Wretched Weekend

This is one weekend that Kenyans would love to forget. With the disasters striking us at our weakest (though without sounding insensitive, this could be avoided) to bad shows by our Kenyan teams.
The loss by our cricket team is not something we thought about before hosting them. It is should be a case of serious concern since Kenya is playing for the World Cup qualifiers in March and with such outings (given last year’s dismal performances against South Africa’s and India’s A teams- sort of junior teams) we can only hope for divine intervention. Missed opportunities are what there are! Cricket Kenya-now louder in its silence than its activities, any leads on what to expect?
Football- OK that much I’m not surprised because while we extolled our national team, our local clubs are still in their doldrums when it comes to international exposure. This is a direct correlation to the management of football which I have documented here more times than any sport. Mathare United may have a fair chance of qualification.

Photo courtesy of The Standard

Gor Mahia’s last international engagement was 8 years ago and then we throw them Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) –Rwanda-regulars in continental championships and current CECAFA Club champions, joke, BIG JOKE! Return leg- Kigali – 15th Feb and we expect to win by 6 clear goals …another miracle waiting to happen!
It's ironic that while our Kenyan boys are getting whipped, a Kenyan footballer is making things happen across the borders for Yanga.
As shown below, GTV closed shop and thereby going under with people’s money in subscription rates. Pub owners are the worst hit and a cursory stroll in town on Saturday and Sunday was evident that most enthusiasts find it more entertaining at these joints. For those with multiple subscriptions, it was lucky for them though some English games may have been recorded and shown later (DSTv/MultiChoice). As my friend Bankelele says, one of Kenya’s premier ISP’s can now pitch its solution (Zuku) and hope to fill in the void ( where I find GTV were part of the offering). But Kenyans being the skeptics they are might take time appreciating such solutions which don’t come easy…+ subscription rates maybe slightly higher given our appetite for foreign programmes.
Kenyan sport will surely need a kick going into the second month of the year as we prepare to go for the cross-country championships. At least our athletes have redeemed our pride in more times than one, but we better find this elsewhere…can all who say YES please stand-up ?