My heart still bleeds from an encounter over the weekend with a famous former football  player. He actually asked me not to quote his name in any discussions when I told him I will be letting the world know about his plight. The fighting over who should sit on a ball in the KFF offices has now subjected some big portion of our population to starvation. Through his tale I realized that one footballer actually directly and indirectly supports eight mouths. So when then the pitches go silent, hunger sets in, in many homes.

FIFA, which the incapable Sports Minister prefers to call VIVA, has been patient with the insanity of our officials, but this is running out. March 1st is our appointment with fate. It is also the deadline to show our interest to participate in World Cup 2010 activities. Imagine hosting Brazil and France for two weeks of training before they go down south. The government is shouting all over the place about sovereignty and no need to respect a tiny NGO like 'VIVA'. They might have a point but it is hidden in so much arrogance that makes it difficult for one to appreciate it.

Of course we do not want anyone to dictate to us, but what about the actual football? It is not played by pot-bellied balding individuals. It is played by young Kenyans who do it as a source of income. Their plates go empty as the rich and powerful dine and wine after press conferences to attack the other camp.

As this goes on, we the football fans have been by far quite or worse still passive.  Only in Mombasa have some brave fans told those dignified goons in three-piece suits to go back to their offices and let the ball be kicked by the twenty two individuals in shorts. It is time we the fans and players go to Uhuru Park and tell them, Mpira iko na wenyewe. Better still we can advocate for rescheduling of our local matches to accommodate our new insatiable appetite for the British premiership.

Brothers and sisters, we have only ten days to a suspension that will keep homes dark without kerosene, hungry with maize flour and young people idling in dark alleys where Matheri Ikere will hire them for a bank raid. To your desks I put this question; what can you do to save our soccer before March 1?

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No soccer fans?
written by Nekessa , February 25, 2007

The problems that ail KFF are the same that ail all institutions in Kenya. It is not all about electing the right mp or the right president, it is about accountability in all institutions. Unfortunately, the rhetoric with the Kenyan public is to blame the politicians for everything. But Kenyans, I am sure, are more interested in the English premiership, than they are in their own!

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Got to save the football
written by Ken Thumbi , February 25, 2007

Mr Nkessa has hit the nail on the head i.e. the public has to ensure that the elected officials are held accountable thats a big question thats been lingering since the 80's.Has the general public given up hope?

I just do not understand how a team from a country that has just come out of a civil war crushes Harambee stars (Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda!!) Are we not talented OR is it our attitude to sports? Have we not been told that we should aspire to be engineers and doctors? sports being a pass time?
It is kind of amusing watching all the wajamaas yelling Manu, Arsenal, Chelsea etc etc OR is this the impact of globalization? I do not know, just thinking out loud

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