Gor Mahia’s prodigious U-19 lads need all support available

Gor Mahia fans during the derby against AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium on April 12, 2015. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • Team has been in existence since February 2014.
  • It is a collaborative effort between Gor Mahia FC Executive Committee and Gor Mahia fans

Mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka. This is a Kiswahili saying that literally translates to the young one of a snake is still a snake but the closest we have in English is the proverb that says an apple never falls far from the tree.

This best sums up the yet unheralded Gor Mahia Under 19 team that is currently riding high in the Nairobi County League which they won last year.

Operating under very difficult circumstances, the young lads have defied all odds to hold their own against some teams that were formed ages ago.

Gor Mahia Youth Team is composed mainly of players under the age of 19. The players are 30 in number and are currently registered in the FKF run Nairobi Regional League.

It has been in existence since February 2014 and is part of a long term Gor Mahia Academy project that has a goal of creating an elite academy for soccer players between the ages of 8 and 19.

The team is a collaborative effort between Gor Mahia FC Executive Committee and Gor Mahia fans through Gor Mahia Fans Foundation.

The Executive Committee has the overall responsibility for the team while the fans raise funds required in its day to day running and are also actively involved in organizing games and ensuring the team honours all its matches.

Fundraising and organisation is done online in a dedicated Facebook group.

UNBEATEN RUN

This is how the team operates: on match day a few members of the Green Army send contributions for hiring the ground and to cater for some expenses.

Kudos to the fans who have also chipped in materially by donating items such as drinking water, food and as I saw last week my pal Gitahi Kunyuga donated a few pairs of soccer boots to the boys.

A big congratulation to Eugene Apindi who has taken it upon himself to mobilise support for the team.

And what better way to show their appreciation to the fans than for the young lads to beat teams at will. So far they have gone 21 matches without losing. What a team! What a show!

In addition to winning the league, the youngsters also won the Kendu Bay 2014 ASK Show Cup. Remarkably, since formation the team has only lost two matches — to Gor Mahia FC and visiting Azzuri U19.

With the abounding talent, it is imperative that the club management ties these players with some form of contract.

This might be a way of earning revenue because some of them who do not make it to the senior team will be definitely snapped up by other clubs.