Street celebrations taking perilous turn

By Omulo Okoth

 I like the enthusiasm with which Gor Mahia’s ‘Green Army’ have displayed in support of their beloved club.

Their machismo, bravado and exuberance have, for all intents and purposes, bordered on what many can perceive as arrogance. But I think it is just excitement, a little bit of overenthusiasm.

The good thing about them is that they are changing the face of Kenyan football. They have attracted female fans – the so-called K’Ogalo Divas — and made Kenyan Premier League quite attractive. Others are following suit. AFC Leopards, Ulinzi, too, Sofapaka (complete with a band and dancers) have discovered the benefits of attracting female followers. Football is no longer a men-only club, thanks to Gor Ogallo ‘Wan’gni nyam jii duto’ (run roughshod over everybody).  

They have this habit of congregating around the Tom Mboya statue along Moi Avenue after their matches. When they play at City Stadium, they approach the statue through what used to be Muthurwa Railways Estate, now a stall market for all sorts of wares and food stuffs, dancing and singing victory songs.

They sing victory and praise songs honouring their best players and politicians they admire.

But, lately, these songs have taken a perilously dangerous political tune. Coming hot on the heels of a presidential election, which again divided the nation right down the middle, although many have, you guessed it, moved on.

On two occasions, the K’Ogallo horde have been attacked at Muthurwa, with the last episode when Gor were held to a draw by Nairobi City Stars the worst, leaving serious casualties in its wake.

Genuine Gor fans usually march to their destinations peacefully, often ending in pubs where they binge while dancing to rumba, benga and ohangla tunes, as is expected from the Luo-speaking group who form the bedrock of Gor Mahia’s following.

But a trend is emerging where goons masquerading as Gor Mahia fans, complete with their replica jersey, incite the public with songs not just loaded with political overtones, but berating senior politicians of the other side of the dichotomy.

They are even singing songs that portray members of other communities in bad light. This is unacceptable and Mr Ambrose Rachier and his team should send an alert among the club’s following to start identifying such people with a view to isolating them.

Not all of them are masqueraders. Some are true Gor fans, but people who like causing trouble, people who cannot contain their excitement, must be warned strongly and made to face the consequences of their divisive, unpopular and tribal invective. I liked the campaign by Radio Ramogi’s Ben Oluoch Okello who has condemned this brand of Gor support.

Gor Mahia is a truly national, if not regional, outfit. Their players are drawn from all parts of the nation. Defenders Christopher Wekesa and Solomon Wasio are Luhyas, Donald Mosoti a Kisii, Mumas Mohamed a Kenyan of Somali extract, and Israel Emuge a Teso from the Ugandan side.

Acrobatic goalkeeper Ivo Mapunda is from Tanzania, midfielders Ivan Anguyo a Lugbara (Uganda), Innocent Mutiso a Kamba, Anthony Gathu and Joseph Njuguna Kikuyu and Rama Salim a Digo from the Coast.

Their strikers Edwin Lavatsa (Luhya), Danny Sserunkuma (Baganda), Abbey Natty Kunrunmi (Yoruba, Nigeria), and Paul Mungai Kiongera (Kikuyu) are all non-Luo speakers.

The Luo-speaking players are Jerim Onyango, Zachary Onyango, David Otieno, Yusuf Juma, Kevin Omondi, Victor Ali Abondo, David Owino, Anthony Akumu, Moses Otieno and Moses Odhiambo.

So when they sing those songs berating other communities, in whose interest are they singing them? Do they realise they are also berating their own players in the misguided hope of attacking their imaginary enemies? Even the politician they are trying to please?

— The writer is the Sports Editor of The Standard (iomulo @standardmedia.co.ke)