Tale of two Anthony Ndolos from different generations

Anthony Ndolo holds his trophies during the 2014 KPL Footballer of the Year Award (FOYA) in 2014. {Photo/Dennis Okeyo} In 2014, Anthony Ekaliana Ndolo joined Sofapaka FC from Ugandan club Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) FC. He had earlier played for Sports Villa FC, also in Kampala. He went to Kampala right after high school and featured for the Sports Villa youth sides before Sam Timbe gave him a chance with the senior side. He later went to Tanzania before going back to Kampala to KCCA. He was born in 1986 and grew up in Bungoma and attended Bungoma DEB primary School and Friends School Bukembe for his secondary school. He won the Ugandan league in 2013 with KCCA and was set to play in the CAF Champions League when Elly Kalekwa of Sofapaka FC led his coach Sam Timbe to go Kampala to convince Ndolo to come to the Kenya Premier League. Ndolo spent eight years in Kampala six of them in the Ugandan top flight. He agreed to come back home and in his first season, scored eight goals from the midfield. He won the 2014 KPL MVP as well as Best Midfielder. Kenyans could not place Ndolo as many thought he was Ugandan as KFF hesitated to clear his call up to the national team. Some people thought he was the son or relative of Anthony Odhiambo Ndolo "pikipiki" which is not true, or no one has gone to dig it out. The older Ndolo joined Gor Mahia FC in 1986 from Kisumu Hotstars FC. On February 18, 1986, Gor Mahia agents were in Kisumu to sign Ndolo and Tobias "Jua Kali" Ocholla from Hotstars. He had joined Hotstars from Kisumu Boys High School. Ndolo was a speedy winger, who reminded Gor Mahia fans of Nahashon "Lule" Oluoch. Lule featured for Gor before falling out and leaving for America together with his compatriot Sammy "Kempes" Owino. Then came another winger Ben "Breakdance" Omollo who was on the left wing. Ndolo reminded fans of the words of a former Gor Mahia chairman who said as long as Luo women gave birth, Gor Mahia would not die. At Gor Mahia he met talent that propelled him to shine. There was Abbas Magongo and Hesborn Omollo who he combined with so well. He married the daughter of Gor Mahia first aid lead Ochido Kamkunji. This meant that as per Luo customs, Ochido could not attend to him when he was injured. His speed and stamina was a horror for fullbacks on the right wing. His crosses were well timed and sent that strikers had an easy time scoring goals during their great era in the 1980s. He got the name "Suzuki" which later turned to "Pikipiki". The 1987 Africa Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup) was won by Gor Mahia. There are legends of Abbas Magongo's intelligence in the midfield, the rock of Austin Oduor in defense and the golden head of Peter Dawo. Little is said of Anthony Odhiambo Ndolo. He was the winger who terrorized defenders throughout, bringing in the crosses to the head of Peter Dawo. If Peter Dawo won accolades for scoring with his head, Ndolo followed by Abbas Magongo gets the accolades for the assists. Dawo was the top scorer in the tournament with eleven goals thanks to Ndolo's crosses. He was faithful to Gor Mahia throughout his career until his death. He also got a national team call-up and played several matches for Harambee Stars. He was memorable in Kenya's qualification to the 1990 AFCON in Algeria. In April 1989 Kenya saw off Sudan in the first round of AFCON qualifiers on post-match penalties at Nyayo Stadium. In July, Kenya met Malawi in the second round; Kenya was away in Blantyre for the first leg. Kenya beat Malawi away by three goals to two. Until the 85th minute, the match was tied at two goals apiece. Prior to travelling to Malawi, Kenya fell to normal mismanagement problems and delayed to fly out. They left the country on Saturday at around 4 am to play the game at 4 pm the same day. They had a feel of the grounds at 10 am and played Malawi at 4 pm. Malawi scored an own goal in the fifth minute and then Charles Otieno scored Kenyan's second four minutes later. In the 75th and 78th minutes, Malawi scored two goals. Kenya was sent into a crisis mode from a point of strength. Until Antony Ndolo scored the third goal in the 85th minute to set Kenya on higher ground for the return leg. He got the nickname "Blantyre" after that. The return leg ended in a barren draw, and Kenyan qualified for AFCON. He was in the Kenyan squad for AFCON and was eliminated in the group stage. In 1991 he was Gor Mahia captain as many senior players had left. He scored a goal in Gor Mahia's three-nil win over AFC Leopards as Congolese striker Francis Kasinde scored the other two. Two weeks later he died from malaria while in Homa Bay.

Tale of two Anthony Ndolos from different generations

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Tale of two Anthony Ndolos from different generations

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