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How ambitious Kenya Police have taken Kenyan football by storm

Football

By Rodgers Eshitemi | Feb 04, 2022

Defender Harun Shakava (L) holds up his shirt with Kenya Police Principal Assistant to the Inspector General Nyale Munga at National Police Service Headquarters-Jogoo House after being signed from Gor Mahia on February 2, 2022. [Kenya Police FC]

Nobody ever gave Kenya Police FC a chance when they were promoted to the FKF Premier League this season.

But the law enforcers appear to have shrugged off a poor start to the season and turned themselves into one of the formidable squads in the league.

The John Bobby Ogola-coached side is literally giving the big boys a run for their money on all fronts.

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From frustrating them on the pitch to raiding them for their best players and luring sponsors, Police are leaving nothing to chance in their quest to building a formidable team that can challenge for the title next season and play continental football.

After roping in high-profile players like Kenyan internationals Clifton Miheso (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Musa Mohammed, Duncan Otieno (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia) and John Makwatta (Zesco United, Zambia), in the previous transfer window, Police has once again flexed its financial muscle to raid top clubs in the country for some of their best players as well as beat them to signing other players.

The 10th placed Police has managed to go nine matches without losing since falling 2-0 to Sofapaka on Dec 4.

But with the arrival of David Owino, David Simiyu (KCB), Job Ochieng (Mathare United), Eric Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Francis Kahata (Sidama, Ethiopia), Elvis Rupia (Bisha, Saudi Arabia) and Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), show Police’s intent to rule the Kenyan football.

Kagera Sugar defender Bolton Omwenga and Tusker’s Isaac Kipyegon are also on the verge of joining the free spending side.

While most of them are enjoying the luxury of playing for one of the best managed clubs in the country at the moment, some of them will get a precious chance of being recruited into the National Police Service (NPS).

This is no surprise at NPS as they used the same tactic in athletics, where they enlisted and promoted top athletes. They include 400m sensation Marius Tum holding the rank of Commissioner of Police, world 800m record holder David Rudisha (Traffic), three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop (General Duty), 2018 London Marathon winner Vivian Cheruiyot (DCI) and four-time world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi (Presidential Escort) among others.

Though Police has been criticised of using their financial muscle to weaken their opponents, the club’s CEO Chris Oguso says every Kenyan player now wants to turn out for the club because of their professionalism and job opportunities offers.

“At Police we have players’ interests at heart and that’s why the best talent in the country is joining us. Of course football is a business but at Police we feel players’ welfare is not all about money but the ample environment that we create for the team,” Oguso told Standard Sports.

“It is like we had agents in Miheso, Duncan, Mohammed and Makwatta. After we signed them, many players started making inquiries, and actually it’s because of them that we managed to sign Duke on plane while still in Zambia before the transfer window closed that night.

“We struggled in the opening five matches due to lack of enough time for preseason. But the disbandment of FKF by the government was a blessing in disguise for us as it gave us time to train together and gel.”

“Apart from the 17 players who helped us gain promotion to the league, we are going to reward Shakava, Job, Kipyegon, Omwenga, Ambula, Simiyu and Rupia with jobs in the service. By doing so, I’m confident we will achieve our target of winning the title next season.”

Team manager George Maelo is now an Inspector while their longest serving coach Charles ‘Korea’ Omondi has been promoted to the Sergeant position.

While revealing the secrets behind their recent commercial success that has seen them partner with betting firm Betika and airline Fly 748, Oguso, who doubles up as Chief Inspector thanked club’s patron Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai, Deputy Inspector General Kenya Police Edward Njoroge Mbugua, and Principal Assistant to the Inspector General Nyale Munga for their relentless support.

“We are attracting sponsors because we are transparent and accountable,” he said.

He further said plans are already underway for the team to travel to Qatar in December to watch a few 2022 World Cup matches and play a friendly match with Qatar Police team.

“It’s going to be a dream come true for most of these players to watch the World Cup live in Qatar and play a few friendly matches,” said Oguso.

But for league’s joint top scorer, Clifton Miheso, he doesn’t regret leaving record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia for the newbies.

“I joined Police because I was motivated with their offer and goals as a team. I’m happy to be here,” said Miheso,

Just like Miheso, Duke Abuya says they are doing everything possible to repay the management’s investment in the team.

“There is individual pressure to deliver in the team. They have spent a lot to bring us together, it’s a must we repay them with results,” said Abuya.