Mathare United relegated to the National Super League
Football
By
Washington Onyango
| Jun 22, 2023
Mathare United were on Wednesday relegated to the National Super League.
The Slum Boys, who had survived relegation by a whisker for five seasons running, have finally been relegated, shattering the hopes and dreams of many.
This is after they played out to a 1-1 draw against Ulinzi Stars as their fellow strugglers Wazito secured the relegation/promotion playoff spot with a narrow 1-0 win over Bidco United.
The draw left the Slum Boys second last on 23 points, six points behind Wazito who will now play the third ranked team from the 2022/2023 NSL.
Mathare, who were saved from relegation last year in November when the reinstated FKF management declared the 2021/2022 season null and void, have themselves to blame for the axe.
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Last year Mathare were relegated by the FKF Transition Committee after dishing three walkovers due to financial constraints.
"Any club in a league format that does not turn up for three fixtures in a season and their explanation, under rule 3.1.7, is not accepted in all the three incidences to the FKF National Leagues and Competitions Committee, shall be suspended for the rest of the season, shall be relegated to a lower league for the next season and may face further disciplinary action," said the Transition Commitee.
Mathare issued three walkovers against Sofapaka, Ulinzi Stars and Bandari.
This season it was because they lost 24 of their 33 played matches albeit only registering seven wins and two draws.
Without a doubt, Mathare United, which was once touted as the best breeding ground for budding talents for national team Harambee Stars and the Premier League is a pale shadow of its former self.
The club's golden days were in 1998 when they lifted the Moi Golden Cup, and in 2008 when they were crowned Kenya Premier League champions.
The golden days when the yellow and green blended team executed a brand of total football that was too good for many opponents are over.
Having nurtured many respectable people in the country - both on the pitch and off the pitch - Mathare's downfall will have far reaching implications not only on football stakeholders but also the society at large.
From nurturing footballers and referees to producing scholars, role models and administrators, Mathare United and Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) have tried to improve livelihoods.
A number of legendary footballers, including Simon Mulama, Titus Mulama, Arnold Origi and Dennis Oliech are among others whose talents were nurtured at MYSA.
On the technical front, David Ouma, Francis Kimanzi, William Muluya, Ezekiel Akwana, Stanley Okumbi, Salim Ali and Anthony Kimani, all passed through MYSA.
But financial challenges put Mathare United and, by extension, MYSA's future in peril.