Kenya Football Hall of Fame

HALL OF FAME (continued)

Between 1981 and 1983, Kenya won three succesive CECAFA cup titles. That stellar team included among others Mahmoud Abbass in goal, Bobby Ogolla and Josephat Murila marshalled the watertight defence, Jared Ingutia and Wilberforce Mulamba were pivotal in attack while Joe Masiga and Ambrose Ayoyi formed a formidable strikeforce. In 1981, Kenya beat hosts Tanzania 1-0 thanks to a freekick by James Ouma "jacaranda " to win the first of three successive regional diadems. The following year, Mahmoud Abbass gave a spectacular display of penalty saving to help Kenya beat Uganda in the final played in Kampala's Nakivubo stadium.

In 1983, the tournament was held in Nairobi at the newly constructed Nyayo stadium. The home team did not dissappoint there fans winning all games en-route to the title. Ambrose Ayoyi was the top scorer in that tournament earning himself the nickname "golden boy".

On the club scene, Kenyan clubs won all except one of the East and Central Africa club cups between 1977 and 1987. AFC Leopards in particular were dominant. Boasting a galaxy of stars including Josephat Murila, Mahmoud Abass, Francis kadenge, Wilberforce Mulamba and Joe Masiga, they won in 1979, 82,83 and 84, Luo Union were dominant in the mid seventies, wiinning in 1976 and 1977 , with players like Agonda Lukio, Appollo Obota and Charles Ochieng. Gor Mahia won in 1980, 81, and 85. Kenya Breweries won the tournament in 1987. That stellar Breweries team included the likes of Paul Onyiera, Douglas Mutua, Aggrey Evayo, and Charles Opondo.

Joe Masiga scored the winning goal as Kenya beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win the CECAFA cup in 1983

Mahmoud Abbas, the best goalkeeper Kenya has ever produced. Inset is a group photo of harambee stars before they departed for Malawi to play in an Africa cup qualifier .

It was an all Kenyan final in the 1984 CECAFA club cup as AFC met Gor Mahia

1985 saw the formation of Kenya's first ever professional football team. Volcano United was the name given to the team. Led by national team players like Henry Motego , Hassan Juma , Davis Oyiela , Pitalis Owuor and Norbert Anyira, it went on to rank as one Kenya's premier football teams within a short period. In 1986 , they eliminated AFC Leopards from the inaugural Moi Golden cup by winning 2-0. Only two years later, the club was disbanded.

1987 was Kenya's most successful year. Kenya Breweries started the year by winning the East and central Africa club cup At the 4 th All Africa games, Kenya beat continental giants Tunisia 2-1, drew 3-3 with a Cameroun team that featured the likes of Jacque Songoo, Emannuel Kunde, Benjamin Massing, Charles Ntamark and Andre Kana Biyik, beat Madagascar 2-1 and then beat Malawi in a tense penalty shootout which had more misses than scores. Out of the 7 penalties taken by the Kenyans, they only scored 3. Malawi only scored 2 out of 7. David Ochieng in the Kenyan goal gave a clinic in penalty saving, blocking four Malawian attempts. In the final, Kenya lost 1-0 to Egypt in a heartbreaking final.

On the continental scene, Gor Mahia were crowned the winners of the Africa Cup Winners cup, becoming the first team from East and Central Africa to achieve such a feat. That year Gor Mahia had a formidable unit, which provided no less than 10 players to the national team including David Ochieng, Austin Oduor, Abass Magongo, Charles Otieno, George Nyangi, Onyango Fundi , Peter Dawo and Sammy Onyango.

Ambrose Ayoyi pictured above in full flight was the key performer as Kenya reached the All Africa games final against all odds. Also pictued are Bobby Ogolla and Peter Dawo.

1987 will also be remembered as the year when two Kenyan players, Peter Dawo and Ambrose Ayoyi were voted among the ten best players on the continent, a feat which has never been replicated by the nation.

KFF Complex Centre,

Next to Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani

P.O Box 26434 , Code 00504 Nairobi , KENYA

Tel: +254 20 2012194 | Mobile : +254 724 291838 | Fax: +254 20 2010798

Email: kffkenya@kff.co.ke