The Final Whistle: SS Assad FC Bows Out, But Not in Defeat

In the coastal town of Ukunda, Kwale County, where football breathes life into dusty streets and brings unity to entire neighborhoods, the silence from SS Assad FC echoes louder than any cheer once did.

SS Assad FC — a club that has competed fiercely in Kenya’s National Super League (NSL) and captured the hearts of its community — officially folded. The heartbreaking news came via club CEO Saidi Ali Vinji, marking an emotional end to a journey built on passion, grit, and a stubborn refusal to quit.

“We have reached a point that is neither sustainable nor humane,” Vinji admitted in his message, a line that now symbolizes both the exhaustion and compassion that defined the club’s final days.

Founded with a mission beyond just goals and trophies, SS Assad FC became a beacon for youth in Ukunda and the wider coastal region.

More than just a football team, it was a dream factory — a place where players with nothing found purpose, pride, and sometimes, a path to greatness.

For months leading up to the announcement, the club CEO Vinji said they have fought a losing battle with costs. Staff and officials dipped into personal funds to keep operations going. 

“Some of our boys played on empty stomachs. Not because they had to — but because they believed.”

“We are truly grateful for the opportunities we had with the team,” he wrote. “It has allowed us to assist in realizing the dreams of many players, build a network of friendships across the country, and contribute to the development of soccer in our region.”

Though the club officially ceases operations, Vinji hinted at a spark of hope: the possibility that someone else might pick up the torch.

“We welcome any interested managers who may want to complete the remaining matches,” he noted, opening the door for a symbolic send-off — or perhaps, a future revival.

Until then, Ukunda’s Showground stadiums will fall quiet. The chants will fade. But the legacy of SS Assad FC — its fight, its community, its heart — will linger far beyond the final whistle.

Until now, SS Assad sat at the bottom of the National Super League table with just 17 points from 26 matches and were set to face MOFA at home this Saturday.