Why Kataka took up welding after retiring from football

Gor Mahia Joash Onyango(L) and Geoffrey Kataka of Posta Rangers battle for ball possession during their KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 28/05/17. [PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO]

Posta Rangers attacker Geoffrey Kataka is keen on building his business empire after announcing his retirement from football.

Kataka, who also played for Ushuru, AFC Leopards, Nairobi Stima and Posta Rangers among others, said the decision to quit the game was hard considering football is what made him who he is now.

“Football has been my life since I came to Nairobi in 2007. It is through football that I got the opportunity to finish my college studies, get a job and provide for my family,” said the father of one.

“I felt that time had come for me to make the choice so that I can provide for my family. I would really have liked to play past 35 years, but I considered a lot of things before making the decision.”

His retirement brings to an end a 13-year career stint with different clubs in the local leagues.

Having started playing football at St. Andrews Eshikalame Mixed Secondary School, Kataka transitioned to MOSCA FC (formerly MOYAS) in 2007 after high school.

The following year he joined Ushuru FC which also saw him join the University of Nairobi (Bachelor of Education graduate, Geography and Business Studies) before signing for AFC Leopards in January 2010.

He played for Leopards for six months before he decamping to National Super League side Nairobi Stima in June 2010. He would then proceed to Mahakama FC (2011), Posta Rangers (2012), Ushuru again (2013-14) before returning to Posta between 2015-2018. Posta loaned him to Wazito FC in June 2018, however, sometimes in August he fell out of favour with his coach, and for long was on the sidelines until his contract was terminated in September 2018.

Unlucky to find a club willing to use his services, Kataka turned to welding, starting his own company named Prigeo Enterprises Limited, a relatively small but busy hardware retail store.

Here, they make doors, windows and metallic gates of different designs that showcase real craftsmanship.

“I had to source for income. Football was my only income and I am glad my gamble paid off especially in a business entity that I had no knowledge of,” he says.

A former striker accustomed to scoring goals for 13 years, some of them spectacular, now holds onto a pair of big black protective goggles and the welding machine.

A former Harambee Stars trialist under former coaches Adel Amrouche and Bobby Williamson, Kataka appears to have mastered his art; a seamless transition from the football pitch to the harsh life associated with the jua kali sector.

He further called on players to seek financial advice so that they don’t end up suffering after after football.

“Players get money when playing football but we don’t think about what will happen after retirement. Most of us depend on that money for our livelihoods. It is high time we invest in business, farming or any other activity that can create a secondary source,” the 32-year-old offers.

Kataka was born in Butere, Kakamega County and is the third born in a family of seven. He started playing football during his childhood at Ebutunyi Primary School.