"Bully" Still a Stima Player.

 

  

LETS SUPPORT OUR OWN 

    Every good in the market has a season when it sells most. The same way, every player also has a season when he or she peaks. When a player peaks, every big team is looking to have him or her. But just like a good in its bad season, players also have a time when they are at their low. The question is what happens to these players when they are at their low? What happens after a player has retired and is out the limelight? Where do they go? What do they do after spending a good part of their life playing football? Too many questions, right? However, the answers are with the players themselves. And I am not talking about players in the EPL, La Liga or other European Leagues: I am talking about our very own Kenyan players. You know them, right?

WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING RIGHT??

 We have several cases where Kenyan premier league players cannot pay their own hospital bills when need arise. Many premier league players are unable to pay their house rents due to lack of funds, luck of support from their team's official and from the government at large. 

We’ve had cases of greatest sports people like former AFC Leopards Ezekiel Otuoma and the former champion boxer Conjestina who have faced health complications but could not support themselves or get good medical attention due to lack of funds. It’s a high time government should offer health insurance to the Kenyan registered sports persons since several Kenyan sports men and women are dying in silence.

Challenges Facing Kenyan Players

a)      Leadership Crisis

Just like any other African Nation, Kenyan football has been stuck in a time warp due to poor leadership that increasingly happens to be out of touch with football reality. Poor leadership have led several teams to relegation in Kenya. Talking to one of the former players of Muhoroni Youth (pleaded with us to hide his identity), he said that Muhoroni youth had the best players until the time it went to relegation.

“Muho ilikua na players’ wazuri mpaka the last minute tukienda relegation, tulikua committed sana coz most of us tulikua tunaaim higher than just Kenyan premier league. Few months before the end of the season kukakua na mashida na management yetu, tukakosa salo for several months na tukashindwa kutravell kucheza games zetu za away. Many players loosed hope and I know of some good players wenye waligive up na ball wakaanza story ya kufanya boda’.

b)     Poor and Decaying Stadiums

Across much of the Nation, the sports infrastructure is scrambling at a higher rate due to increased corruption, luck of proper management and investments. It’s a tendency that every politician that come on board confuse sports people with fake promises which have never been completed. A good example is Dandora stadium which the government spent millions and later dumped the project without completing. “wanaongoja 2022 ndio wakuje waombe nayo kura”, Dandora resident said.

c)      Mismanagement of Club’s funds and Lack of Sponsors 

Several Kenyan clubs do their deals behind the doors. It’s never a surprise for a Kenyan player to realize the salary they’ve been earning is a quarter of what the management have in their papers. In addition, some players even go for months without their allowances. Some of these players have families and bills to pay yet the money they earn from their talents isn’t worth it.  Many good teams with good players have been relegated not because they don't perform but because the team has no funds to sustain the team. We witnessed good teams like Sony Sugar FC with the world class player being relegated due to lack of funds.

So sad

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DO WE GO WRONG AS A COUNTRY?????

At Berry Sports we give players a chance to share with us their stories: where they live, what they do, what is life like after retirement? And yes, they also tell us their biggest gains and regrets and share with us the reason why most Kenyan players do not go far like other players from the rest of Africa. 

If you have a story that you want to share with us, reach us on +254717903508. Facebook; Berry Sports News and YouTube: Berry Sports