Featured Image: Gor Mahia players relax while in residential training
1979 Kenya National Football League
The Kenya Football League which was created in 1974, was disbanded by KFF chairman Dan Owino and replaced with the Kenya National Football League. Owino pronounced himself as the Chairman of the new league. Kenya Breweries were left out because of their refusal to play in the 1979 CECAFA cup.
1979 was the Peak of Community teams in Kenya.
Gor Mahia and Luo United represented members of the Luo Community from all over the country. There was an intense rivalry between the fans of both teams. In Kisumu, Hotstars and BlackStars were also rivals. Hotstars aligned themselves with Gor Mahia and acted a s feeder club for the latter. Blackstars aligned with Luo United and aligned themselves with the latter.
Ramogi represented members of the Luo community who were based in Mombasa. Nyanam represented the members of the Luo Community based in Nakuru.
Abaluhya FC (Now AFC Leopards) represented members of the Luhya community except for the Maragoli who were represented by Maragoli FC. Abeingo represented members of the Luhya community based in Nakuru. Western Stars represented members of the Luhya Community based in Mombasa.
At the coast there was Feisal which was the team of the Waswahili. Mwenge FC was supported by members of the Asian community especially Goans. Digo United was supported by the Digo people.
GEMA FC of Nakuru was the team for members of the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru ethnic groups.
The Nairobi housing estate known as Kaloleni popularly known as “Ololo” had two teams in the league namely Black Mamba and Hakati Sportiff.
Luo United had been formed the previous year after Luo Union was split into two teams due to wrangles. The faction led by Dan Owino became known as Luo United while the faction led by Omollo Rading was known as Luo Stars.
Champion FC of Mombasa also had a huge following and a rich benefactor who arranged for players to be chaffeured to the stadium in Mercedez Kenatco vehicles. The team was disbanded after he passed on.
The rivalries were intense. Gor Mahia and Luo Union (Later Luo United) were rivals largely stemming from Dan Owino’s animosity towards Gor Mahia officials who had booted him out of the club in 1974.
Luo United were friendly with Abaluhya FC and both teams were bitter rivals with Gor Mahia. Luo United also had a bitter rivalry with GEMA FC.
14 of the teams were community teams.
The Institutional teams in the league were Breweries of Ruaraka, Nzoia Sugar FC of Kanduyi, KFA of Nakuru, military side, Kahawa Cannons, KTM of Thika and Kenya Prison.
The Players
Some of the greatest legends in the history of Kenya Football. Gor Mahia had a star studded squad that included Allan Thigo, the greatest playmaker in Kenya football history. Schoolboy wonderboy Nahashon Oluoch “Lule” who had joined from Luo Union. Sammy Owino Kempes who joined after a tug of war between Gor Mahia and Luo United for his services, Bob Ogolla, perhaps the best defensive stopper Kenya has produced, George Yoga
AFC Leopards boasted a strong side with players like brilliant left winger , international Aggrey Lukoye, Noah Wanyama, Haggai Mirikau “Shama Shama” new sensation Joe Masiga who played alongside the likes of Abdul Baraza, Johannes Ndombi.
Luo United who had won the CECAFA cup in 1976 and 1977, boasted a highly experienced side with players like William Ouma “Chege” , one of the best strikers Kenya has ever produced, along with Agonda Lukio and the immensely talented Eric Omongo who joined from Kisumu BlackStars, Kenya international, Rashidi Shedu and Ugandan international Dennis Obua.
Maragoli FC boasted the youthful new sensation Wilberforce Mulamba who would later star for AFC Leopards as well as Reuben Osoro.
Mwenge FC had players like Dan Avedi who had been the top scorer in the league during previous years and goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas who would later gain fame as “Kenya One”.
Nyanam had superstars like Tom Odhiambo and Jack Sihul who would later form the backbone of Scarlet FC in the mid 1980s.
Abeingo had national team goalkeeper David Sawe who often stepped forward to take penalties. Elijah Okwaro, Samuel Abida
Prisons had , George Njaya.
KFA had, James Odawa, Julius Tella and Sammy Nyongesa.
GEMA had future Kenya Internationals, Dick Anyanga and Sammy Taabu. Taabu would later play for KTM and AFC Leopards.
Ramogi had brilliant winger Albert Oyoo “Wazimu” who would later star for Bandari FC, Leakey Osodo and Paul Opot.
