The year is 1998 and the setting is a sleepy village in Kisumu, Kenya with a population of about 2000. A handful of well to do families have color television with another dozen or so in possession of the black and white Great wall television sets.Anticipation of the France 98 World Cup is high in Gesoko village. Everyone is talking about it and Brazil are the favorites. The ‘original’ Ronaldo has captivated the minds of both men and womenfolk with supporting cast like Bebeto, Cafu, R. Carlos, Dunga and Junior Baiano being household names.As a football crazed primary school kid the 1998 FIFA World Cup was an emotional one. Firstly because of the dashed hopes that Kenya’s Harambee Stars would be going to France. Nigeria’s Super Eagles ensured Kenya got nowhere close with a heartbreaking 3-0 thumping.I carried a grudge towards the Super Eagles. Kenya’s qualifying campaign had lifted spirits so high and created heroes like John Baresi, Sammy Simiyu, Francis Onyiso, Musa Otieno and many others. The grudge however, turned to glee Super Eagles slayed Spain in a breathtaking 3-2 victory with a memorable header from Adepoju and a fierce drive from Sunday Oliseh in between Andoni Zubizareta’s own goal.Secondly, because of the cold football massacre Zinedine Zidane and company subjected the fabled Brazil to. All the conversation in Gesoko village prior to the final centered on Brazil lifting the cup. So that evening we assembled in the living room of Getabu, a fisheries department employee with color television and ample space in the living room to accommodate scores.The three-goal demolition of Brazil by France silenced the wagging tongues and left a bitter football taste in many, your truly included.Being the first FIFA World Cup I watched and being an aspiring football player, the take-outs from France 98 were numerous and memorable. I got introduced to Thierry Henry as a young forward making late cameos for France. He would later dazzle many in Arsenal and Barcelona colors.I developed interest in black players featuring for European teams. Notably Lilian Thuram’s African heritage and the self-styled Christian Karembeu, the personalities of Frank Leboeuf, the techniques of Marcel Desailly and Laurent Blanc in defense.The 1998 edition of FIFA World Cup created a longing for more and Japan/South Korea came soon enough. And justice prevailed as Brazil were won the title. Italy picked the next edition and it was still joy as Fabio Canavaro, a defender like myself lifted the cup. Vuvuzela, Nigel de Jong’s flying kick, French mutiny dominated the headlines as Spain won the first edition staged in Africa.Criminal Germans humiliated Brazil on their way to lifting the 2014 title and then England bottled a good chance to bring the trophy home as they limply allowed Croatia to march into the final where France had it easy in 2018.
