Former Harambee Stars Goalkeeper Lifts Lead on Fall From Grace to Grass

Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Mathews 'Ottamax' Owino's journey from stardom to struggle paints a sobering picture of life after football.

Once celebrated as one of Kenya’s top goalkeepers, playing for top clubs like Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, and Uganda’s SC Villa, the former Kenya number one now lives in a modest hotel in Nairobi after years of battling unemployment, family separation, and financial ruin.

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“Sometimes I feel like opening up, but I resort to crying it out when I'm alone! Things have not been looking up for the last 18 months or even longer!” Owino confessed in a heartbreaking Facebook post earlier this year as quoted by Nation Sports, revealing how deeply joblessness has affected him.

Owino, who also served as a goalkeeper trainer for several teams, including Gor and Nakumatt FC, says he hopes his story will be a wake-up call for young players.

“Stay disciplined in your careers, work hard, listen to advice from other people and make time for studies,” he urges.

The effects of joblessness have been brutal as Owino has twice lost his belongings due to rent arrears and now lives on goodwill and occasional gigs.

Owino's separation from his wife in 2018 was another blow.

“We separated on mutual terms whereby I was out of employment. I was feeling challenged because I could not provide for the family. I was really affected and would drink heavily until I black out,” he admits.

Looking back, he attributes some of his downfall to ego and poor choices during his playing days.

The retired shot stopper recalls being dropped from the national team by coach Reinhard Fabisch in 1997 after a string of events.

“I think stardom crept into my head… I was an extrovert, that bold outgoing player… it never went well with some people,” he said.

One of the biggest heartbreaks for Owino was the closure of Forty 40, a popular sports bar he co-ran in Westlands.

“The business was quite lucrative. I was getting good money which I never got while playing football. I found happiness there,” he recalled.

But after they decided to construct their own premises to cut down on high rent costs, the business crumbled under financial pressure.

Yet, hope is not lost as Owino is in the final stages of landing a job with a Spanish Academy in Karen and has launched a mentorship initiative called The Next Gifted Hands to train young goalkeepers for free.

“I want to do something of my own, something that will benefit the kids. I know the advantages of being a good goalkeeper so I thought what if these kids are brought up the right way.”

The former Kenyan international is currently documenting his journey in a book titled Beneath the Bright Light: The Untamed Life.