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Kenya Polilce FC goalkeepers' coach Idd Salim sheds light on local custodians' challenges in overseas transfers.
When the world of sports conjures images of Kenya, it is often the electrifying strides of athletes on the field that steal the spotlight.
The likes of Dennis Oliech, Victor Wanyama, and Michael Olunga have etched their names into the annals of football, dazzling fans both locally and abroad.
Yet, amid the fervor and exhilaration that pervades the pitch, a group of unsung heroes stand as the last line of defense, often overlooked but undeniably crucial – goalkeepers.
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11:06 - 09.08.2023
FOOTBALL Arnold Origi & Jamal Mohamed to sponsor off-season Kothbiro tournament
The former Harambee Stars players have pledged to help grow grassroots talent by offering various rewards at the tournament.
These guardians of the net, often hidden in the shadow of outfield players, have embarked on a journey towards global recognition, battling long odds and limited opportunities.
Kenya boasts a storied history of producing remarkable goalkeepers, a tradition that has endured the test of time. From the resolute Mahmoud Abbas and the legendary Mohamoud Mohamed of the 70s to the stalwarts of the 90s, Mathew Ottamax and Francis Onyiso, the nation has birthed a lineage of goalkeeping excellence.
Fast forward to the present day, and the echoes of their legacy still reverberate, albeit in a vastly different landscape.
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09:00 - 27.06.2023
FKF Golden Glove: Gad Mathews and Katasi emerge cream of clean sheet crop
Gad Mathews of Gor Mahia and Humphrey Katasi of Nzoia Sugar will share the golden glove award after they both kept 17 clean sheets this season.
Recent times have witnessed an influx of Kenyan goalkeepers plying their trade within the borders of their homeland. The Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), a hotbed of raw talent and budding stars, has become the arena where these guardians hone their craft.
A curious observer might ask: why the concentration within domestic leagues, while the dream of playing on international soil looms large?
Idd Salim, the revered goalkeeper coach of Kenya Police FC, sheds light on this conundrum.
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07:36 - 17.08.2023
FKFPL McKinstry on why Gor Mahia have four goalkeepers heading into 2023/2024 campaign
Omondi started between the sticks during Gor Mahia's FKF Charity Shield cup win over Kakamega Homeboyz last Saturday.
"We have few Kenyan goalkeepers playing outside our borders because there is not so much of a market unlike for the outfield players,” he explains.
However, Salim is quick to assert that the local talent pool remains a fertile ground for nurturing goalkeeping prowess. "That is not to say that we do not have good ones in the country," he affirms, pride resonating in his voice.
Despite the hurdles, one name has transcended the barriers and etched its mark on foreign soil. Ian Otieno, the tenacious goalkeeper from Zesco United, has become a beacon of hope for aspiring Kenyan goalkeepers.
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11:24 - 03.07.2023
FOOTBALL How Kenya Police goalkeepers stood tall last season
The Law Enforcers produced a goalkeeping masterclass in the 2022/2023 FKF Premier League season.
A solitary figure among the ranks of the national team who ply their trade outside the country, Otieno's journey symbolises the resilience and determination required to break the mold. His exploits on foreign fields exemplify the latent potential that Kenya's goalkeepers harbor.
In the realm of Kenyan football, goalkeepers find themselves on a unique trajectory, a narrative interwoven with tales of persistence and perseverance.
Arnold Origi, a pioneer of modern Kenyan goalkeeping, stands as a testament to this saga. The only Kenyan goalkeeper in recent years to grace the European stage, Origi's journey has been one of both triumph and tribulation.
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21:00 - 17.08.2023
‘I never again saw someone like him’- Sir Alex Ferguson reveals the one player he regrets not signing for Man United
The legendary Scottish manager tried to sign him two times, even revealing the phone conversations he had with the World Cup winner, but both attempts were not fruitful
His retirement, though marking the end of an era, has paved the way for a new generation to forge their path to global recognition.
The narrative does not end there. Patrick Matasi, a name that resonates within the Kenyan football community, embarked on a journey that took him from the pitches of Ethiopia to the embrace of Kenya Police FC.
Meanwhile, Farouk Shikalo, whose sojourn led him to Tanzania, embodies the nomadic spirit that often characterises the lives of these custodians of the post.
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12:00 - 15.08.2023
FOOTBALL: Which way George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo?
Not among the Gor Mahia players registered for the new season, the forward still hopes to strike a deal at K’Ogalo but has ‘Plan B and C’ if things do not work out
As the footballing world evolves, so does the plight of Kenyan goalkeepers. The journey toward global visibility for these unsung heroes has been long and winding, fraught with challenges and untapped potential.
The echoes of the past, embodied by the indomitable figures of Abbas, Mohamed, Ottamax, and Onyiso, resound in the hearts of those who dare to dream.
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