By MACHARIA MWANGI
Naivasha was once a footballing power house with the regions teams, bankrolled by the ubiquitous flower farms, calling the shots.
A case in point is Oserian FC, later known as Oserian Fastac that won the Kenyan Premier League, back-to-back, in 2001 and 2002 , representing the country in contintental football with association.
The squad, at the time, boasted gifted players who, at their prime, were a joy to watch, pulling in spectators by their thousands to their stadium in Naivasha before financial struggles in the flower sector led to the folding up of the famous club following the withdrawal of their main sponsors.
Football fans follow the Kenya Police vs Ajax match of the Naivasha Champions League quarter-finals at the Mirera grounds on November 3. Photo _ MACHARIA MWANGI
They were subsequently relegated to the lower tiers after finishing 15th in the 2012 season, withering permanently, never to blossom again.
At their prime, Oserian Fastac, tutored by top coaches, including Edward Manoah and Twahir Muhiddin, contracted stars such as defenders Tom Juma, Ken Odhiambo, strikers John Baraza, Sammy Simiyu, Boniface Ambani, Fred Ambani, alongside midfielders Tom Juma “Gazza” and Mike Mururi.
Other stars on the Oserian roster were goalkeeper Noah Ayuko and defenders Antony Shukubu, John Lichuku and Charles “Soldier” Handas.
Several other clubs, including Sher Agencies, later Karuturi Sports, suffered similar fate, leaving football fans in the flower- growing region starved of first- class league action..
But with the introduction of the “Naivasha Champions League”, bankrolled by lawyer and football enthusiast, Njoroge Ngige, fans are trooping back to Naivasha’s open, uneven grounds in their thousands.
The league’s matches are, once again, attracting die-hard fans in their thousands despite these matched being played on dust-filled grounds that are at times a risk to budding players, an infrastructural challenge replicated all over Kenya where quality venues are rare.
Lawyer and tournament sponsor Njoroge Ngige (middle) follows the Kenya Police vs Ajax match of the Naivasha Champions League quarter-finals at Mirera grounds on November 3.
The matches have “revived” the careers of players with some of the talented footballers finding their way into the Kenya Premier League after being scouted while turning out for some of the local teams in this league.
Among them is Sofapaka ace Rodgers Kipkemboi from Sunderland AFC Keroche.
“Our main aim is to expose players to the outside world. Football has become a lucrative enterprise and giving young players a chance to showcase their talents is one way of empowering them,” Ngige tells Pura Vida Sports Africa.
The lawyer has been attending virtually all matches to ensure that the tournament is run in a professional manner.
“We don’t condone indiscipline among the participating teams,” says the competition sponsor.
The high number of participating clubs -130 teams, including 16 women’s teams – is a testament of the growing popularity of the competition which is in its second year since the inception.
Modelled along the lines of the elite UEFA Champions League, the teams that make it to round of 16 qualify for the Naivasha Champion League proper, drawn into groups, while those who make to the round of 32, but fail to reach the last 16, then play in the “Naivasha Confederation Cup.”
The winners of the “Naivasha Champions League” will walk away with prize money of Sh200,000, with runners-up getting Sh150,000, third placed teams Sh100,000, with fourth-placed sides getting Sh50,000.
In the “Naivasha Confederation Cup,” the winner gets Sh100,000, runners-up Sh75,000, third-placed sides Sh50,000, while fourth-placed teams will walk away with Sh30,000
But Ngige is categorical that the main aim is to unearth talent, expressing optimism that they will be able to achieve the primary aim of exposing raw talent.
“We are in the process of setting up structures that will ensure that the participating teams gain from selling their best players to teams in the elite leagues,” he points out.
Among the participating teams is Naivasha Police FC, managed by Constable Eliam Wekulo who is also a National Super League accredited referee.
The police officer says the tournament has also enhanced community policing and helped in the fight against crime.
“Our team comprises both officers and civilians, a move that has helped us have an open-end relationship with the community, a boon in the fight against crime,” he said.
This season’s competition is set to end on December 15, with more players expected to join various teams within the Premier League and NSL after proving their worth on the dusty Naivasha Venues.