left in a huff for Switzerland wanting nothing to do with Gor. He was turning pro! He went but shortly began pleading to come ‘home’.

Peter Dawo, the talisman of the 1987 triumph, left for Arab Contractors of Alexandria Egypt where gross mistreatment brought him back to his good old Gor Mahia with a damaged knee.  

As I sign off, there is a rumour that Musa Mohamed, currently with Nkana FC of Zambia, was talking to the club with a possibility of returning…