Approaching the status of a club legend
What makes a club legend ? In the case of Gor Mahia it is usually a person who played a pivotal role in winning several important trophies and played for the club for a reasonable period and maintained stellar performances over that period.
When speaking of Kogalo legends, one of the first names that comes to mind is current assistant coach John Bobby Ogolla. This man is arguably the best central defender Kenya has ever seen. In his prime he was quite simply a boulder, a tower of strength. Back when the CECAFA cup captured the imagination of people all over East and Central Africa, Bobby was well known all over this region. And he was an important pillar when Kogalo won 3 CECAFA cups and several league titles. He was also key to helping Harambee stars win 3 succesive CECAFA senior challenge cup titles.
Other club legends include Nahashon Oluoch “Lule” arguably the best player when Kogalo reached the Africa cup final in 1987. That year Lule was voted one of the 10 best players in Africa. He played alogside another legend in Allan Thigo who was player coach when Gor Mahia won the league unbeaten in 1976 and reached the Africa cup winners cup final in 1979. Thigo simply overwhelmed the opposing teams and commanded the entire field thus earning the nickname “Ogango Wuon Pap”.
Speaking of commanding the field, Abbas Khamis Magongo comes to mind. His command of the midfield helped steer Gor Mahia to winning the 1987 Africa cup winners cup. However that cup would never have happened without the scoring ability of Peter Dawo who scored 10 goals in that campaign. No matter how talented a team is, and that 1987 team was very talented, it cannot win without a dependable scorer. A role Dawo fulfilled so well that it propelled him to legendary status and resulted in him being voted one of the 10 best players in Africa alongside compatriot Ambrose Ayoyi. The latter formed a formidable partnership with Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” a man who almost always scored against arch rivals AFC Leopards , thus giving Kogalo several important wins over their rivals. He is the one person AFC defenders of that generation have admitted they feared.
Which brings us to Dan Sserunkuma, a man who has also scored against AFC Leopards almost every-time he played them. Just this year, upon returning from Armenia, it looked like AFC was going to bury Gor Mahia when after 50 minutes they were up 2-0. But Sserunkuma put Gor Mahia on the recovery path by scoring the first goal before David Owino grabbed the equalizer. One can make that argument that the come from behind performance against AFC was one of the most pivotal moments of the season. From that point on, Sserunkuma went on a tear, scoring crucial goals in almost every game in including GoTV cup matches.
To underline his class, his own team-mates carried him shoulder high when he scored that stunning winner against Sofapaka that virtually clinched the league. Its worth noting that Sserunkuma was also the club’s leading scorer during the 2012 season when Kogalo almost won the league. This is the kid of performance that makes legends.
His goals come in every manner from rebounds, one-twos, long range bombs, volleys you name it. His performance has left coach Bobby Williamson impressed. “The boy (Sserunkuma) is amazing, scoring important goals for us. Letting him go will be a big mistake.” Williamson told michezoafrika.
Next year as Kogalo pursue glory in the Africa champions league and the CECAFA cup, they will the proven scoring skills of Sserunkuma. He could cement his place as a club legend by helping the club become the first Kenyan team to reach the champions league group stage.
“As coach I will do my best to ensure he stays at the club. To be the best you need such aggressive players in your team.”Added Williamson. In this writes views, Sserunkuma could play the role Dawo played during those glory years.
Indeed this year has seen heroic performances from a number of players. Notably the defence and goalkeeper Jerim Onyango which carried the team during the first leg of the season when goals were hard to come by. There is an opportunity for some of the players to stamp put their name permanently in the pantheon of club legends and some are already on their way there.
The kind of humility that Sserunkuma displays is amazing, he is never carried away by his performance. I think he is one of the most successfull foreign based players gor has ever had and he is soon becoming a gor legend if he stays a bit longer with the current form.
By the way his scoring is not by chance, he is a good finisher and only needs good feeders.
CAN WE AFFORD TO KEEP HIM !!! TRUST ME, JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS LEGENDARY BOY IS POACHED BY THE ‘MONEY BAGS’ – EL MEREIKH, ST GEORGES, AZAM, YANGA, SIMBA OR EVEN SOUTH AFRICAN CLUBS !!!!
I concur with A.T.Y “Flava’s” humility is quite amazing even on the pitch he never acts up when fouled.With a more creative midfield & a full season I see him hitting above 20 goals.Simply put he adds flavour 2 GM.
@ Jakoyo y shld we lose “Flava” 2 some Armenian team, he still has 11/2 yr contract. GM is not an academy or stepping stone. If a lean EC (AR pls listen)
cn stop the ticketing & match entry scams then GM cn bcom Mr.Money bags in its own right.
EC has not released gate collections 4….
..the last 3 home games but all seems fine now that we’ve won the TPL.
When we play @ 60K seater Kasarani why not charge 150bob & get kshs.4.5-6M frm 30-40k fans. Ama GM does have that number? I DON’T THINK SO!
Has GM fraternity seen Sunday Nation Gado’s cartoon 2 know how badly & unfairly the brand has been damaged by a few morons.Kudos 2 the 99% who’ve flown the flag.
Finally lets avoid unknowns & try qualified legends/pple like Obwaka,Lule,Sianga,Makamu yes Mwakio BUT LET FANS SET THE AGENDA
contd..
I ask what do members elect the chairman,his vice, sec.gen 2 do. These positions r vague so we nid to elect directors with specific terms.
E.g. Director(Chairman)-Sponsorship & Security,Director-Technical & team welfare,Director-Fin&Admin,Director-Membership,Merchandizing,Public relations
Who then appoints a Secretariat on performance contract. Note the Head coach shld b the technical mgr 2 avoid conflicts of interest.
ITS 4 MEMBERS 2 SET THE BASIC AGENDA/BROAD MANIFESTO 4 GM. ANY IDEAS?
all in all I salute the entire team including Siang’a n Logarusic
Sssere ..already a Legend in ma eyes…18 yrs long wait thanks 2 him n the boys..job well done.
To the writer, Oluoch ‘LULE” was not in the 1987 team, please get your facts right before going on air….
To keep him pay him, like KSHS.50,000.00 more now that you see his value,am saying this coz Rama Salim is being paid about kshs.168,000.00 in a foreign land.Am saying this hoping that right now Gormahia pays kshs.80,000.00 per player. so as the most expensive player in the unit his salary will stand at kshs.130,000.00 which even Rachier will agree is worthwhile,over and above the salary in expect the club to take medical cover for all players and just to advise they should take a cover from AFROCENTRIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS and get a medical access card,their contact is 0713 4720 50 or 0725 6465 89 or visit their offices at 1st floor JUMUIA PLACE II LENANA ROAD NAIROBI.Over to Rachier and Mr. Bwana in fact that particular group would get milleage and media coverage to give medical cover to Kogalo coz they will be getting a bite at the cherry ongea na hiyo watu ndio SSERUNKUMA ASIKIMBIE you know what will happen if he runs.