Francis Onyiso is one of the best goal keepers to have ever played for the national soccer team, Harambee Stars, and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) club Ulinzi Stars.
Onyiso came to the limelight back in 1997 when he made daring and well calculated saves against Africa’s soccer power house Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier match at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.
Due to Onyiso’s saves and collective team work, Harambee Stars managed to force a 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles.
In 2004, he was in the 22-man squad that represented Kenya in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), held in Tunisia.
Under head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, Kenya lost group B matches against Senegal and Mali before registering a win against Burkina Faso.
Kenya has never qualified for AFCON since then.
The 2004 squad included the likes of Harambee Stars record goal scorer Dennis Oliech, his brother Andrew Oyombe, Captain Musa Otieno, Mike Okoth Origi, Robert Mambo, Walter Odede, Philip Opiyo, Maurice Sunguti among others.
The 46-year-old Onyiso played for a long time for Harambee and Ulinzi Stars before hanging his gloves for both country and club in 2012.
He won three premier league titles with Ulinzi Stars in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
The former short stopper is currently working as a goalkeeper trainer for the army side, besides being a sergeant in the Kenyan military.
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