Are Ingwe and K’Ogalo ready for Africa?

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: AFC was formed in 1964 as Abaluhya FC while Gor Mahia was established in 1968. I have been a keen follower of these two big clubs since 1973 to date. Chances are that they might just represent our country in the two known continental diadems come next year.

My story and question today is based on their past history in the continental matches. Are they ready for the big battle ahead? When I put this questions to Swaleh Ochieng Oswayo at his base where he earns a living as a taxi driver, he laughed it off.

Former international player and now CECAFA official Albert Okech shook his head in frustration. They both said it is a long journey that requires nerves of steel and highest discipline in the four pillars of a winning team. The four are the players, officials, fans and the government.

I recall many teams Gor played against in their pursuit of a continental trophy. From 1973 they played Ismailia of Egypt where Otieno Burri was the goalkeeper. Years rolled by and I remember them playing Horseed of Somalia in Mogadishu, Kampala City Council, Express FC, Yanga, Simba FC, Kabwe Warriors, Limbe Leaf, Mufulira Wanderers, Green Buffaloes, Dynamo De Fimia, Sotema FC, Costa Dol Sol, Hellenic FC Cape Town, Highlanders FC, KMKM, Malindi FC, Zanzibar. APR, Rayon Sports, Vital-O, Cannon Sportiff, Union Douala, El Mereikh. El Hilal, Al Ahly, Arab Contractors, Esperance, Moulidia De Algiers, FC Djoliba of Mali, Bendel Insurance of Nigeria, Horoya of Guinea, Dragons Oueme, Oilers FC of Monrovia and many more.

AFC Leopards also have a chequered history. They played against some of the teams listed above but also crossed swords with Leventis United and Abiola Babes of Nigeria, Nkana Red Devils of Zambia, Sports Villa of Uganda, FC Kalamu of DRC, St Georges of Ethiopia, Berec Tigers and Bata Bullets of Malawi.

These shows how travelled and experienced the two teams are. We expect their fans, officials, players and government to be battle-hardened and should now exhibit the done-it, seen-it-all attitude with bravado. Sadly this is not the case. The two teams do not have any signs of growth since 1973 when I first watched them play against each other. How do you test their growth? Simple. Pick up a phone, call their number (if you have it) and listen if the voice on the other end will answer “This is Gor Mahia, may I help you?”

Alternatively, send an email to their address and wait for a response. Lastly, ask any of their millions of fans to give you their favourite team’s telephone contact. A handful might tell you where to find one of their officials in the evening either in a favourite pub or hangout. If you are lucky to get his number, he will retort: “ Si tukutane uwanjani kwa practice leo jioni.”

The officials know very well that they will play beyond the Kenyan borders in 2014 but have done nothing to prepare the team logistics. I am very sure some players do not have birth certificates, passports or even identity cards. These documents could have been misplaced or the boys just turned 18. Both teams have foreign players, but have they cross- checked their travel documents to avoid last minute visa hitches? Are their work permits in order?

What about the finances, have they done a draft budget or financial arrangements or are they waiting to call harambees if not, “tafadhali tunaomba ministry itusaidie” a few days to departure?

The first rounds of home and away matches will begin in late January or February. That is in about 90 days yet our club officials, like in Gor Mahia, are busy thinking about the forthcoming elections kick off.

AFC are lucky to have a new set of officials and coaching unit. The two can easily work together now to kick-start their preparations for the continental journeys. For Gor Mahia, committed officials should do early preparations and hand over any drafts to incoming officials for the sake of the club’s success.