Tribute to the late Zablon ‘Pro’ Otieno

 Pro came from a creative family with both talents in music and soccer

The football curtains have fallen on one of the most-talked about football talent in Kenya.

Zablon Otieno, popularly known as ‘Pro’ is no more.

His talent which drew its life from his deft touches and lethal left foot during his playing days will remain written in the minds of many football lovers.

It was his prowess on the pitch that earned him the name ‘Pro’ — a corrupted acronym for professional. Zablon was a professional in the local league, and a darling of both players and fans. He was that good, something that saw him move to Oman, a move that did not last long.

Pro came from a creative family with both talents in music and soccer. His story may not be complete without mentioning the history of Kaloleni estate. His father Mr Reuben Osowo was elder brother to Sila Gwada and Daniel Nicodemus Arudhi among others.

The demise of ‘Pro’ as he was popularly known brings memories around one of Niarobi’s oldest and soccer-crazy neighbourhood, Kaloleni aka ‘ Ololo’.

Like all boys born bred and brought up on Ololo, Pro started playing soccer within the estate at the famous ‘ Wembley’ grounds. He played for a nondescript estate team called Millan before joining Black Mamba. He would later move to Gor Mahia.

However he did not last long enough in the big league, he joined Mumias Sugar FC then came back to Nairobi to further his skills in being a trainer.

First as a fitness coach under Coach Zedekiah ‘ Zico’ Otieno. He left during the 2012 purge but came back recently as Coach of the K’Ogalo under 20 team.

Even at 38, he could still don the jerseys and play for his favourite’ mtaa ‘team 1000 Street FC a ragtag team from that featured regularly in the Kothbiro tournament. He left behind a wife and three children. Pro will definitely be missed by the Kaloleni soccer fraternity.

When the history of Kaloleni soccer will be written the story of Zablon and his blood relatives will forever remain on top.

Pro’s death is a hit to the family of footballers, especially because the Gwada family has had a disturbing pattern where rich talent goes to waste.

A good example is Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi who is Pro’s nephew.

Kevin, like Pro had the footwork, pace and slyness of a talented player. When he joined K’Ogalo he was an instant hit after scoring beautiful goals alongside Rama Salim and Dan Sserunkuma.

Kevin’s exploits were immediately noticed by the national team coach especially Zedekiah Zico Otieno who took him to a CECAFA tournament in Uganda in 2012. While the team was there, it was reported that one night, two players sneaked out into the Kampala night to have fun. The fingers pointed at Paul Were and Kevin Omondi.

Daddy as he is popularly known would move to South Africa for trials with Moroka Swallows. Something happened and he flew back in a huff. That was the end of Kevin’s life in top flight soccer in Kenya.

Then there was the sad case of Daniel Nicodemus Arudhi the son of Gwada’s eldest daughter Scholastica Atieno ‘Chau’.

Chau was until recently a regular feature with the Kenya Police Band. She is one of Africa’s known female bass guitarists.

Arudhi — another of Pro’s nephew — did wonders for the Kenya team besides his club Gor Mahia.

Joe Kadenge in his memoirs, Joe Kadenge: The Life of a Football Legend escribes him as one of the most talented Kenyan soccer players — he could do anything with the ball to literary ‘rescue’ the team when under siege’.

Arudhi was however lways at loggerhead with the law. The famous crime buster Patrick Shaw warned him severally to focus on soccer and avoid the bad side of the streets. He unfortunately spent his football career shuttling between the soccer pitch and the prison. The same Shaw would pull the trigger on him, ending the life of Kenya’s talented but reckless soccer stars.

The Gwada boys, Rocky, Paddy and Ringo left Kenya sometimes in the early seventies to play in Addis Ababa.

The brief journey saw them cross borders to Greece then Zurich Switzerland where they reside to date. The only connection they have with their motherland are the annual visits they make and the popular signature tune.

We give tribute to the Gwada family for bringing joy to our lives in music and soccer.

We hope to see much of this gifted family even though the cold hands of death has taken Zablon from the football scene.

Pro 38, died on May 13, his remains will be interred in their ancestral home in Ng’iya, Alego Siaya County. He is has left behind a widow and three children