I can bet my football boots that most Gor Mahia fans have little or no idea about how the team they are so passionate about came into existence.
A recent article by Bethuel Oduo titled Gor no longer an 'omera' affair (The Nairobian November 6-12) forms the basis of my writing.
First I beg to differ slightly with the writer about the whole issue surrounding the origin of the club. Apart from the undying urge for good results, fans must know how Gor came to be - the real story.
First, Gor Mahia FC was formed on February 1968 following the merger of Luo Union FC (Nairobi), the 1964 Kenya National Football League champions (KNFL) and Luo Sports Club at Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi.
After the formation, Gor Mahia was accepted to compete in the 1968 Kenya Premier League, a title they clinched. It is therefore not true to say that Luo United and Luo Stars merged to form Gor Mahia FC because the two were not in existence at the time.
Luo United (which later changed to Re-Union FC in 1981) and Luo Stars were formed from Luo Union FC the then two time East and Central Africa Club Champions 1976 and 1977.
Luo Union under the late chairman Dan Owino had defied Kenya Football Federation (KFF) and travelled to Kampala , Uganda in defense of the cup (regional title) on January 1978 only to surrender the title in the semi final stage. Upon their return from Kampala, wrangles in the club persisted and the club was de-registered.
The bulk of players in support of Dan Owino formed Luo United. Others went with the late Rading Omollo to form Luo Stars which was received by then KFF chairman Ken Matiba and allowed to participate in the 1978 Kenya Premier League. Dan Owino with his Luo United were left in the cold.
I also tend to digress about 'Gor no longer an 'omera' affair as clubs like Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards (Abaluhya United FC) and Shabana have true owners (zina wenyewe) whether we like it or not. It is not easy to de-link these community based clubs from their ethnic fans.
Therefore by suggesting that world football governing body (Fifa) should change rules to allow more foreigners into our local league than required does not hold water.
Do we expect Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Shabana to get home support when their teams are beefed up with Nigerian, Cameroonian, Congolese, Ugandan, Rwandese and Sudanese players while local players in the squad are left warming the bench?
It is juicy and good that Gor Mahia won the 2015 Kenya Premier League unbeaten with major contributions coming from players of non Luo origin, but that hasn't changed the fans who are always very sensitive about the composition of their squads. These die hard fans would want to see the likes of Mulambas, Bobbys, Murilas, Motegos, Nyandoros, Bassangas, Abbas, Olungas being fielded to be sure their clubs remain original. Stick to our rules, nurture local talent.
Stephen Ongaro is former Chief Sports Reporter and one-time Kenya Sports Journalist of the Year Award winner.
