Harambee Stars icons: Remembering 'Kenya One' goalkeeper Francis Onyiso

For a long time, Kenya has had several top-notch goalkeepers, who permanently made the position a preserve for themselves for lengthy periods of time. They were household names for their stellar performance in regional and international competions. The goalkeepers were popularly known as Kenya One, owing to the ‘Number One’ jersey that is only reserved for top goalkeepers globally.
In Kenya, the first ‘Kenya One’ was the late James Siang’a who was between the posts in the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. He served from the early 60s to the early 70s during which he played for Luo Union before switching to Gor Mahia. Then came Kenya Breweries (now Tusker) custodian Mohammed Magogo in the mid-70s. Magongo was to later join the paid ranks in the United Arab Emirates alongside his teammate and international striker Binzi Mwakolo.

Magogo was succeeded as Harambee Stars goalkeeper by the late Dan Odhiambo who was at Luo Union in the early 70s before he was snatched away by Gor Mahia in 1977.
He played for the national team uninterrupted for almost a decade before the stiff competition between him and the fast rising former Mwenge FC and AFC Leopards custodian Mohamoud Abbas saw him give way.