Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Matthews Ottamax has decried the long-term neglect of national team legends ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship scheduled for August 2-30, 2025, in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Taking to his social media, the legendary goalkeeper urged the relevant authorities to include the country’s football legends in discussions and decision-making about football. Ottamax stated that ex-footballers are modest in their approach to the issues of the game, but they are often overlooked.

Ottamax protested the inclusion of individuals with zero track record in playing or managing in the country’s football ecosystem, who were involved in technical issues pertaining to Kenya’s football due to political influence. The vocal legend further explained that the heroes’ patience for recognition has been taken advantage of by the political brokers who have taken their space in running football.

“This patience has been mistaken for cowardice, leading to our heroes and heroines in sports to be overlooked even in their own “Birthday Parties,” as is the case in CHAN competition that is about to kick off in just over a week across the three East African Nations. I’m yet to hear “VIP Tags for Legends” like we see being done in other countries,” Ottamax lamented.

He went ahead and asked various sports department heads to assign duties to their respective former sportsmen and women whenever the country has the chance to host major sporting events.

“Other than that, we need to treat our sports people with decorum when we are hosting matches by at least recognising them with VIP treatment.”

Musa Otieno overlooked

Ottamax gave the example of the country’s longest-serving captain and the most capped player with over 90 caps, Musa Otieno, who was forced to watch the Kenya vs Gabon fixture at the Nyayo National Stadium from the stands on March 23, 2025.

“These former stars don’t just go to the stadium as fanatics, they go there to analyse the games, as most are coaches who need to watch from a tranquil area for future references, and should be accorded better treatment. Take a walk to our VVIP and VIP sections of our stadia, you’ll be surprised to find that those areas are filled with ‘Gonywa Batallion’ with accreditation tags oscillating like pendulums across their chests as they move left and right in search of Waheshimiwa in attendance oblivious of the happenings in the pitch of play…some even go home without knowing the scores,” Ottamax said.

As the country prepares for CHAN, Matthews Ottamax has asked the tournament’s organisers to treat the nation’s sports heroes and heroines with respect and decorum.

“CHAN is here with us, and with the few days remaining, it is my humble plea that the concerned authorities will see the importance of treating their former heroes and heroines with decorum akin to the nostalgic days when we were escorted to pitches like presidents. Forlornly, and in foreign countries, where we sang the national anthem, blinded with trickling tears in readiness to fight for the pride and glory of our country…don’t you think we deserve to smile now?”