Doubling up as a law graduate and an active FKF Premier League footballer, Kenya Police’ defensive midfielder Soita Silicho has already set his stall out after his footballing career is over; taking a deep dive into the football administrative boardrooms.Historically depicting a not frequently followed path by ex-footballers, Soita Silicho is convinced that Kenyan football needs a re-jig. His experiences in Kenya’s second tier league spur him to advocate for change, or rather, be part of it.“There is a very big problem ailing Kenyan football at club levels,” Silicho told Mozzart Sport, opening up to his predicaments as a budding player in Vihiga United early 2017, same year he completed his law graduate classwork at Strathmore University.“I was privileged to join and play for Vihiga United as my first semi-professional club, a club that was vital for my football development. It is a club I still love for its good people and fond memories, Silicho noted before landing a couple of caveats,”“I experienced two kinds of management at Vihiga United. In my first year, the club was solely sponsored by the County Government, a really supportive and professional group. Things went on well until after the national elections when a new County Governor took office. Everything fell apart and that, I personally feel, was when the rains began beating the football fraternity in that region,” Silicho indicated.Having borne the brunt of poor player welfare resulting in delayed or lack of player salaries, Silicho departed the club to join National Super League (NSL) side Ushuru FC for a season in 2018, before making the timely step-up to Kenya Police FC.“The common thread in both clubs (Vihiga United and Ushuru FC) is poor management in almost all departments, a situation currently ailing a variety of Kenyan football clubs. My prognosis of our lowly clubs especially, is a bleak one. Players are massively frustrated down there and their welfare is poorly taken care of,” Silicho said.##NAJAVA_MECA_6757344##“I have experienced frustrations in football. It is a terrible feeling and really needs one to be strong mentally and in character. Moving on and off teams in search of better playing conditions can completely kill off your career or motivate you to come back stronger and better than before. Personally, my experiences have made me stronger and given me more motivation to be more passionate and tackle our problems with vigor,” the lanky midfielder noted.In times where corporate-owned clubs like Tusker FC, KPA basketball, KCB rugby, NCPB handball and others are basking in championship glory, Soita Silicho, hugely crediting the Kenya Police CEO Chris Oguso for making savvy business decisions, holds on to the belief that if the ‘top dogs’ drive clubs like limited companies then success will be achieved.“It will be my pride if Kenyan clubs can achieve the untapped economic potential reposed to them. We need our clubs owned as limited companies with their shares listed on the stock market. However, this can only be achieved if we go beyond the Kenyan football norm that dictates us playing for the sake of playing, nothing too serious,” Silicho retorted.Consistent whining is not what Silicho wants to stop at. What about necessitating change himself?“I honestly want to pursue a degree in football management. I yearn to go into football management and administration when my playing days are over so that we can shift our mindsets and start living football and sports in general,” Silicho projects.Kenya Police midfielder delighted with team’s progress, labels it unstoppableWith a university dissertation that seeks to critically analyse the legal framework on doping in Kenya, Silicho is also keen on conducting more studies on how a solution to doping among sportsmen in all disciplines can be brought about, with criminalization of the vice being a long shot.On the pitch, Silicho and the Kenya Police team continue with their preparations for the new season, one that the playmaker believes should have kicked off months ago.Kenya Police are scheduled to take on the defending Premier League champions Tusker FC in a friendly match this Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium. The game is penciled for a 3PM EAT kickoff.
