Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, Kenya’s leading community clubs, have more often than not taken the slack for poor management, failure to institutionalize, and for once, sort out their nagging financial problems and dump their annoying begging bowls.The criticisms, having in mind that they are the oldest clubs, best supported and most successful on the field in the present-day Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), are apt and I won’t argue the contrary.However, the sharp focus on Ingwe and K’Ogalo has somehow let Tusker FC, the third force, and third most successful club in the country, to run away with murder as far as mediocrity is concerned.##NAJAVA_MECA_7342493##Formed Kenya Breweries a year after Gor came into existence in 1989, Tusker FC has continuously done just enough to remain competitive locally, except for once in 1994 when they dared to dream and conquer Africa, but lost to DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo in two-legged CAF Winners’ Cup final.To sum up Tusker’s modus operandi, in a recent Facebook post, former Gor midfielder and 1985 winner of the famous CECAFA Club Championship in Sudan, James Goro Oronge said:”If we look back to the formation of this team (Tusker FC) once called Kenya Breweries, it is like its main objective was to beat Gor and AFC Leopards and that’s it.”The FKFPL Season in Retrospect: Reflecting on the concluded FKFPL seasonAs already stated, the brewers have done wonderfully well on the local front – they’re perennial title contenders and will fight for every available trophy on offer.Were it not for the scrapping of the 2021-22 FKFPL season, Tusker would have been having 13 titles, one better than AFC Leopards, a big statement of consistency.Gor Mahia to keep coach McKinstry, beef up squadYet, for a team with a solid financial backing from its parent company, the giant brewers, East African Breweries Limited (EABL), winning local titles can never be a true measure of success for them.Not even the four regional CECAFA Club Championship under their belt cuts for me. That tournament is long dead. The Yellow and Black should be up there with the best African teams – challenging for the big honors.But Tusker’s recent forays in the CAF Inter-clubs ended in an embarrassing first round exit in the prestigious African Champions League in 2022. A testament of where the club stands at the moment.To understand why Tusker, regardless of immense potential, has failed to be the giant they ought to be, not only in Kenya, but also Africa, perhaps one needs to examine certain glaring indicators around the club, first being their Ruaraka Stadium.Mieno challenges teammates to show big character in Mozzart Bet Cup finalOn a number of occasions, the club has sought to find a new home at Meru’s Kinoru Stadium instead of renovating their home ground to international standards.That Ruaraka can’t even host a game involving Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards, considered high risk matches, tells a lot about its sorry status. When it rains, the stadium turns into a barley farm.To buttress Tusker’s lack of inspiration, the team uses one set of jerseys (home and away) the whole season, with a different brand (actually, no brand) from the one used by players being sold to fans as replicas.Fifty-four years down the line, the club only attracts a handful of pampered fans, who can’t spend on the team.Women’s football team earns ticket to World Beach GamesIn their most recent encounter against Gor at Nyayo Stadium where they were the hosts, the fans were granted free entry, while K’Ogalo faithful were forced to pay. It reeks of a fanbase with zero passion or connection with their team.Tusker is not the only institutional club around so they should not make excuses. Zesco United, a perennial CAF Interclubs campaigner, is also a corporate outfit, but they think differently; they are truly into developing football in Zambia, not merely pulling public relations stunts.Tusker’s only known fan who goes by Facebook name, Chu Tsi, thinks otherwise. He holds that, “the team only needs to make sense to its shareholders and fans. Not every bystander.”I disagree, if Tusker was to set the standards, the ripple effects would be huge.Most definitely Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards would feel challenged and step up as well.MESHACK KISENGE: My 2022-23 FKFPL Team of the SeasonYou don’t need to look further than DR Congo to get my argument.The success, on and off the field, of TP Mazembe has had a considerable impact in the country’s club football scene.Giants like AS Vita Club were forced to rise and reclaim their lost glory. They had to change their leadership model and embrace new practices among other adjustments.Maybe EABL also needs to pay more attention to the club, fund it better to enable it acquire better quality players and technical staff, and not just see it as a PR tool. Conversely, such involvement may not be wanted, as it may spoil the broth for a few individuals.
