Kenya should aim to honour all her sporting legends

Kenya is a force to reckon with in the sporting world, with our sportsmen and women consistently striving to raise our flag, and national pride, on various global platforms, be it in the tracks, in the green-toned grass, or even the wooden fibre indoor courts.

Nevertheless, how well do we as a country celebrate our athletes? Just recently, Nike commemorated their 20-year collaboration with Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic champion, by unveiling his statue at their London headquarters. Coming back home, one could think that our motherland has deemed fit to name at least a feeder road in Eldoret, his place of birthplace, in honour of the living legend, who is the only human to run a sub-two-hour (1:59) marathon. 

Similarly, Victor Wanyama, the first Kenyan to play in the English Premier League (EPL) is nearing retirement and there is minimal appreciation from the government. It is such a shame that a road in Tanzania bears the name of the living legend whereas, there’s little acknowledgement of his contributions within Kenya.

 Wanyama has even gone ahead and teamed up with his big brother, MacDonald Mariga, to set up a facility in Western Kenya in a bid to nurture budding talents. After years of putting Kenya’s name on the global map, as a people, we have failed to reciprocate the unwavering love and devotion he has shown us over the years.

The late Joe Kadenge, a legendary figure in football, passed away while waiting to be recognized for entertaining the masses in the late 1970’s. It is so dispiriting that a legend of his stature could endure pain and go–for good–without being accorded the appreciation he deserved during his lifetime. Why do we have to wait until death snatches any of our heroes for us to demonstrate the ‘unwelcome’ desire to be linked with the departed?

Collins Injera who recorded 279, second of all time, scored 1,443 points, played 424 matches, and was part of the team that won the Singapore Seven. Interestingly, besides being a renowned rugby player, he has received more acclaim outside Kenya than within. Injera was recently inducted into the Walk of Fame in Sigatoka for the feat he achieved during his rugby playing days.

Although the government has recently tried to appreciate our athletes by promising a modest cash reward of Sh5 million for every athlete who breaks a world record, more substantial appreciation and recognition are essential for the dedication and patriotism exhibited by our athletes.

In the same breath, we must not disregard acts of loyalty, such as Denis Oliech’s refusal to change nationality despite lucrative offers from foreign countries. Of late, we have seen a rise in the number of our very own track athletes who prefer representing foreign countries and competing against athletes representing Kenya in various track events. Neglecting to honour our athletes properly may lead to an increase in the number of athletes choosing to represent other nations over Kenya.

In addition to government recognition, sports enthusiasts and fans must also step up their support for our athletes. It’s crucial to celebrate our sports stars with the same enthusiasm and energy that we reserve for other public figures and artists. An example is: if one attended a music festival and spots an artist, instinctively, one would want a photo or video with the artist. The same energy is missing when one spots an athlete.

It’s the small things that matter–ask those in relationships. I dare say.

—The writer is a football content creator, data analyst and a video analyst

—@ GitsJunior