Kenyan Sporting Families: Now you know where the pedigree comes from

Tikolos, Dunfords, Sudis,  Ilakos, among many others are household names in the Kenyan sporting scene . Yes as you may noticed, most of them had plurals because there is more than one member of the family that has made their cut in different sporting discipline or more than one member makes the cut in a particular sport.

Take for example the Tikolos; a few weeks ago we saw the end of an era when the last of the cricket playing brothers from the Tikolo family, Steve retired from the sport after gracing it for more than 15 years having won many hearts in the country and across the seas. His other famous brothers who also one time held the position of Chief Executive at Cricket Kenya Tom and also former player David.

Other famous siblings in cricket include the Sujis (Martin and Tony), Obuyas (Kennedy, Collins and David) Ngoches ( James and Shem) and the Odumbes (Maurice and Edward).

The Obuyas - Image from www.kiranonlycricket.blogspot.com

The Ilakos you ask? Well there was a time Kenya played for the African zone of the Davis Cup in tennis. One of the players playing for Kenya was Philip Ilako (nowadays he’s MD of some mid-level bank I guess). The other playing Ilako was James.

Dunfords, who doesn’t know the exploits of these brothers in the pools of the African Swimming Championships, All-Africa Games, Commonwealth and also the Olympics (albeit briefly). Jason is the trailblazer with David spoiling for a place on the podium slowly but surely. Their other less famous brother Robert plays rugby in the UK where’s attending college.

From Left - David & Jason Dunford with a lady & gent fan - Image courtesy of www.sky it

Rugby has many household names but the current ones taking the lion’s share are Humphrey Kayange and Collins Injera while their younger brother Michael has some uphill task trying to make at least the national team like the two elder ones. Their father is also a former rugby player back in the day.

We have Daniel Rudisha one of the gold medallists in the 4x400m Munich Olympic Games whose son David Lekuta Rudisha did one better breaking the world record and literally scorching the tracks last season in the IAAF circuit to emerge as World Athlete of the Year as well as Kenya’s Sportman of the Year.

The family that is hogging much of the media’s attention now is the Wanyamas. The matriarch one Noah Wanyama started it all playing with AFC Leopards and also the national team Harambee Stars. His sons have followed suit with Sylvester –Sony Sugar, Thomas – Sofapaka FC , with Victor Mugabe making history as Kenya’s first football player in the Scottish League signing with Celtic FC and of course the most famous of the Wanyama’s MacDonald Mariga Wanyama Inter Milan’s FC defensive midfielder. Their sister Mercy Ayitso has also recently obtained a scholarship in the California Baptist University which plays in the NCAA women's basketball league.

As has happened in other sporting fields, these families have led the way in winning accolades for their clubs, countries and securing honour and a place in history. For all you seeking a firm place in sport and have a sibling or two in one or another game, you have it written and trendsetters to learn from.

Collins Injera & Humphrey Kayange perform a celebratory dance after a try

As a country, we also have to learn to honour our sporting heroes something we have not always done all too well. Their place to some of us sporting enthusiasts is forever etched in our minds and firmly in the history of our country.

Cricket: If Kenya continues with this state, ICC was justified in reducing World Cup playing countries

A few days to the start of the tournament, the International Cricket Council indicated that they were hoping to cut down on the number of teams playing in the Cricket World Cup to have 10 nations ( effectively this restricts the WC to Test playing countries eliminating the Associate members from the prestigious event). And from the first game by Kenya against New Zealand, the ICC may feel justified in its proposals.

Kenyan Cricket team captain Jimmy Kamande rides on rickshaw during Opening ceremony of 2011 Cricket World Cup

For the last 5 years, the Kenyan cricket game has deteriorated to its nadir and the showing in the World Cup is not surprising. Even in the run-up to the World Cup the team played some warm up matches which it performed well below par. Cricket Kenya has tried to cover up major weaknesses in the team and the local League has all but gone to the dogs.
Infighting by the officials has meant that instead of the country fighting for Test playing status, it has been reduced to surviving in the Associate membership status ( this means we have had less One-Day Internationals and performed measly in the Twenty20 tournament. Remember Zimbabwe was suspended as a Test playing nation and technically Kenya would have been in good stead to succeed them). We currently languish in the 15th out of 17th nations in the Twenty20 standings. Surely we can do better than this.
An article by Martin Williamson on ESPN Cricinfo carefully analyses the way we have neglected our local game leading to the detriment of international showing. If we come out of this World Cup with a win, it will be out of sheer grit and not any investment made in the team. Have to recall some old hands for the tournament meant Cricket Kenya was really not sure of itself. It may also explain the reason why local media houses have not bothered to air any of the games live ( for fear of showing embarrassing scenes from the Asian sub-continent).
It's tragic when a sport has some much potential and the corresponding sports association dithers to make any meaningful investment. Even when the ICC has tried guiding our association, the Kenyan officials have not made any efforts to that effect.
We shall watch the rest of the tournament, albeit to enjoy the gentleman's game.

In Other News:
No local company wanted association with our boys, and it took the Indian company Karuturi Global Limited to see sense in shirt sponsoring them, what happened? Is it because they do not like what they see at Cricket Kenya or their target market doesn't exist in the Indian sub-continent? (Remember Indian companies have been making in-roads into the African continent, it would only be fair if we at least returned the favour by making some effort. Barbs to Kenyan corporates!)