Former Harambee Stars captains John Bobby Ogolla and Musa Otieno have criticised the poor state of facilities and lack of proper planning, attributing the issues as the root of Kenya’s football decline.
Their remarks come after Gor Mahia and Kenya Police FC were unceremoniously dumped out of continental football by Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, respectively.
Gor Mahia endured a humbling exit from the CAF Champions League, suffering a 6-0 aggregate defeat to Al Ahly, while Police FC were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup by Zamalek after a 3-1 aggregate loss.
Ogolla, who was part of Gor Mahia's 1987 Mandela Cup winning team, highlighted the defeats as a symptom of poor planning, which has hindered Kenya's success on the international stage.
“The exit of Gor Mahia and Police FC, both of whom I have coached at one point in my career, is not strange for me,” he said.
“We haven’t made any progress in the last five years. Training facilities are subpar, and the conditions we face are nothing short of dismal.”
Otieno, who was capped 101 times by the Harambee Stars, echoed Ogolla’s sentiments, raising concern over the state of the country’s football infrastructure.
“There was a coach in Kenya called Bernard Lama who once said the abnormal is normal in Kenya. Unfortunately, that still holds,” Otieno lamented.
“We’ve been talking about these issues for years, yet nothing changes. It’s not about elections, it’s about doing the right thing for football.”
Kenya’s inability to host international matches due to unapproved stadia, coupled with a disorganised league structure, has left Ogolla and Otieno calling for urgent reforms ahead of upcoming international events.
But it’s not just the lack of infrastructure. The football legends also pointed to the mental toll that poor organisation and lack of support take on players and former stars.
“There were great captains before me—legends like Josphat Murila, Sammy Omollo and John Bobby Ogolla. They served this country with distinction. It’s only right that we honour them, just as they inspired me to do my best for Kenya,” Otieno reflected. “I, too, have inspired others, and the cycle continues.”
With the International Day of Older Persons set to be commemorated on October 1, 2024, the two legends are calling for more action to support former players, many of whom face loneliness and demotivation in their later years.
Age Watch Africa, an organisation focused on improving the lives of the elderly, has partnered with ex-internationals to mark the day.
As part of the celebrations, a youth tournament will be held at Dandora Stadium on Saturday, involving children aged 10-13, with the football legends serving as mascots for the next generation of stars.