Kenya Football in the 1980s

 

 

 


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Mahmoud Abbas, the best goalkeeper Kenya has ever produced. During the 1982 CECAFA cup he led his team-mates to walk off the field in protest. It took a lot of convincing from cabinet Minister Paul Ngei (right) to convince him to step back on the field.  

 

Joe Masiga scored the winning goal as Kenya beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win the CECAFA cup in 1983.

 

 

 

It was an all Kenyan final in the 1984 CECAFA club cup as AFC met Gor Mahia

 

The talented Davis Oyiela pictured above was one of the key protagonists for Volcano United and went on to shine for the National team during the 4th All African games

 

Ambrose Ayoyi pictured above in full flight was the key performer as Kenya reached the All Africa games final against all odds. Also pictued are Bobby Ogolla and Peter Dawo.

 

Peter Dawo (soaring) scored 10 goals as Gor Mahia became the first club from East and Central Africa to lift a continental cup.

John Okello "Zangi", left was voted Kenya's best player during the tour of Brazil in 1988. Pictured right is fellow midfielder, Douglas Mutua.

 

 

Between 1981 and 1983, Kenya won three succesive CECAFA cup titles. That stellar team included among others Mahmoud Abbass in goal, Bobby Ogolla, Hussein Kheri, Peter Otieno "Bassanga" and Josephat Murila marshalled the watertight defence, Jared Ingutia, Sammy Taabu and Wilberforce Mulamba were pivotal in midfield while Joe Masiga, Nahashon Mahila and Ambrose Ayoyi formed a formidable strikeforce. In 1981, Kenya faced hosts Tanzania in the finals of the CECAFA cup. The odds were heavily stacked against Kenya considering that a year earlier in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania had beaten Kenya 5-0 in a world cup qualifier. It is the same Tanzania team that beat Zambia to qualify for the Africa nations cup in 1980. This time Kenya beat the hosts 1-0 thanks to a freekick by James Ouma "Jacaranda" to win the first of three successive regional diadems. In 1982, Kenya faced hosts Uganda in the finals of the CECAFA cup. Again Uganda were heavily favored. A few years earlier this strong Uganda team had reached the finals of the Africa nations cup. It was a drama filled final. Wilberforce Mulamba scored a spectacular goal, weaving his way past the entire Uganda defence to score a goal for the ages. Bobby Ogolla played like a Lion of a man despite having received several stitches to his forehead. And Mahmoud Abbas gave a spectacular display of penalty saving to help Kenya beat Uganda in the final played in Kampala's Nakivubo stadium. Mahmoud Abbas, the best goalkeeper Kenya has ever produced. During the 1982 CECAFA cup he led his team-mates to walk off the field in protest. It took a lot of convincing from cabinet Minister Paul Ngei (right) to convince him to step back on the field. In 1983, the tournament was held in Nairobi at the newly constructed Nyayo stadium. The home team did not disappoint there fans winning all games en-route to the title. In the semi finals they sunk Malawi 2-0 with goals from Ambrose Ayoyi and Wilberforce Mulamba. And in the final, they beat Zimbabwe 1-0 with a goal of Joe Masiga "Bulldozer". Ayoyi was the top scorer in that tournament earning himself the nickname "golden boy". Joe Masiga scored the winning goal as Kenya beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win the CECAFA cup in 1983. On the club scene, Kenyan clubs won all except one of the East and Central Africa club cups between 1977 and 1987. AFC Leopards in particular were dominant. Boasting a galaxy of stars; Mahmoud Abbas and his penalty saving exploits were a key reason as many CECAFA cup matches were determined on penalties. The talented Wilberforce Mulamba was a superb playmaker and dribbler who could also score goals. Francis Kadenge and Mike Amwayi the two speedy wingers were key to the AFC style of play which was largely based on pace. Joe Masiga aside from being strong was also very fast. Masiga had also represented the Kenya rugby sevens representative team (Watembezi) that made waves at the Dubai sevens of 1982. AFC won the CECAFA cup in 1979, 1982,1983 and 1984. Luo Union were dominant in the mid seventies, winning in 1976 and 1977. They had a proven goal scorer in Agonda Lukio who was top scorer in the CECAFA cup in 1976 and 1977. Appollo Obota was a dependable left back who was very comfortable going forward. Charles Ochieng was a heading specialist who scored many a goal with his head. But Luo Union also had stars like goalkeeper James Sianga and William Ouma "Chege" who is considred one of the greatest strikers Kenya has ever produced. Perhaps second only to Dennis Oliech. Gor Mahia won in 1980, 1981, and 1985. During those years Gor Mhia boasted stars such as the youthful Nahashon Oluoch "Lule", a brilliant winger considered the best left sided player Kenya has evefr produced. In midfield was another youthful supernova in Sammy Owino, playing alongside Allan Thigo, the greatest playmaker Kenya has ever produced. Kenya Breweries won the tournament in 1988 and 1989. That stellar Breweries team included the likes of Paul Onyiera, Douglas Mutua, Aggrey Evayo, and Charles Opondo. The team was coached by Briton Tony Banfield. Their win in 1988 was especially impressive. They had qualified for the tournament despite finishing 3rd in the league as both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards withdrew. The tournament was held in Sudan. Brewries beat Nakivubo Villa of Uganda in the semis with a goal from attacking midfielder George Opondo. They went on to beat hosts El Merreikh of Sidan 2-0 in the final. Such was the regional dominance of Kenyan teams that even the 3rd best team could beat all the regional rivals. In the 1989, the CECAFA club cup was held in Kenya with Brewries entering as defending champions and AFC Leopards as Kenyan champions. AFC lost to Coastal Union 4-5 on penalties in the semis while Breweries beat Nakivubo Villa 2-0 in their semi. In the final, Brewries trashed Coastal Union 3-0 with goals from Paul Onyiera (2) and signing Henry Motego. It was a formidable Abagusii