Harambee Stars, Gor legend Allan Thigo cremated in Kisumu

A memorial service was held at the Mama Grace Onyango Hall in Kisumu, where family and friends gathered to bid the legendary footballer goodbye.

Thigo scored 88 goals during his days at Gor Mahia making him the club’s second-highest scorer after Sammy Onyango.

Those who spoke at the event described the fallen football legend as a jovial family man who touched the hearts of many during his heydays.

His wife Dorcas Simiyu Thigo says he often showed kindness despite  battling cancer since 2023.

“My husband has been too good to us. He once told me, “Mama, you’ve really stuck by me. If I get well, I will take you to Europe.” But that Europe is now not there, but I thank God for his journey.”

Gor Mahia Patron Eliud Owalo who was present at the event described Thigo as an enigma saying the footprints he left in the Kenyan football scene will be indelible forever.

Owalo says his life as a coach-player was also marked with a trail of successes adding that he should be honoured among the greatest Kenyans alongside other history makers.

“As a country, we have been very harsh to our sportsmen and women. These are people who give us joy during their heydays. But the day they retire or the day they break their legs, we forget about them. That is not what happens in other countries really. We should be better people than that.

“And that's why I've said that sports is going to be an integral cog of my agenda if I'm elected president. Within that sports space, one of the things I'm going to do will be to establish and operationalize a medical scheme for retired Kenyan sportsmen and women. I will go a step further and establish and institutionalize a pension scheme for retired sportsmen and women. So that they are able to look after themselves in old age, beyond their playing days,” said Owalo.

Gor legend David Okello who played alongside Thigo says he was a team player and played a crucial role in the club’s success.

He says the soccer fraternity has lost a committed individual who had the interest of soccer at heart during his playing period.

“Imagine playing football and you're also a player-coach. That was a lot of load on him, but he was full of resilience, a very good coach, perhaps one of the best in Africa. The only problem is we don't award our people adequately, but he was out of this world.”