‘Kempes’ Owino, the ex-Gor and Harambee Stars great outlines his vision for FKF top job

Former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars midfielder Sammy Owino ‘Kempes’ Olale reckons that Kenyan football is in disarray and needs an urgent surgery.

Kempes who has played a huge part in the development of American football, in the USA, first as a player, and for establishing his own academy, has thrust his hat in the ring, and wants to be the next Football Kenya Federation president in the polls slated for February 2024.

Having played the game locally, in the 1970s and 1980s, for Gor Mahia and the national team Harambee Stars, he is of the view that there is lack of trust by stakeholders and a sense of hopelessness from both players and fans, hence the need to turn a chapter.

His experience in managing talents, and the exposure gained in the USA, where he went on a study scholarship, he believes will come in handy in giving Kenya’s football the ‘right leadership and path’.

“Our football is mired with corruption, mismanagement, mistrust, and something must be done urgently to restore order,” he told Citizen Digital. “If as a country we are grappling to fight corruption, how about our football which is at its worst state,” Owino added.

In a reflection with Citizen Digital, Owino has promised to use his experience and competency to achieve his vision for football if given a chance.

“I will bring back trust by being transparent, stamp out corruption, and provide the leadership that will bring to reality a vision that connects the whole country through infrastructures that will elevate the country to becoming a top football nation,” he Owino.

His sentiments come a day after a group of former footballers called on the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to demand for free, and fair Football Kenya Federation elections.

 Owino expresses that football stakeholders should elect people with vision, competence and who care about improving football in the country, noting that football and government in the country are always integrated.

“The right people will rebuild trust, create structures that entail youth development, coaching education, national teams, leagues, and referees that connect the whole country from grassroots to national level.

“The improvement of existing facilities and development of new ones is critical. It is also very important for the existence of a strong Premier League that is properly managed, branded and marketed to generate interest from viewers and sponsors.”

He also adds that former footballers; both male and female, and the government, must come together to rid the game of poor leadership, corruption, incompetence, and lack of vision.

“We cannot be a country where the top league has no sponsorship, the national team whose coaching staff is always changing and a playing unit that is not consistent,” he said.

Owino also underscores the need for the education ministry to provide an opportunity for the federation to work with the schools to create a youth development program through the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) program.

“Through the Sports Act, counties will have a large role to play as well. The federation will need to bring to reality a vision that gives direction to the counties, provides the needed support, and empowers them, but also holds them accountable.

“This approach brings together the federation, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, and County Government, with the federation providing the leadership as the entity authorized by FIFA to run football.”