By Scott Robins,

At the heights of Kenyan football we were ranked about 68^th (FIFA World Ranking) but since then, we have seen a steady slope backwards and the death toll of Kenyan football (for now) seems to have rung.

If you look at the players that have graced the Harambee stars jersey over the years (Simeon Mulama, Mike Okoth, Dennis Oliech amongst others) and graced the world stage (Wanyama, Origi, Mariga), it is becoming harder and harder to see where our next heroes will come from.

This has nothing to do with the players who are trying their best to give a reasonable performance week in and week out. What has been letting down Kenyan football is the way Kenyan football is run, i.e. the administration of the beautiful game.

When you look at global teams ranked in the top 20 of the world they have great grass root structures in place with strong leagues and they know how to run their clubs like a business. The way they approach business on and off the field ensures their success of not only their club but football at a national level.

If you have good governance in running your club more and more sponsors will want to be involved with what you are doing.

Success breeds success and people want to be involved in clubs that are performing. If you have good governance in running your club more and more sponsors will want to be involved with what you are doing. Instead it feels as though administrators of clubs and the national team seem to be getting greedier and greedier and instead of trying to see the success of Kenyan football which would in turn line their pockets even more; are only worried about short term gain instead of long term success for all.

For instance look at what we deem Kenyan footballs two most successful teams Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. While they do alright locally they fail to perform at a continental level and normally drop out at the first stage of CAF, even though they dominate the local game.

To be successful at this level they need to ensure they have depth in their squad to be able to compete in the domestic league and the CAF championship. However, they are unable to do so due to the pandemic that is facing both of these clubs. Due to maladministration these great clubs of the Kenyan landscape are struggling to survive.

This may come as a surprise to most, as both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are two of the most supported teams in the league. Unfortunately the money that should be flowing through to the club is lining the coffers of someone else’s pockets.

With gate takings going to family members instead of the club, it is a surprise that these clubs have remained as competitive as they are. As fans we expect the administration to do right by the club we cherish, yet they only seem to have their own selfish interest at heart and not the long term longevity and survival of the clubs that are so dear to us.

Also with fake merchandise being actively sold it affects the image of the brand. It is for this sole reason that Adidas walked away from sponsoring the national team. Without the protection for brands and authentic items why would sponsors want to be involved ? It feels the rich are getting richer at the expense of the fans and the game!!! Yes authentic items may cost more, but wouldn’t you prefer the money to go back to the club you support instead of making someone else rich.

The teams management and administration need to ensure that only genuine products of the team are sold. The people who are selling counterfeit goods that damage the reputation and brand of the team should be held liable for ripping off the fans and the team.

Only when we start taking ourselves seriously will the rest of the world look at Kenya and think what a brilliant product we have on and off the pitch. Sponsors will want to be involved as they will be proud to associate their products with teams. We need to hold sports administrators accountable for their actions as they are damaging the game at every level.

If we don’t wake up and face the music soon fellow Kenyans we could see even darker days for the game we love so dearly

Imagine if the money was flowing through to the right channels. Not only would it help the main team but it would also flow on to developing future stars of the game tomorrow.

If we don’t wake up and face the music soon fellow Kenyans we could see even darker days for the game we love so dearly. As fans we need to stamp out corruption so that our expectations of performance on the pitch can be met. Only when we hold ourselves accountable will Kenyan football thrive again.

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