Featured Image: Harambee Stars at the 1977 CECAFA Cup
FRONT ROW: Elly Adero (Kenya Breweries), Mark Shida (Black Mamba), James Ojiambo (Kenya Breweries), Sammy Nyongesa (KFA) and Bobby Ogolla (Gor Mahia).
BACK ROW: Martin Ochieng “Oswayo (Luo Union), Binzi Mwakolo (Breweries), Tito Ngayo (Black Mamba), Aggrey Lukoye (Abaluhya), Mahmoud Abbas (Mwenge), Abdalla Shakir (Nyundo), Sammy Teete (Kenya Prisons), Abdul Baraza (Mwenge), Tom Olaba (Kenya Prisons), Peter Odera (Breweries), Jerry Imbo (Gor Mahia) and coach Ray Wood
Kenya Breweries wins the 1977 Kenya Football League
Kenya Brewieries (Now known as Tusker FC) won the 1977 League. They were coached by Ray Wood who also doubled up as the national team coach. Wood had been a goalkeeper for Manchester United. He was one of the few players who survived the air crash that killed half the Manchester United team in February 1958.
Breweries boasted a strong side led by the free scoring playmaker Peter Odera, speedy winger Elly Adero, Apollo Anangwe, brilliant winger Binzi Mwakolo, legendary goalkeeper Mohammed Magogo, John Nyawanga, Samson Odore, Morris Oloo, a prolific goal-scorer and Babu Makokech, all of whom had played for the national team at some point.
Kenya Football League Final Standings 1977
1977 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
The tournament was held in Somalia. Kenya started on a bright note, beating hosts Somalia 1-0 with a goal from Elly Adero. In the second match, Kenya went down 3-1 to a very strong Uganda side. They then recovered to beat Zanzibar 3-0. In the semi-final, Kenya lost 4-2 to Zambia. The legendary Godfrey Chitalu, considered to be the all time leading scorer in the world, scored 3 times and Alex Chola added the 4th. For Kenya, the goals were scored by Allan Thigo and Elly Adero. In the 3rd place playoff, Kenya lost 2-1 to Malawi.
Uganda won the tournament. It was perhaps the strongest team Uganda side ever with such legends as Jimmy Kirunda, Tim Ayieko, Abbey Nassur, Dennis Obua and Philip Omondi . They went on to reach the final of the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Ray Wood who had led Kenya to victory in the 1975 CECAFA Cup, resigned his position upon the team’s arrival in Nairobi.
