Let us act on cry for help from ailing Rishadi Shedu

The case of the Kenyan football veteran Rishadi Shedu is one that must open our eyes to the realities of playing in this country.

Shedu was one of the star strikers of Harambee Stars in the eighties and his career suffered a blow when he got a terrible injury.

He hung his playing boots in 1985 but that did not deter him from associating with football. He took to coaching and he has been the coach of several teams in this country - Ulinzi Stars, Bandari and KCB.

Many are the young people that he nurtured into the sport. Shedu picked up an injury some five years ago and in spite of several surgeries done locally, his left ankle has gone from bad to worse and now the veteran is limping and is on crutches.

His medical cover has been exhausted and he has beseeched well wishers to fund his operation in India.

It was a heart-rending plea that shamed many of us who only follow the sport and report about it, but forget the personal plight of retired players or coaches as soon as they dim out of our sights.

There is no doubt that Shedu loves football, eats football, talk’s football and even breathes the game.

You can tell all stories you like even funny rib crackers and Shedu is bound to laugh at them but if you really want to talk to the gentleman about football, then you have hit the nail on the head.

His eyes light up and he really will talk and listen until you tire out. It is his passion.

The fact that the fellow has been suffering alone and nobody seems to care is a very sad thing. There are many others like him out there and we must find out what just happened to them.

At the moment, there are many youth that he is nurturing but cannot do so while on crutches.

In one surprising turn, former football players came together to try and salvage the situation by organising a fund raiser on the last Wednesday to try and raise at least Sh2 million to enable the coach travel to India and get the medical procedure done.

Among the ex-internationals who have offered to help Shedu are Ricky Solomon who will chair the fund raising committee, John “Bobby” Ogolla, Mahmoud Abbass, Marshal Mulwa, Swaleh Ochieng “Oswayo”, Josiah Ougo and George Waweru.

Out of the meeting, there came a great idea whose time has come. They decided to form a ‘sports stars foundation’.

The foundation will raise funds to cater for the needs of retired sportsmen.

It will also establish a savings and credit association to financially help sports people.

European Football Association (Uefa) advisor Michael Hopkins has been proposed to lead in fund raising for the foundation while Mathare Youth Sports Association founder Bob Munro will sit in the board as one of the advisors.

We should have thought of this a long time ago. Anyway, those who wish to help Shedu should do it now. The MPesa till number is 295919.