By Anderson Ojwang
A precedent was set on Sunday. At All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, Migori Youth Football Club took the crown to be blessed by the Head of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit. While several winning teams take to street parades and celebrations, Migori YFC took a different and new path altogether – the Church.
After a torturous and tormenting journey, escaping relegation by a whisker last season and only to be declared the champions this season and automatically promoted to the Premier League was a milestone.
All Saints
For most of the players, it was historic. Worshipping at All Saints Cathedral was an achievement, a dream come true. Having the Head of the ACK Church, Archbishop Rev Jackson Ole Sapit, preside over the dedication was momentous.
It was their first time flying to Nairobi, and yesterday, at All Saints Cathedral, engaging with the Archbishop was a life-changing exposure for the team, the majority of whom come from very difficult backgrounds.
A buffet at a high-end Nairobi hotel marked a move to a new chapter.
Rev Canon Evans Omolo captured it all, saying: “The club draws its players from a very difficult background within Migori County. They are translating their youthfulness into meaningful members of society instead of joining the culture of goons that is being propagated by politicians for their own profiteering.”
Rev Ole Sapit said the achievement of the team was just a step towards greater things for the players and that they should never allow themselves to be used as goons.
“We are grateful for Migori Football Club because they came here to celebrate in the presence of God. At Moi Stadium in Embu, they were crowned champions. Today they have come to seek God’s blessing. This is a positive move,” he said.
Rev Owuor said gaining promotion after near relegation showed a sense of commitment and resilience in the team and its management to achieve success after 10 years of struggle.
“For the boys have served Migori County and are now shining lights. They are here to thank God for their achievement,” he said.
Rev Owuor challenged the team to ensure they are not relegated in their first season in the Premier League and should strive to remain a dominant player in the league.
“You don’t go back too soon. Stay in the Premier League. For parents and leaders, kindly discover, develop, and deploy the talent of young people to create economic paths.”
Ole Sapit thanked the management for nurturing the great talents and honoured those who use youths for the right cause. “Let all the politicians engage youths in economic activities and not as goons,” he said.
The patron, Mark Nyamita, said: “A special thanksgiving moment with Archbishop Ole Sapit, a former football player who once served as an MP. Faith. Wisdom. Blessings. Before the next challenge, we show gratitude. Today, I led our champions to church to thank God for a season written in gold. NSL Champions. FKF SportPesa League bound. To God be the glory. After church, it was time to share a meal and good conversation. Lunch with the boys and the technical bench, courtesy of a friend of the team.”
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko wrote: “What a memorable day at Embu Stadium as Migori Youth FC emerged champions of the Kenya Super League! This remarkable achievement has brought pride, joy, and celebration to Migori County. Congratulations to the players, coaching staff, and loyal fans for their dedication and support. Victory is home, and now we march proudly into the Kenya Premier League.”
Theatrics
They say success has many fathers while failure is an orphan scorned by many. So it was with Migori Youth Football Team’s success.
But the victory was not short of theatrics and comedy, as after the game, the two leaders retreated to their usual nickname banters.
The theatrics and comedy over nicknames in Migori County politics form part of the comic relief during public engagement by local leaders.
“Oyundi” is a small bird known for its laziness but often appears where success and food have been laid on the table, while “Chiwawa” is the domestic pet dog known for making noise but can never bite.
In Migori County, the political theatrics and banters between Governor Dr Ochilo Ayacko and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita have often created comic relief for the electorate and reached fever pitch.
Nyamita has nicknamed Ayacko “Oyundi” in reference to his traits and capped it with another, “Grandson of Sinakuru Lubanga ma Dogman,” while Ayacko in retaliation refers to Nyamita as “Othuogo” because of his height.
Last Sunday at Migori Stadium, Chiwawa and Oyundi converged to cheers as Migori Youth Football Club played their defining game against Equity Football Club.
Ayacko, for the first time, came to the stadium to be part of history-making, while Nyamita, the patron, was also present to be part of history.
Migori FC, which last season survived relegation, rewrote their story to be crowned National Super League champions.
Ayacko promised the team that before the kick-off of the new season, the construction of Migori Stadium would be complete to host home games.
Sources also told Western Insight that Ayacko was even proposing the possibility of the county government sponsoring the team.
But Nyamita has gone ahead to open the team to a new class of engagement by flying the team to Nairobi and Embu for their final game.
Chiwawa scored the first one over Oyundi by ensuring that for the first time, the team enjoyed a flight to Nairobi, opening a new chapter in their dispensation.