connection upfront for Breweries. Onyiera was an immensely talented forward who scored many spectacular goals by weaving through forests of defenders. Motego was built like a tank and was very adept at using his physical strength, thus earning himself the nickname "Ndovu" (elephant). It was an all Kenyan final in the 1984 CECAFA club cup as AFC met Gor Mahia 1985 saw the formation of Kenya's first ever professional football team. Volcano United was the name given to the team. Led by national team players like Henry Motego , Hassan Juma , Davis Oyiela , Pitalis Owuor and Norbert Anyira, it went on to rank as one Kenya's premier football teams within a short period.They also had in their ranks, three Tanzanian internationals including deadly striker Zamoyoni Mogella, midfielder Hamis Gaga and defender Lila Shomari. In 1986 , Volcano eliminated giants AFC Leopards from the inaugural Moi Golden cup by winning 2-0. On that day the goals came from Tanzanian international Zamoyoni MOgella following a Hassan Juma pass and Davis Oyiela. Only two years later, the club was disbanded. The talented Davis Oyiela pictured above was one of the key protagonists for Volcano United and went on to shine for the National team during the 4th All African games 1987 was Kenya's most successful year. Kenya Breweries started the year by winning the East and central Africa club cup. At the 4th All Africa games, Kenya beat continental giants Tunisia 2-1, drew 3-3 with a Cameroun team that featured the likes of Jacque Songoo, Emannuel Kunde, Benjamin Massing, Charles Ntamark and Andre Kana Biyik, beat Madagascar 2-1 and then beat Malawi in a tense penalty shootout which had more misses than scores. Out of the 7 penalties taken by the Kenyans, they only scored 3. Malawi only scored 2 out of 7. David Ochieng in the Kenyan goal gave a clinic in penalty saving, blocking four Malawian attempts. In the final, Kenya lost 1-0 to Egypt in a heartbreaking final. That team was coached by German Reinhard Fabisch who became an instant hero amongst Kenyans. Prior to the All Africa games, Fabisch had taken the national team on a monthlong tour to Germany. The trip proved to be very beneficial for the national team as they learned a lot, bonded and built a cohesive unit. Ambrose Ayoyi pictured above in full flight was the key performer as Kenya reached the All Africa games final against all odds. Also pictued are Bobby Ogolla and Peter Dawo. On the continental scene, Gor Mahia were crowned the winners of the Africa Cup Winners cup, becoming the first team from East and Central Africa to achieve such a feat. That year Gor Mahia had a formidable unit, which provided no less than 10 players to the national team including David Ochieng, Austin Oduor, Abass Magongo, Charles Otieno, George Nyangi, Onyango Fundi , Peter Dawo and Sammy Onyango. Peter Dawo scored 10 goals in Gor Mahia's Africa cup campaign, a feat that saw him named one of the best 10 players in Africa along with Ambrose Ayoyi "golden boy" who had played a stellar role at the 4th All Africa games. It marked the first and only time that two Kenyan players made Africa's top 10 list in the same year. Peter Dawo (soaring) scored 10 goals as Gor Mahia became the first club from East and Central Africa to lift a continental cup. 1987 will also be remembered as the year when two Kenyan players, Peter Dawo and Ambrose Ayoyi were voted among the ten best players on the continent, a feat which has never been replicated by the nation. In 1988, both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards participated in the Africa cup winners cup. AFC Leopards had dispatched FC Kalamu of Zaire 4-1 in grand style. Gor Mahia dispatched BTM of Madagascar winning both home and away legs. As they both made the quarter final, an all Kenya final seemed possible. But it seemed that the continental association had plotted against the Kenyan teams. (The thought of an All Kenyan final was unacceptable to them). Gor mahia visited Inter Club of Congo and were denied training facilities for 3 days before the match. AFC Leopards seemed destined to eliminate Diamant of Cameroun before losing to a quetionable penalty and having defender Wycliff Anyangu sent off under dubious circumstances. After a 16 year layoff Kenya had qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Zimbabwe on goal aggregate. On paper Kenya seemed to have a formidable team that could compete with the best of Africa. They seemed set to reproduce the magic they had produced at the 4th All Africa games a year earlier. They embarked on a tour of Brazil as part of their preparations. During the tour, they played Brazil's top teams such as Botafogo and Fluminense. Coach Chris Makoha was joined on the technical bench by Brazilian coach Danilo Alves who was seconded by the Brazilian Federation. It was there that the team came apart. There was unrest and disunity between the players. The lack of cohesion showed as Kenya were bundled out of the preliminaries losing 3-0 to Nigeria and Egypt before forcing a draw with Cameroun. John Okello "Zangi", left was voted Kenya's best player during the tour of Brazil in 1988. Pictured right is fellow midfielder, Douglas Mutua. In 1989, Kenya embarked on yet another qualification campaign. This time they were under new coach Mohammed Kheri. The sensational coach who had led then unknown Bandari FC from oblivion to the finals of the Moi Golden cup. They faced Malawi and after drawing 0-0 in the first leg in Nairobi, most fans had written them off. Matters became worse when the players went on strike a day before departing to Lilongwe for the return leg. However they finally put their troubles behind them and beat Malawi 3-2 in the return leg. In the second round they faced Sudan. Having lost 0-1 in Khartoum, they returned to Nairobi for the return leg at Kasarani. The match appeared destined for a goalless draw which would favor Sudan. But second half sub, Peter Dawo scored a crucial equalizer to send the match into extra time and penalties. During the shootout, keeper Washington Muhanji saved two penalties while Dawo himself scored one to give Kenya 6-5 win over Sudan that saw them qualify for the 1990 Africa nations cup.