1988 Africa Cup of Nations
Kenya Harambee Stars finally made it to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 16 year hiatus. Hopes were high as Kenya had played extremely well at the 1987 All Africa games. Gor Mahia had won the Africa cup winners cup in 1987 and provided 10 players to the team. On paper it was a very strong side. The defence was solid with players like Wycliff Anyangu. Hassan Juma, Mickey Weche and Austin Oduor who had excelled at the 1987 All Africa games. There was also the up and coming Paul Ochieng and Tobias Ocholla. In midfield there was the engine Charles Otieno, David Odhiambo, John Okello Zangi, George Nyangi. The attack was led by Wilberforce Mulamba and had Peter Dawo, Ambrose Ayoyi and Sammy Onyango. In between the posts, there was experienced Washington Muhanji and David Ochieng.
Kenya embarked on a tour of Brazil where they played friendlies against top Brazilian sides including Fluminese and Botafogo. Danilo Alves was seconded to Harambee Stars by the Brazilian FA to be technical advisor. Chris Makokha was the head coach, assisted by James Sianga. Joe Kadenge was team manager.
However the team was riven with tension. Firstly the officials were unhappy with Gor Mahia players who had opted not to play in the 1987 CECAFA cup citing fatigue. During the tour of Brazil, disagreements apparently broke out between Gor Mahia players and AFC Leopards players. Abbas Magongo was sent home from Brazil after officials accused him of stoking tensions. The Daily Nation reported that coach Makokha and Sianga were more concerned with tribal balancing instead of selecting the best players regardless of ethnicity. Makokha for his part was an excellent youth coach but had no record of success at the senior level.
The net result was an abysmal performance during which Kenya lost 0-3 to Nigeria, lost 0-3 to Egypt before salving a scoreless draw with Cameroon.
1988 Kenya National Football League
Following a successful treble by arch rivals Gor Mahia in 1987, AFC Leopards were determined to emulate their rivals. To that end, they brought in experienced Ghanaian coach Charles Gyamfi. They also went on a recruiting spree, signing several players who had previously played for the now defunct semi-professional outfit, Volcano United. . These joined a side that was already strong with experienced international players. Patrick Shim and Thomas Omboko emerged as able replacements for experienced players like Masiga and Amwayi who weighed down by injuries. New signings Davis Oyiela, Joseph Weke and Norbert Anyira joined a midfield that was already solid with players like Keffa Tasso, Owade “Zimbo and “Shoto” Lukoye. In defence , new signing, international left back Hassan Juma, joined Harambee Stars team-mate Wycliffe Anyangu who was on the other flank. In central defence was robust tackler John Arieno and the towering Sammy Simiyu.
Gyamfi was a brilliant tactician and AFC played good football with good interlinking players. A far cry from the Robert Kiberu era where strength, speed and robust play was the hallmark of the team. Leopards went on to win the league unbeaten.
1988 Kenya National Football League Standings
1988 Kenya National Football League Scorers
1988 CECAFA Club Cup: Breweries redeems Kenya
Between 1976 to 1986, Kenyan clubs had won 9 out of 10 CECAFA Club cups. That dominance came to an abrupt end in 1986 and 1987. It was left to Kenya Breweries to redeem Kenya. Not much was expected from them. They finished fourth in the Kenya National Football League in 1987. However winners Gor Mahia, second placed AFC Leopards and third placed Shabana FC opted out of the CECAFA cup in order to focus on the upcoming continental assignments.
But it was a very strong Kenya Breweries side. Rookie midfielder Bernard Otieno “Zico” was effervescent in midfield and quickly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the country. His mazy runs down the right flank and ability to finish saw him quickly make a name for himself in midfield where he joined the likes of veterans” Dino Kitavi” , Douglas Mutua as well George “Best” Kimolo, Mohammed Nazir “Tostao” , Robert Njuguna and George Opondo
In attack, Breweries had Paul Onyiera, and James Ouma “Jakaranda”. The defence was solid with players like Pitalis Owuor, Mulupi Makuto and Aggrey Evayo pairing in central defence while Ronald Watsiera, Apollo Oketch was on the right flank.
The CECAFA club cup was held in Sudan. Kenya Breweries were in group A. They started brightly, beating Express of Uganda 3-0, beat Miembeni of Zanzibar 3-0 and drew 1-1 with hosts El Merreikh. In the semis they beat Villa of Uganda before beating hosts El Merreikh 2-0 in the final.
1988 Continental Club Assignments
Cup of Champions
Shabana represented Kenya in the 1988 Africa Cup of Champions despite having finished third in the 1987 Kenya National Football League. Gor Mahia who had won the league, were defending the Africa cup winners cup. AFC Leopards also opted to play in the Africa cup winners cup in a bid to emulate their arch rivals.
The Shabana squad of 1988 had the legendary Mike Okoth “Origi” in goal. He was a product of Ziwani estate Nairobi. The defence was solid with Tanzanian Sammy Biseko who later changed his name to Sammy Simiyu, pairing with Ziwani product Alfred “Fwaya” Oloo in central defence. The midfield had the brilliant Henry Nyandoro who had just returned after Volcano United was disbanded, along with another brilliant Ziwani product in Willis Owegi. while the attack had the free-scoring Richard Otambo and Henry Motego. Others included the likes of Salim Mabruk, Hussein Omar “Tigana”,
In the first round, Shabana was pitted against Kabwe Warriors. They won the first leg 1-0 thanks to a wonderful strike from Henry Nyandoro. In the second leg , the Zambian side boasting national team players like goalkeeper Richard Mwanza,defenders Manfred Chabinga, Samuel Chomba, James Chitalu and Whiteson Changwe, midfielder Moses Masuwa and attacker Timothy Mwitwa proved too good. The Zambian side won the return leg 4-1. It has been said that this was the day Mike Okoth decided to hung up his gloves and become a striker.
Cup Winners Cup
Gor Mahia featured in the tournament as defending champions. AFC Leopards opted to play in the Cup winners cup as Kenya’s representatives. In the first round, AFC drew 1-1 with Caps United in the first leg in Kenya. In the second leg, AFC shocked the Zimbabweans 4-0. Gor Mahia for their part, started out against Mukura Victory of Rwanda whom they beat 1-0 both home and away.
In the second leg. AFC played against FC Kalamu of Zaire. They won 4-1 at Kasarani in a dominant display. The match descended into fisticuffs with Kalamu Striker Lutumba Menga punching George Olubendi and slapping the match referee before he was sent off. Kalamu recovered to beat AFC 2-0 in the return leg but it was not enough.
In the quarter-finals, AFC beat Diamant Yaounde of Cameroon 1-0 in the first leg. They lost the second leg 0-1 amid what they described as biased officiating. David Akoi received a questionable red card. Playing with 10 men, AFC lost 1-0 before losing 5-3 on penalties.
Gor Mahia for their part beat Inter Club of Congo 2-1 in the opening leg. When they arrived in Brazzaville , they were harassed by military officials at the airport, denied training facilities and forced to train near a military camp where live rounds were being fired. They ended up losing the return leg 4-1.
1988 Moi Golden Cup
Gor Mahia redeemed their 1988 season by winning the 1988 Moi Golden Cup. In the final, they beat Kenya Breweries. 1-0. Abbas Magongo was named man of the match and was carried shoulder high by Kogalo fans after the game.