Hakati Sportiff boasted future national team players James Ouma “Jacaranda” and Tom Olaba.
Top Scorers
George Yoga (Gor Mahia, Nairobi) – 22
Eric Omonge (Luo United, Nairobi) – 22
Julius Tella (KFA, Nakuru) – 21
David Osoi (KFA, Nakuru) – 16
Tom Odhiambo (Nyanam, Nakuru) – 16
Gideon Hamisi (Kisumu Hotstars) – 16
Nahashon Oluoch (Gor Mahia, Nairobi) – 15
Tom Olaba (Hakati, Nairobi) – 15
James “Jacaranda” Ouma (Hakati, Nairobi) – 14
Moses “Salim” Omondi (Luo United, Nairobi) – 14
Evans Chibinda (Nzoia) – 14
Noah Wanyama (Abaluhya, Nairobi) – 12
Ramogi FC wins the KFF Challenge Cup
Ramogi FC of Mombasa, were the surprise winners of the KFF challenge cup. A feat that earned them the right to represent Kenya in the 1980 Africa cup winners cup.
That star studded Ramogi side had a youthful George Onyango “Fundi” who later starred for Gor Mahia and the national team in the late 1980s. There was also Martin Ochieng “Oswayo” one of the best left full backs ever to play in Kenya. He also played for Gor Mahia in th mid 1980s. Goalkeeper Francis Lubembe who later played for AFC Leopards as wel as Mickey Kenyatta. Fred “Stereo” Umara who later played for Re Union, Harambee Stars stalwart Leakey Osodo, Albert Oyoo “Wazimu”, Paul Opot and goalkeeper Amani Masoud who had a stint in the national team.
They beat Kisumu Hotstars 1-0 in the final. The following year, the team was renamed Lake Warriors FC. Maragoli FC had been on a tour of the Netherlands. They lost to HotStars in the semis.
Hotstars for their part boasted defender Hamisi Shamba and Winger Gideon Hamisi, both of whom would join Gor Mahia the following year and go on to stellar careers.
Ramogi FC were financed by Brollo Kenya Ltd shose Managing Director , Italian Giorgio Moretto was a staunch football fan.
Abaluhya FC wins the 1979 CECAFA Club Cup
Kenya Breweries FC were originally slated to represent Kenya in the 1979 CECAFA cup to be held in Mogadishu Somalia. Breweries withdrew from the tournament after they disagreed with KFF on who should pay the expenses for the trip. KFF retaliated by withdrawing Breweries from the 1979 Africa cup of champions. The disagreements were also a result of the acrimony between Owino and Kenneth Matiba who was the Chairman of Kenya Breweries FC and had been the previous KFF chairman. Gor Mahia who were allied to Matiba also refused to go to Mogadishu.
Abaluhya FC were drafted at the last moment to replace Breweries in the 1979 CECAFA cup. The solid Abaluhya team boasted the likes of classy central defender Shadrack Oyando who was good on the ball and also scored numerous goals from headers. There was industrious dead ball specialist Abdul Baraza.
All five participating teams were placed in one group. Abaluhya were unimpressive in the preliminaries, losing to KCC and drawing with Simba FC of Uganda and Horseed of Somalia and squeezing a 1-0 win over Bata Bullets of Malawi.
In the semi-finals, Abaluhya beat hosts Horseed of Somalia 2-1 with Tony Lidonde scoring the winner. In the finals, Abaluhya beat defending champions KCC of Uganda 1-0. Linkman Abdul Baraza netted the all important goal. Thus Abaluhya FC who had finished third in the 1978 Kenya Football League became CECAFA club cup champions.
Gor Mahia reach the final of the 1979 Africa Cup winners cup
Gor Mahia became the first team from the CECAFA region to reach the final of an African club cup when they reached the final of the 1979 Africa cup winners cup. On their way to the final, Gor Mahia eliminated Nzambya Stars of Uganda, Kadiogo of Upper Volta and defending champions Horoya of Guinea.
In the final, Gor Mahia were up against a star studded Canon Sportif de Yaounde side. It was one of the best club sides Africa has ever produced. Canon formed the bulk of the Cameroon side that was unbeaten in the 1982 World Cup and went on to win the 1984 Africa Nations cup.
