Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia great, says Thigo: Clubs should shun mediocrity or perish

 

From Left Austin Oduor, Allan Thigo and Joe Kagende. [Courtesy, Standard Sports]

Kenya Football Hall of Fame

Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia great Allan Thigo has challenged local football clubs to celebrate their former players, look up to them and embrace best management practices as a step towards full professionalism.

In a moving acceptance speech when he was inducted into the Kenya Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Thigo, known for speaking his mind, tore into local clubs for their lack of ambition.

“Recently, I saw the new Gor Mahia coach being introduced to a fan, Jaro Soja, and I wondered what became of my club. When Jose Mourinho joined Manchester United the first they did was to introduce him to such club greats as Bobby Charlton. I mean, where is the ambition here? But is just an example of the many things gone wrong in our football,” Thigo remarked to a hushed hall.

“Unless our clubs rise from the shackles of mediocrity, I am afraid we shall not go anywhere,” Thigo said.

During the ceremony at 680 Hotel on Saturday and attended by fellow inductees Joe Kadenge (2013), Mahmoud Abass (2014) and Kenya’s most successful club captain Austin Oduor among other greats, Thigo said he was humbled by the Sh80,000 token of appreciation from the Kenya Football Hall of Fame organisers.

“I never earned this kind of money during my playing days. Mine has been a life of empty and broken promises, but I will be forever grateful to those who genuinely believe that football can change lives and are doing something about it,” Thigo said in a moving acceptance speech as an inductee of the Kenya Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

“I was not the best, but I strove to do my best as demanded by my position in the team. When I look back, the best striker Kenya produced were Elijah Lidonde (AFC Leopards), Shem Shimoto and Peter Oronge (Gor Mahia) and JJ Masiga (AFC Leopards). I don’t know what plans the organisers have, but there are many deserving greats.” [Standard Sports]