This blogpost, I will confess has been difficult to write. I had to turn it over in my head and even sent it down to my heart a few times. In the end, like I have done many times before, I sat up to write it. I know some Gor Mahia fans who know me and have read the title have already scrolled to other things, some who have clicked on it are browsing to see a statement they can throw back at me. That is unavoidable in this game, I will take all in stride.
I am not a Gor Mahia fan, but my club loyalty has never shrouded my judgment of Kenyan football entities. One thing I try not to do is to write about my preferred club, when I have to write I make sure I am as objective as possible. So, I always take the bricks thrown at me by fans with a pinch of salt.
I will go tribal (most Kenyans are) and please do not take this as my excuse for tribalism but my explanation of the same. I am a believer in the spirit of Kenya and a firm believer in the Kenyan dream. I believe a section of Gor fans who cause trouble after matches should look seriously into their actions, the sooner the better. As I did after the ill fated match Gor Mahia fans display Luos siege mentality after AFC Leopards' match , the recent Gor vs. Thika United match has awaken the writer in me.
I mentioned about the Luo community’s siege mentality that is born of past historical injustices. Again, everyone must take responsibility for his actions; I was just explaining why hooliganism is more than a football problem. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, nobody can ride your back unless it is bent.
Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards’ fans are known for causing chaos whenever a match does not go their way. AFC Leopards’ may claim that Gor fans are worse but their recent actions in Nakuru point to a kettle calling the pot dark. The big question is who loses when fans take out their disappointments on innocent members of the public?
First things first, It is unfortunate that I have to profile the ethnic (or regional) identities of TPL players, but if it is good for the local game- why not? I failed to get the 2012 full clubs team lists, so I took my time to look at match team sheets which has eighteen players. Most if not all clubs constitute over 50% of players from Western Kenya (old Nyanza and Western provinces.) Do not report me to Mzalendo Kibunja just yet.
The good book in Mathews chapter 25 gives us the famous Parable of Talents. God, like the master who went on a journey gives talents according to the ability of the recipient. The third servant told his master he was a hard man who reaped where he did not sow as a reason for not doing much with his gift. The little he had was taken away and given to the first two who had brought returns of their investments. To who much is given, much is also expected and so the Luo and Luhya communities should take the gift of football very seriously.
When Tusker FC played Chemelil Sugar on 11th May 2012, all but three of their eighteen member team were from Western Kenya, Chemelil had eleven players from the same region. When Tusker recently beat City Stars 3-0 to win the TPL title, four players (including Obadiah Ndege) were not from the said region, City Stars had a similar number. What am I driving at?
I have not looked at AFC Leopards’ and Gor Mahia; of the two Gor will get a thumps up for recruiting players from all over Kenya while AFC tends to give consideration to players from Luhya community first. There is nothing wrong with either as long as football is played professionally. But when fans cause chaos, it is players who will suffer most, yet majority of them hail from the communities that support the two most popular clubs.
It is obvious that the two clubs cannot absorb all the talent from the bedrock of their fan base. So when Rangers FC winds up, it is not a Yobesh Ongeri problem but a Kenyan football problem. Several players will miss an avenue to express and develop their talent, and most of them will hail from the two communities. It is not just about Gor and AFC Leopards'.
In short, Gor fans, a majority of who are Luos should know that when they cause chaos they are hurting the local game, and by extension their brothers who play pay for it. The same with AFC Leopards’, fans of both clubs should endevour to make the local game appealing so as to attract the ‘neutrals’ who prefer to follow foreign leagues. The goal is to deny them the excuse that the local game is at the mercy of hooligans.
I write this with the knowledge that both clubs are capable of filling any stadium in Kenya to capacity if they mean business. Their matches are well attended, and they have a right to brag about it. What they may not know is that this is still a fraction of their fans; why are many of their fans afraid to come to the stadium?
In my earlier blog (I have attached the link above) I tried to explain why Gor fans tend to behave the way they behave. It is upon them to rise above prevailing circumstances and make the best of the situation. God gives talent, but it is the responsibility of the recipient to get the best out of this gift.
The local game has come from far but we still have a long way to go. I write this to ask fans, and especially Gor and AFC Leopards’ fans that for selfish reasons let them restrain themselves whenever they are disappointed in any way.
When Tusker wins, and Thika United also plays well, if you look well- it is good for the two communities who form the bulk of local football lovers. It is wise and prudent to lose battles gracefully if it will give you the impetus to win the war. I hope they get the bigger picture; it is the only way to avoid sweating the small stuff. This will also prevent other people from taking advantage of their weaknesses for selfish reasons.
Lastly, a toast to Bob Munro and Thika United founders. The two clubs have been instrumental in raising players from other communities apart from Western and Coast regions where for a long time most of Kenyan football players hailed from. Long Live TPL, FKF and the local beautiful game.
You can now send this to National Cohesion and Integration Commission. We can build the whole (country) by building the parts.
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