Kenya’s football scene has been plagued by poor management, corruption and lack of accountability for years, resulting in dismal performances at the international level. However, some former players are calling for reforms and urging the current leadership to step aside and pave way for fresh blood.
Kenya fails to qualify for AFCON 2023
Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 were dashed after they lost 2-1 to Togo in their final group G match on September 24, 2023. The Harambee Stars finished third in the group with seven points, behind Egypt and Comoros, who both qualified for the continental showpiece.
This was the second consecutive failure for Kenya to qualify for AFCON, after they also missed out on the 2021 edition in Cameroon. The last time Kenya played at AFCON was in 2019 in Egypt, where they exited in the group stage.
Many fans and pundits blamed the poor performance on the lack of proper preparation, inadequate funding, and poor selection of players and coaches by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the governing body of football in Kenya.
Ex-players demand change in FKF leadership
Some former players who represented Kenya at various levels have expressed their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Kenyan football and demanded change in the FKF leadership.
Among them is Musa Otieno, who captained Kenya at AFCON 2004 and is the most capped player for the national team with 105 appearances. Otieno said that the FKF president Nick Mwendwa and his executive committee have failed to deliver on their promises and should resign.
“FKF has been a disappointment to Kenyan football. They have not fulfilled their mandate of developing the game at the grassroots, improving the standards of the league, and ensuring that the national teams are competitive. They have also been involved in scandals and mismanagement of funds. They should step aside and let others take over,” Otieno said.
Another ex-player who echoed Otieno’s sentiments is Dennis Oliech, who is Kenya’s all-time top scorer with 34 goals. Oliech, who played at AFCON 2004 and 2019, said that he is ready to vie for the FKF presidency if given a chance.
“I have a passion for football and I want to see Kenya do well. I have played at the highest level and I know what it takes to succeed. I have also seen how other countries run their football affairs and I believe I can bring positive change to Kenyan football. I have a vision and a plan that I will share with the stakeholders if I get an opportunity to run for FKF presidency,” Oliech said.
Ex-players offer solutions for Kenyan football
Apart from calling for change in FKF leadership, some ex-players also offered some solutions for improving Kenyan football.
One of them is Victor Wanyama, who is Kenya’s most successful player in terms of club career. Wanyama, who played at AFCON 2019, has featured for top clubs such as Celtic, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Montreal Impact. He said that Kenya needs to invest more in youth development and infrastructure.
“We need to have more academies and training centers where young players can learn the basics of football and develop their skills. We also need to have more stadiums and pitches where they can play and showcase their talent. We need to nurture the next generation of players who will make us proud,” Wanyama said.
Another ex-player who shared his views is McDonald Mariga, who is Kenya’s first player to win the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010. Mariga, who also played at AFCON 2019, said that Kenya needs to adopt a clear football philosophy and identity.
“We need to have a style of play that suits our strengths and culture. We need to have a vision of how we want to play and what we want to achieve. We need to have coaches who can implement this philosophy and players who can execute it. We need to be consistent and confident in our approach,” Mariga said.
