At first glance, the idea of elections interfering with the Africa Cup of Nations feels almost sacrilegious. AFCON is Africa’s grand football festival, a rare moment when politics, borders and everyday struggles are supposed to fade into the background. But reality, especially in our part of the world, has a stubborn way of intruding. Recent remarks by AFCON Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye have reopened an uncomfortable but necessary debate: should Kenya really host AFCON in 2027, a year that also coincides with a high-stakes general election? From a purely emotional standpoint, the answer is no. Football should not…
Author: Columnist
The renewed debate around AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia owning stadiums is understandable. Big clubs, after all, should dream big. But in football, ambition without economic logic is how institutions collapse. Kenya today is not short of stadiums. Over the last decade, national and county governments have invested billions of shillings into modern sporting infrastructure. From Raila Amollo Odinga Talanta, Kasarani and Nyayo to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, Bukhungu, Kirigiti and several county facilities, the country will soon boast more than 20 usable stadiums built for competitive football. The real question, therefore, is not where clubs will play their matches,…
Gor Mahia, one of Kenya’s most storied football clubs, finds itself grappling with a troubling issue that could have far-reaching implications for its season: the missed penalties. Having missed two crucial spot-kicks in consecutive matches, the team’s inability to convert from the penalty spot raises significant questions about their mental resilience and technical execution during high-stakes moments. The Context In Gor Mahia’s most recent match against KCB, the Captain and 2023/2024 MVP, Austin Odhiambo, was awarded a penalty in the 79th minute, a pivotal moment that could have secured their victory. The tension in the situation was palpable; the stakes…
As we look forward to the ODM 20th Anniversary Tournament scheduled for 10th October 2025 in Mombasa, it’s important to reflect on the potential implications of such events for our beloved domestic football. The inclusion of senior teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards SC during an active league season understandably raises concerns about our clubs’ priorities and commitments. Traditionally, one might hope that these clubs would opt to send their youth squads to such tournaments, allowing their senior players to focus on crucial league matches. However, the decision to showcase their senior teams speaks to a deeper, more troubling…
