Kariobangi Sharks: Why Nick Mwendwa’s boys had to win

Kariobangi Sharks celebrate winning the SportPesa Shield after beating Sofapaka [Courtesy]

Last weekend, Kariobangi Sharks beat Sofapaka to qualify as Kenya’s representatives in the 2019 CAF Confederations Cup. It was historic, but came with a feeling of ennui — that feeling of being bored and mentally tired from having nothing interesting or exciting to do.

Although Sharks participated in the Nationwide League, few fans knew them outside Nairobi when they were promoted to Kenya’s top flight soccer. That was until their founder, Nick Mwendwa, became chair of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

His name put the club on the Kenyan map. I predicted to my close friends that Sharks was going to either win the Kenya Premier League or  a knockout tournament. My prediction has just come to pass: The teacher’s son is top of his class. Ennui!

Kariobangi Sharks’ coach was one colourless Stanley Okumbi who shortly became coach of the national soccer team, Harambee Stars, under Mwendwa. Kenyans cried, shouted themselves hoarse. Nobody listened.

But suddenly, Kariobangi Sharks players were all over the news either joining Harambee Stars or going to ‘Outer Mongolia’ for trials. It was just a matter of time before they grabbed their first national accolade. They did it last week. Those in management call it ‘conflict of interest.’

 There are a few soccer bosses in Kenya who steered clear of running the federation and owning clubs: Isaac Lugonzo, Maina Kariuki and Mathew Adams Karauri.

Few fans knew them outside Nairobi when they were promoted to Kenya’s top flight soccer [Courtesy]

Take Lugonzo.

He founded the Kenya Football Association (KFA) in 1963. With Tony Pinto and Jim McFarnell, they created a countrywide league where clubs from outside Nairobi got an opportunity to show their prowess. At that time, unlike today, integrity and diligence was still core in our corporate dealings. He never formed his own team to compete in a league where he was chair. Besides he was a sportsman himself. He was a referee who even officiated in the 1962 AFCON held in Addis Ababa.

Isaac Lugonzo left KFA in 1964 and joined politics and even become Mayor of Nairobi in 1967. Sema kutumia football as stepping stone to siasa! John Kasyoka took over from Lugonzo in 1964 with Joab Omino as his Secretary General. Kasyoka encouraged Luhyas and Luos to formally register their clubs. Both Ingwe and K’Ogalo were formed during his tenure. He was a true sportsman — Kenya’s 800m record holder who played lawn tennis and football. An all-rounder, Kasyoka was also the chair of the Kenya Olympic Association between 1971 and 1978. Kasyoka never formed his own football team.  

Martin Shikuku the fiery politician was elected KFA chair in 1970 and as expected, his tenure was tumultuous. He was accused of openly favouring Ingwe against K’Ogalo, an issue that was even debated in Parliament by the late George Morara. Shikuku did not form a club as his interests were catered by Abaluhya FC.

In between, there was a caretaker committee which called for elections that brought in Dan Owino in 1978. He was the chair of Luo Union FC which he re-established after falling out with Gor Mahia. It is during Owino’s tenure that buying delegates to tilt voting became rampant.

He also spent most of his time fighting and check-mating Gor Mahia. Unfortunately, Luo Union nosed south after his demise.

FKF President Nick Mwendwa [Courtesy]

Kenneth Matiba had by then weathered the Kenyan football storm after forming Kenya Breweries in 1970. He tried and lost the 1973 elections to Dan Owino, but being a schemer, he convinced 80 clubs to support his new outfit Kenya Football Federation (KFF).

We all know how Kenya Breweries FC was on a roll during Matiba’s tenure-when referees were still operating under a committee within the federation. Talk of the judge and jury all wrapped into one. He was also Kenya Breweries company chairman. Being considered an ‘outsider’ he was fought left right and centre by the group (read Luhyas and Luos) including later and now the late famed referee Williams Ngaah who thought they were entitled to Kenya’s soccer. Matiba eventually threw in the towel and quit to join politics as Mbiri MP (now Kiharu) in 1979.

Exit Matiba and enter Clement Gachanja: He formed Benham FC-named after the company in which he had interests- and spirited them into the national league.  Ironically Gachanja was the most successful chairman in Kenya’s history: We won the CECAFA cup thrice in a row even though some quarters argue he was a beneficiary of the youth structures established by Bernhard Zgoll under Ken Matiba. Benham FC disappeared when Gachanja joined politics, becoming the one-term Dagoretti South MP during the single-party state in 1983. He quit soccer management in 1984.

Joab Omino, ‘Job’ to many, was a former K’Ogalo player and experienced hand in football management. He was chair of the then   KFF for two terms between 1984 – 1991 and 1993 – 1996. Besides serving as federation boss, he was also the patron of Gor Mahia. No wonder K’Ogalo thrived during his tenure and ran away with a continental trophy in 1987. It was also during his reign that Kenya participated in three AFCON tournaments. Omino was Gor Mahia and Gor Mahia was Omino. His tentacles were also spread all the way to the CAF committees in Cairo Egypt. From soccer, ‘Omino Boli’ served as Kisumu Town MP.

I will skip Mathews Adam Karauri because he was just a caretaker chairman.

Peter Kenneth succeeded Omino as chair in 1996. He quickly took up Re-Union FC (formerly Luo Union)-for which he had been a reserve goalkeeper- and tried to revive its dwindling fortunes. He is credited for bringing the first title sponsors in Kenya Breweries and BAT.

In 2001 Maina Kariuki stormed the Kenyan soccer scene as a corporate executive who aimed to inject professionalism, but alas! He never knew peace courtesy of endless intrigues and wrangling. But he never owned any club in Kenya let alone getting aligned with any.

Kariuki was succeeded by Alfred Sambu ‘a.k.a Abiola who at some point was Ingwe’s Mr Money bags. You can guess how he was rated in terms of his relationship with the club. Although Sam Nyamweya was the chair until a few years ago he was perceived to have a soft spot for Shabana FC of Kisii where he hails from, but Shabana failed to help him when necessary and little wonder it’s still off the elite soccer radar in Kenya.

Nick Mwendwa is the teacher. Kariobangi Sharks are number one. Ennui!