On weekdays, he is in courtrooms, slugging it out with fellow learned friends, determined to win cases for clients, and on weekends, he shifts from bar to field, shedding off his official attire for sports gear.
Respected in the corridors of justice, lawyer Njoroge Ngige is also a football devotee, determined to hone the skills of talented footballers within Naivasha Sub-county.
Training to keep fit, he occasionally turns out for the Naivasha Wazee FC (a team composed of former football stars) and despite having quit active football, he is still agile, with deft twists and turns that amaze his juniors as he displays the same zeal in the field of football that he exhibits in courtrooms, combining professionalism and football artistry, a rare phenomenon among his peers.
In football circles, he is a Roman Abramovich or Jim Ratcliffe of sorts, bankrolling teams and tournaments that continue to unearth raw talent within the wards, “rough diamonds” as he describes such fledgling talent.
Some of the footballers have transitioned from playing in dusty fields to joining Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and National Super League (NSL) sides where they continue to excel.
Pura Vida Sports caught up with the lawyer as he watched the Mozzart Cup knock-out tournament match piting local side Superior FC and KPL leaders Police FC, the Naivasha side giving their more experienced opponents a run for their money, going toe to toe with the policemen, especially in the first half.
Clearly – the lawyer popularly as “Wakiri” (a corruption of ‘Wakili’, the Swahili word for lawyer) – is edgy, fidgeting in his seat, enjoying neat touches from the home team, a missed pass from Superior FC annoying the animated lawyer who rooted for the local side throughout the match despite their 3-0 loss to the more experienced Police side.
“I love football…it is in my DNA,” he quips as we settle down for the interview.
For the past two years, Njoroge has been sponsoring a local knockout tournament known as the “Naivasha Champions League”, modelled in line with the European elite competition.
“This year we expect at least 128 men’s teams to take part in the knockout contest, with at least 50 women team also registering,” he revealed.
Most of the registering teams will benefit from uniforms as the tournament kick offs at the beginning of March.
“The two previous editions have been an eye opener and we now alive to logistical challenges and addressed them,” he added.
Njoroge said his motivation was to ensure skilled footballers get the requisite exposure and perhaps earn a living from their inherent talent
“Football across the globe has become lucrative business and such a tourney is a gate way to soccer success,” he said.
“Wakiri” has been funding the lucrative tournament from his own pocket but is open to co-sponsorship from willing partners keen on improving the game’s standards within the sub-county and the country at large.
“Those keen on joining me are welcomed on board just for soccer purposes only,” he affirmed, hinting at starting his own club in the near future.
He reveals that he might soon enlist the services of football scouts to actualize the dream. “It is an idea that I have been toying with. I have many options, including identifying a club that I might adopt within the tournament’s participating teams…but nothing conclusive.”
He promised to consult widely with his “think tank” before he settles on the best offer, his ultimate goal to start a football academy, saying such a move will go a long way in sharpening raw talent and ensuring the country excels in the game in the future.
For Naivasha teams, the Champions League is back and players have another chance to showcase their skills.
Naivasha at one time being a national football powerhouse with the likes of trophy-winning Oserian FC, the lawyer is determined to take the flower growing region back into the international arena.
The drive to succeed is palpable as “Wakiri” picks up his case files, switching from football mode to legal mode, eager to delve into his next court matter.
Macharia Mwangi is a seasoned journalist with more than 20 years’ experience. Previously, he worked with Nation Media Group for 19 years.
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