As Gor Mahia prepares to bid farewell to one of its most dedicated servants, former assistant coach Frank Ouna has shared a remarkable story that perfectly captures the character of Ernest Wendo.
The story takes us back to January 2015 when Wendo arrived for trials at Gor Mahia under then-head coach Frank Nuttall. The coaching staff had received glowing scouting reports about the young midfielder, but they still wanted to see for themselves whether he was truly ready for the challenge of playing for Kenya’s biggest club.
During a highly competitive training session, Wendo found himself in a fierce midfield battle with Collins “Gattuso” Okoth, one of the toughest and most feared enforcers in Kenyan football at the time.
In one crunching challenge, Wendo crashed into Gattuso, leaving the experienced midfielder requiring treatment on the sidelines. As Gattuso received attention, he issued a warning to the fearless youngster.
“Nikirudi hapo ndani itakua moto!” he shouted.
Without hesitation, Wendo fired back:
“Utanipata tu hapa ndani, hakuna mahali naenda.”
Those few words immediately caught the attention of Frank Ouna, who leaned over to Frank Nuttall and said, “We are signing this boy immediately after training.”
After Ouna translated the exchange, Nuttall reportedly replied: “Forget after training. We are taking him to the chairman now!” The rest, as they say, is history.
Gattuso returned to the pitch. Wendo stood his ground. Nobody backed down. Nobody hid. Instead, a mutual respect was born between the two warriors, a respect that endured throughout their careers.
For Ouna, that moment revealed everything he needed to know about Wendo. It wasn’t just his football ability that impressed the coaches; it was his fearlessness, character, and mentality.
Over the next decade, Wendo would go on to become one of Gor Mahia’s most reliable and disciplined players, winning trophies, earning the admiration of teammates and supporters, and serving the club with distinction.
As he prepares to play his final match in Gor Mahia colours, Wendo leaves not only as a champion but as a symbol of dedication, humility, and professionalism.
Thank you for the memories, Ernest Wendo.
And indeed, just as he promised on that training ground ten years ago, he never left the fight.
K’Ogalo will forever remember the warrior who stood his ground and proudly declared:
“Utanipata hapa ndani.”A tribute that will resonate deeply with Gor Mahia supporters as they celebrate one of the club’s true servants.
