Harambee Stars defender Kibwage vows to take lessons learned at Tusker to Gor Mahia
By Luke Oluoch, August 25, 2025Tusker and Harambee Stars defender Mike Kibwage has penned a heartfelt farewell to his former club ahead of his stint with Gor Mahia for the 2026 season.
The defender, who has been an integral part of Benni McCarthy’s team in the CHAN competitions, recently agreed to a two-year contract with Gor Mahia, ending his two-and-a-half-year tenure at the Ruaraka-based club.
In an emotional farewell on Monday, August 25, 2025, the defender expressed sincere gratitude to the Brewers fraternity and especially the coaching staff for believing in his talent and allowing him to feature for the club.
Thankful
“I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone at the club -my teammates, the technical bench, management, and most importantly, the fans—for the support and belief you have shown me during my journey here,” he stated.
As he embarks on a new challenge with the reigning Football Kenya Premier League champions, the center back has pledged to put to use the personal and professional lessons he’s acquired during his time at the club
“I am grateful for the memories we created together, the challenges we overcame, and the successes we celebrated. This club has given me so much, not only as a footballer but also as a person, and I will carry those lessons with me into the next chapter of my career,’ he stated.
Kibwage parted his farewell by thanking the Brewers for making his stint at the club a memorable one.
“To the Brewers family, thank you for making me feel at home. I leave with a heart full of gratitude and respect,” he added.
His farewell comes hours after he broke his silence on the national team exiting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The center back was among those who failed to convert his penalty to hand Madagascar a semi-final ticket on Friday, expressed the heartbreak of bowing out after the players gave their all in pursuit of national pride.
“Football can be cruel. Some pains take a while to settle in, and when it does, we look at the bright side. We gave it our all and wanted to make the country proud. Sadly, we had to exit painfully,” Kibwage said in his reflection on Monday via his X account.
The defender noted that while the result was disappointing, the team showed resilience and determination throughout the tournament.
“It pains us we didn’t go through, but we fought like our lives depended on it,” he added, emphasising the players’ commitment.