2008 All Star (Western Province) Tournament
Musingu, this year’s venue, was abuzz with soccer enthusiasts flocking to the grounds as early as 8:30 am.
Rankings
1. Malava – they beat Ikolomani Buffs 1-0 in the finals and Ikolomani Combined 2-0 in the semis. Malava also produced the Best player.
2. Ikolomani Buffs – Eliminated Lugari 3-2 in their first game and sailed to the finals.
3. Lugari – Lost their first match but bagged 2 goals
4. Ikolomani Combined – Neither won any match nor scored in the tournament.
Malava and Lugari, sponsored and managed by Niva Sports Foundation, had a total of sixteen players each. The other two teams had 18 each.
As per our vision to identify and promote talent, our two teams, Malava and Lugari, were made up of only the best players from the various teams that participated in the respective Niva Sports Foundation tournaments.
Best Player: Aggrey Karamoja Masinde of Malava emerged the player of the tournament. The 20 year old former Shamberere Secondary School 2008 candidate maintains his cool as he expresses his optimism of his November 2008 fourth form exams. The “Best Player” award winner was not hesitant to say, “Though I wouldn’t mind taking on any job, I look forward to going to college for Power Mechanics alongside advancing my soccer dreams.” Aggrey says his most memorable time was when he turned out for Kakamega High School in the 2007’s East and Central Africa Secondary School Soccer Championships. “But I had to transfer to Shamberere from Kakamega when the games teachers colluded and planned on seeing to it that I repeated in the third form so that I plaid for the school for two more years. I wanted to continue with my education, not stagnate in one class, not even for a game I love,” added Karamoja. However, the young man is not sure whether his aged, long retired father would be able to afford his college fee. He says, “All I need is opportunity. Whatever comes my way.” Asked how he would make it given he had tattered boots during the tournament, “…that is another story all together…the torn boots you may be referring to were borrowed…and I thank God they helped me deliver for my team,” was all Karamoja could say.
The young soccer medalist is the 8th born in a polygamous family of 16. He is the last born of Mrs. Grace Masinde, the second wife of Mr. Zephania Masinde. Mr. Masinde, a retired junior civil servant, is now a village Headman. He retired from the Kenya government’s civil service in 1992, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 55 years. His average monthly income is about Kshs. 4,000/= ($53.60), inclusive of his pension and Headman allowances.
The shy, about five-foot-eight, dark complexioned Karamoja has been a participant in the Niva Sports Foundation program and played in the Jonathan Niva Memorial Challenge Cup (JNMCC) since inception in May, 2002. “This tournament has inspired me over the years. I do not think I would have risen to this level without the existence of JNMCC. Although we were denied winning the trophy in a penalty shoot-out in 2002 by Samitsi, and our Burundu team has never laid hands on it, my inner eyes will never stop focusing on it….maybe someday in the very near future, that prestigious trophy will belong to us… Someday…” Jonathan Niva Memorial Challenge Cup (JNMCC) is the Malava zone’s Niva Sports Foundation’s soccer tournament, when the managing organization was known as Niva Unlimited.
Malava prepared well for this tournament. “It was very fulfilling to beat Ikolomani Buffs which had robbed players from Ikolomani Combined which had already been bundled out, despite their large team of 18 players against ours of only 16. But we have no bitter feelings owing to the win and also the friendly atmosphere surrounding the tournament,” said Eric Muchuma Masengo who was voted the Best Goal Keeper. “Most amazing was our participation in such a tournament. Not even the politicians have ever organized such tournaments across their boundaries of representation.” The 25 year old, Masinde Muliro University 3rd year Journalism major student, in a telephone conversation, expressed his excitement and appreciation to tournament organizers saying, “It feels good and very encouraging to be recognized, not only as a player, but also as a people who may have some talent in them. I pray that the sponsors and organizers continue staging this and other tournaments…we may get jobs without having to look for them.” Masengo Munanga, the father to 6 children of who Eric is the first born, said, “JNMCC and now this All Star Tournament are the best things that have ever happened to our area folk. While the youth or those still with wheels under them play, the rest of us go to watch. We return home less stressed and also having avoided the local brew. Count me on board in supporting this endeavour both materially and morally.”
The Foundation is a boon for the youths who have now found an occupation to pass their time and develop their soccer and other sports prowess, thereby assisting them to avoid idle and destructive engagement like drinking and other social vices. It is named after the legendary Kenya soccer wizard, left full-back, free-scoring Jonathan Niva Muchuma “Esimba ya Mayeye” who passed on May 12, 2001.