Joy as Muhoroni Youth win maiden top trophy

Muhoroni Youth Chairman Moses Adagala (Yellow Tshirt) led his Players in taking the Top Eight trophy to their Constituency MP Hon Onyango Koyoo (Blue and White stripped shirts) in his CDF Office in Muhoroni. Muhoroni youth made History by winning the trophy for the first time that Muhoroni won the trophy since joining Kenya Premier League in 2012. [PHOTO BY PHILLIP ORWA/STANDARD]

The phrase ‘patience pays’ is not just a phrase in vein as residents of Muhoroni in Kisumu County came to realise on Sunday.

What started as a village tournament 14 years ago reached its peak during Sunday’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Top 8 finals at the Nyayo national Stadium in Nairobi.

Muhoroni MP, James Onyango Koyoo, who was then a Nairobi-based businessman had organised a tournament dubbed ‘Malo Malo’ which was aimed at tapping youth talent in Muhoroni.

The one week tournament ended with a triumphant display of talent in football, prompting the tournament organisers in forming a football club for the area.

This was the birth of Muhoroni Youth Football Club. The following year, the team was enrolled in the national league, where it warmed the hearts of Muhoroni residents for a decade, before earning promotion into the KPL in 2012.

“It was a surprise because our aim was to develop a team that would feed the top flight league with players.

But when we ended up in the top flight, it was a big achievement and we knew everything was possible,” said Moses Adagala, the team Chairman.

On Sunday, the team won their first trophy in their four year journey in the KPL after beating Gor Mahia in the finals of the KPL Top 8.

The sole strike by Kennedy Rono on the 63rd minute was the decider in the match which was the only barrier between Muhoroni Youth and their first trophy.

The celebration was however devolved to Chemelil Town, the headquarters of Muhoroni Sub County where the players and the team management showcased the trophy.