A veteran footballer has shared strategic advice on revitalizing Kenyan football emphasizing management reforms and reducing political interference.
Former Harambee Stars midfielder Peter Pinchez Opiyo has offered timely advice to Kenyan football stakeholders on how to navigate recent challenges and restore the sport to its glory days.
Despite the abundance of talent in Kenya, Opiyo emphasized that the sport has been tarnished by off-pitch mismanagement.
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Opiyo, currently the assistant coach at Nairobi City Stars in the FKF Premier League, stressed that for Kenyan football to flourish, political interference must be eradicated.
"There is talent in Kenya; we have players capable of playing in top leagues. When I look at Kariobangi Sharks, Bidco, and Shabana, who are struggling, there are talented players," Opiyo noted on the Tiki Taka Show.
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The midfielder, known for his ball-winning skills, underscored how poor administration continues to plague the sport, diverting focus from the pitch to the boardroom.
"However, poor management is damaging our football, as we've shifted focus from the pitch to the boardroom, which is not beneficial," he remarked.
Earlier this year, internal wrangles led to a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) AGM being halted by a court injunction, disrupting the organization's operations.
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Opiyo believes that without a cohesive management structure, players and the sport itself will bear the brunt.
"When there are conflicts in football, players don't benefit, and the entire sector suffers. Look at Tanzania; their league is thriving, not solely due to talent but because of effective management," he noted
The former AFC Leopards captain emphasized that political disputes and leadership wrangles not only damage sponsorship opportunities but also deter fans, threatening to diminish the passion for the game among players.
"If conflicts persist, sponsorship won't support the field, and fans will stay away from the beautiful game. Moreover, talented players may choose to withdraw because clubs can't afford to pay them, leading them to pursue other businesses," he noted.
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Drawing from his extensive international career, which included spells in Oman, Qatar, Finland, and Turkmenistan, Opiyo has seen firsthand the importance of cohesive governance.
The veteran midfielder's career highlights include winning the 2013 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
However, he also faced setbacks, missing opportunities to play for German club Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2009 and South African teams like Supersport, Maritzburg United, and Vasco da Gama.
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