Where are the genuine fans of Leopards and Gor Mahia?

AFC Leopards fans proudly in the streets of Nairobi after the club’s Premier League derby with Gor Mahia on June 8, 2014. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |

What you need to know:

  • It is a fact of history that AFC Leopards was the first team in our part of the world to wear a branded jersey.
  • It is a matter of fact that Gor and Leopards have their massive support from members of the Luo and Luhya communities respectively.

‘We are condemned to hope”- a celebrated Syrian playwright lamenting the anguish of living under an autocracy in mid 1990s.

It is a fact of history that AFC Leopards was the first team in our part of the world to wear a branded jersey. Those of us who watched the fearsome Ingwe squad of 1980s still remember the red and black stripes jerseys proudly advertising Crown Paints.

The icing on the cake was the fact that Leopards had the same shirt sponsor with the then champions of the English Premier League, Liverpool FC.

Those of us of the Gor Mahia bent never heard enough of the financial prowess of Ingwe from the likes of the late Marola, who would herald Leopards entry into the pitch - with a huge blue and white flag depicting a leopard pouncing on a ball - with the war cry: Ingwe huishimsituni. Leo wamekujakurarua Gor Mahia (The leopard lives in the bush and today it has come to tear Gor Mahia apart).

Back in the day, there were no ball boys and it was the work of the boy scouts (who gained free entry into the stadium) to chase after the balls and hand them over to the players.

It was while on such an errand as a scout that I would get real close to the Leopards players like JJ Masiga, Wilberforce Mulamba, and later, the Gor Mahia defector John Zangi Okello donning the Crown Paints jersey. Although my diehard Gor sensibilities would not permit it at that time, the Ingwe uniform looked nice.

Fast forward to 30 years later and a fortnight ago, Leopards was lined up to play Sofapaka and the match would not start on time because the Ingwe players refused to take to the pitch owing to non-payment of their wages.

DRAMA UNFOLDED AT NYAYO

Even as the drama unfolded, my sights were fixed on the players’ kits and although Mumias Sugar’s sponsorship had been terminated awhile back, Leopards was still playing in the sugar millers’ branded jersey. Key reason? The club’s finances are in doldrums and I doubt if buying kits is one of the top priorities at the moment.

Not that things are any better at the neighbouring Gor camp. Almost three years after the team’s deal with Tuzo went sour, the team bus still proudly spots the milk maker’s colours, earning them free publicity.

What this points to is that the two clubs, who boast the biggest fan base in the country, have not been able to translate this passion into a viable business idea. And now like the Syrian playwright quoted above, we have been condemned to hope. Hoping for a better tomorrow because clearly, today is lost, thanks to clueless officials we have entrusted with the running of the two big clubs.

Around the same time a section of Leopards players boycotted their match against Sofapaka, Gor was also in turmoil, taking their match against Tusker to Kisumu but with no money to for air tickets.

It took the intervention of Deputy President William Ruto who bought the air tickets and the players finally got to Kisumu where they did a spending job.

The act by Ruto split the Gor fan base down the middle with some of the supporters castigating club chairman Ambrose Rachier for what they termed a ‘begging bowl’ of a letter to the Deputy president. Disgusting letters praising ridiculous leaders for a nickel. When you can think and be independent,” this is how one of the offended fans posted on Facebook.

Totally appalled by the goings-on at the Ingwe den, this is how a football fan, Alexandra Deborah, put it: “Luhya leaders who strut all over the place with an eye for 2017 elections cannot sit down and find a solution for this disintegrating community pride?

“Luhyas must stand up and be counted... no votes for their so called leaders if they cannot find a solution for the community club leaders in a permanent vegetative state, they are even making the begging dish maestros on our side look like a genius!” The last sentence was in reference to the Gor officials who wrote the now contentious ‘Ruto Letter’.

It is a matter of fact that Gor and Leopards have their massive support from members of the Luo and Luhya communities respectively. Amazingly, prominent sons and daughters of these communities have been in the frontline when it comes to politics with some throwing their hats into the ring, signalling their intention to run for the highest office in the land.

I think the time has come for genuine supporters of these two teams to take back their clubs and come up with ingenious ways of running them. It doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to realise that good marketing strategies, massive recruitment of paid up members are some of the most basic things that can turn the fortunes of these two clubs around.