As CHAN 2024 draws closer, a former Harambee Stars goalkeeper has issued a passionate plea for Kenya to treat its football legends with the dignity and recognition they deserve. The ex-AFC Leopards star has called on tournament organizers and sports leaders to ensure that past players are not just acknowledged symbolically but are meaningfully involved in the landmark event.
The continental tournament, which will run from August 2 to 30 and be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, presents a rare opportunity for the country to honour its football pioneers. With Kenya’s Group A matches scheduled to take place at Kasarani Stadium, the spotlight is on the host nation not just to perform on the pitch, but also to uphold the legacy of those who once wore the national jersey with pride.
In a passionate statement, the former national team goalkeeper expressed his disappointment at how Kenyan legends continue to be sidelined. He recalled instances where revered players, including Kenya’s most capped international and former captain, Musa Otieno, were made to sit among ordinary fans instead of being granted the respect of VIP access. He stressed that most of these former players are now coaches and analysts who attend games not as mere spectators but as professionals seeking insight and inspiration.
He lamented the current state of the VIP sections in Kenyan stadiums, which he described as being overcrowded by individuals flaunting accreditation badges with little interest in the actual game. According to him, these attendees often leave without even knowing the final score, while football legends sit ignored in the stands.
The goalkeeper emphasized that CHAN 2024 should serve as a turning point in how the country regards its former sportsmen and women. He urged those in charge of sports and event planning to include legends in official roles and provide them the honour befitting their contributions.
He concluded with a heartfelt reminder that these heroes once sang the national anthem abroad with tears in their eyes and battled on the pitch for the country’s pride. With the tournament fast approaching, he asked one question that still lingers in the minds of many forgotten legends: “Don’t you think we deserve to smile now?”
