Featured Image: Abaluhya FC in 1980 Courtesy of Philip Oyoo
1980 Kenya National Football League
The Kenya Football Federation was suspended by the Minister for Culture and social services, Robert Matano who cited maladministration and misappropriation of funds as his reasons. The Kenya National Sports Council led by Chris Obure, a former Gor Mahia player was charged with running the league. The league kicked of on March 29 1980 with 13 teams participating.
Abaluhya FC (Now AFC Leopards), won the league in 1980. It was a strong Abaluhya side with legends like Joe Masiga, Noah Wanyama, Aggrey Lukoye, Abdul Barasa , Mahmoud Abbas, Haggai Mirikau and Josphat Murila.
Gor Mahia finished second. Among the players who played a key role in Gor Mahia’s campaign were Bobby Ogolla, George Yoga, Andrew Obunga, Sammy Owino, Allan Thigo, Tim Ayieko, Gideon Hamisi and Nahashon Oluoch.
Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) of Nakuru, proved their mettle by finishing third in the standings. This despite losing their first four games including a shock 2-0 loss to Nakuru rivals GEMA FC.
Luo United, led by stars like Eric Omonge, finished a distant 8th in the standings. A far cry from their second place finish in the previous year. Internal wrangles between Rading Omollo and Dan Owino had caused Luo Union to split into two teams: Luo Stars and Luo United. The latter went from challenging for the top position to becoming a perennial mid table team.
The Emergence of future Superstars
Wilberforce Mulamba of Maragoli FC scored 17 goals including two hat-tricks to emerge as one of the most promising players of the season. , James Ouma and Sammy Onyango, both of Hakati Sportiff, made quite a name for themselves as natural strikers. At the time, Sammy Onyango was still a student at Equator high school in Thika town. All three players went on to join larger clubs: AFC Leopards, Kenya Breweries and Gor Mahia respectively. All three went on to star for the national team.
The 1980 CECAFA Club Cup
At the 1980 CECAFA club cup, Gor Mahia represented Kenya by virtue of being the national champions. Abaluhya FC represented Kenya by virtue of being the defending champions. The tournament was played in Malawi. Both Gor Mahia and Abaluhya were in group B which was based in Blantyre whereas group A was based in Lilongwe.
Abaluhya FC started on a red hot note, beating Gor Mahia 1-0, Horseed of Somalia 2-0 and KMKM of Zanzibar 2-0 to finish atop the group with 6 points. Gor Mahia for their part were less than convincing in the group stage. After losing to their arch rivals in the opening match, they beat KMKM 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Horseed.
In the semi-finals, Gor Mahia beat hosts Limbe Leaf Wanderers 4-2 on penalties after tying 1-1 in regulation. Abaluhya overcame Zambian military side Green Buffalos 1-0 in extra time, thus setting up an all Kenyan final.
It was a dramatic final. Striker Joe Masiga who had missed all the opening games was flown in from Nairobi where he had been sitting exams at the University of Nairobi where he was a student in the school of dentistry. Masiga did not dissapoint. He put Abaluhya ahead in the 13th minute. Gor Mahia fought back and equalized when Nahashon Oluoch crossed for George Yoga to score with a header. Abaluhya came back storming and tested George Ayuka in the Gor Mahia goal numerous times. It came as no surprise when Masiga scored again to give Abaluhya a 2-1 lead. John Chore equalized for Gor Mahia almost immediately. The diminutive striker outjumped Mahmoud Abbas to convert a cross from Paul Oduwo “Cobra”. With 5 minutes left, Nahashon Oluoch scored the third goal to give Gor Mahia a 3-2 win and enabled the club to win the CECAFA cup for the first time.
1980 Continental Club Matches
Gor Mahia qualified to play in the 1980 Africa cup of Champions by virtue of winning the KNFL in 1979. However they almost did not participate. Dan Owino who was the KFF Chairman still held bitter feelings towards Gor Mahia after he was kicked out of the club in 1973 for trying to forcefully take over chairmanship of the club. He failed to send the Gor Mahia player cards to the CAF headquarters in Cairo before the deadline. CAF excluded Gor Mahia from the draw. It took the intervention of Joseph Muchemi, the permanents secretary in the ministry of culture to save Gor Mahia. He appealed to CAF and sent the cards. CAF accepted the appeal.
In the opening round Gor Mahia faced a tough Horseed of Somalia. The first leg in Mogadishu ended 0-0. In the return leg , Andrew Obunga and George Yoga scored to give Gor Mahia a 2-0 win.
In the second leg, Gor Mahia faced Bendel Insurance of Nigeria. Gor Mahia flew to Benin City for the first leg. Missing from the line-up was winger Nahashon Oluoch who was busy with studies. Gor Mahia won 2-1 with goals from Andrew Obunga and new signing Austin Odour. In the return leg, Gor Mahia surprisingly went downb 3-2 and were thus eliminated.
Ramogi United represented Kenya in the cup winners cup by virtue of having won the KFF Challenge cup in 1979. Ramogi were coached by former Kenya international, Steve Yongo. They boasted players like Leakey Osodo, Paul Opot “Gaetano”, Fred “Stereo” Umara, schoolboy Albert Oyoo “Wazimu”, goalkeepers Francis Lubembe and Mickey Kenyatta, George Onyango, who would later win a continental trophy with Gor Mahia. Ramogi received a bye in the first round. In the second round, they played Matlama of Lesotho. After drawing 1-1 away, Ramogi were held 0-0 at home and thus advanced on away goals rule. In the second half, the faced off with Kadiogo of Upper Volta who proved too strong, beating Ramogi 3-0 at home and 1-0 away.
