When FIFA slapped three Kenyan players with a four-year ban for involvement in match-fixing back in February 2020, their football careers were deemed to have hit a dead end.Moses Chikati, Festo Omukoto, and Festus Okiring were all banned from, taking part in, any football-related activity by the world football governing body, over their alleged involvement in match manipulation during their stint at Kakamega Homeboyz.Ugandan George Mandela suffered a life ban (administrative, sports, or any other) given what FIFA termed as his central role in the conspiracy to manipulate matches.The three Kenyan players were not youngsters when the incident happened slightly over four years ago, raising concerns about whether they would come out of the lengthy ban and chase the dreams they had when they first signed up for the beautiful game.##NAJAVA_MECA_8361371##While Chikati and Omukoto appear to have moved on and transitioned into other spheres of life, Okiring is soldiering on and battling hard to compensate for the lost time.Okiring made a silent return to competitive football, in the second leg of last season, with Ulinzi Stars whom he had joined before FIFA communicated his ban through the Football Kenya Federation.He played two matches last season against Bidco United and Murang’a Seal before a pressing family issue kept him out for the remainder of the season.FKF Prosecutor opens disciplinary proceedings against former Zoo FC players for match manipulationThis campaign, the central defender started from the bench against Seal and was named in the starting team in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Shabana FC.He says nothing will make up for the lost time better than winning a title with the Soldiers this season or before he hangs his boots.“It feels good to be playing competitive football again at the highest level in the country. The past is long gone and will never define me. My focus is to win titles at Ulinzi and play for the national team,” he told Mozzart Sport.FKF summons 6 former Zoo FC players and coach 2 years after match fixing banAsked on how he handled the lengthy ban, the former Nzoia Sugar FC man said he embraced positivity and never lost hope.Okiring, who still maintains he was fixed in the scandal, said his unfulfilled dreams could not allow him to give up despite the frustrations of being locked out of the game.“It was extremely frustrating to be out and to be considered a match-fixer. I knew I would overcome and get back to the pitch,” added the National Super League winner with Nzoia.
