It is a crisp, beautiful morning at the Dandora Stadium in Nairobi. FC Talanta were gearing up for their final match of the season, a fixture that unfortunately relegated them to the National Super League (NSL).On the sidelines, the technical bench is dishing out instructions, but one coach stands out.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsDanson Kago, the team’s physical and fitness coach, is not watching from the touchline. He is on the pitch, seamlessly drilling the ball alongside the players.His sharp footwork and effortless control hint at a man who has not just coached the game, he has lived it.Kipyegon vows to break Four-Minute mile barrier after stirring Paris attemptHis skills caught my eye, sparking a curiosity to know more about his journey. As it turns out, Kago has done it all.After the session, we settle in the stands, order coffee and mandazis from nearby vendors, and the conversation begins.Long before he captained teams, lifted trophies, and wore the Harambee Stars jersey, Kago was just a determined boy from Githurai 45, a neighbourhood often associated with societal challenges.“Football was all we had. Growing up in the hood, poverty was everywhere. But that is what drove us. For me, football was my way out,” he recalled.##NAJAVA_MECA_8994265##Early exposure to the bestKago’s football story started at the tender age of seven, in primary school. He was quickly spotted by the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) and was a beneficiary of its exchange program.This opened doors to travel to Norway and the Netherlands, trips that would become a turning point in his life.“That trip changed everything. I had only seen such places on TV, and now I was there. It opened my mind, made me more focused, and showed me what was possible beyond Githurai,” he said.MYSA’s talent production line also included the likes of goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng, Philip Opiyo, Walter Odede, Osborn Monday, Kevin Kimani, Francis Kimanzi, Salim Ali, Dennis Oliech, and Francis Ouma, among other stars.Determined to rise above his surroundings, Kago returned to Kenya with purpose and vowed to stay on course despite the many vices and distractions in his environment.Mixed reactions as FKF mulls over new leagues formatFirst days at the Kenyan Premier LeagueFresh from Norway, in 2010, current Singida Black Stars coach David Ouma brought him to Posta Rangers. That would open the door for a stellar football career.For Kago, Ouma was more than just a coach. He became his mentor, guide, and father figure. While at Rangers, he was a regular with the Under-15 and Under-17 sides.“He paid for my transport, helped me catch matatus, even held my hand to cross the road. That’s the kind of mentorship that kept me grounded,” he recalled.By 16, Kago was already playing with seasoned players like George Waweru, Pascal Ochieng, and Isaiah Omondi at Rangers. Ouma then moved to Sofapaka in June 2012, and as fate would have it, Kago followed.At Sofapaka, Ouma served under Salim Ali, who was the head coach, and Kimanzi, the technical director. The young Kago found himself training alongside household names once again.He trained and played alongside George ‘Wise’ Owino, George Njoroge, James Situma, Edgar ‘Fighter’ Ochieng, Humprey Mieno, Patrick Kabogo, Duncan Ochieng, and David Otieno, among others.It was at Sofapaka that he earned his maiden national team call-up under the then-coach Bobby Williamson.“That is where I built my name and earned my first senior national team call-up,” he offered.Gor Mahia coach wary of Nairobi United ahead of Sunday’s Mozzart Bet Cup showdownPeak years at TuskerKimanzi then moved to Tusker, and having a shortage of quality players, Kago was called. He vividly remembers that golden afternoon.“One day, during training, I got a call from Ali, who had moved to Tusker from Sofapaka. Kimanzi was the head coach at Tusker, and they called me because I was a free agent. I took up the challenge, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my football career,” he smiled as he explained.His first season with the Brewers was a resounding success. Kago formed a deadly partnership with current Kenya Police FC striker Jesse Were, providing assists as Were went on to score 22 goals and win the Golden Boot during the 2015/16 season.During that time, the Brewers completed a historic double: the league and the Shield Cup.“We won the league and the GOTV Shield that year. A double. That was the peak of my club career,” Kago proudly recalled.However, in 2018, budget cuts at Tusker saw the exit of senior players, including Kago, Mieno, and Eugene Asike, among others.Help us congratulate our technical director Danson Kago, on completion of CAF D license certificate.The future is bright.#kanairofinest#spaceandstyle pic.twitter.com/BIJAwPJvIT— Githurai Allstars Fc (@GasAllstars) March 21, 2024 RetirementHe then returned to Posta Rangers, then moved to Mathare United, where he captained the team in 2021/22. His final playing days were spent at FC Talanta, where he eventually hung up his boots in December 2023. His reason?“I did not want to wait until fans started asking me to retire. I had achieved what I wanted locally. I played for the national team, won titles, I was fulfilled,” he uttered.Changing face of Kenyan footballHaving seen the old and the new, the talented midfielder does not shy away from critiquing the current state of Kenyan football.“Back then, the league was unpredictable, competitive. Now, it has become too easy to predict outcomes. And the truth is, surviving as a footballer in Kenya is hard,” he offered.He went on to point out the vast financial disparities within the league.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Duke Abuya’s crucial role in Yanga’s Kariakoo Derby victory“In Tanzania, for instance, someone like Azizi Ki earns approximately Ksh3 million. In Kenya, if you are paid Ksh150,000, clubs start complaining. Half the teams pay, half don’t, how do you expect fair competition?” he posed.This imbalance, according to Kago, is not just unfair; it is unsustainable.“You cannot have one team where players are well-fed, salaried, and motivated, going up against a team struggling with basic needs,” he said.Though he retired, Kago is not done with football. He is a businessman, running K Sports, and remains committed to coaching and player development.His long-term dream? “In the next ten years, I want to coach the Harambee Stars. I have seen what football can do for a person’s life, and I want to help shape more stories like mine,” he concluded.President Ruto commits to building 37 sports academies across Kenya
