Former Harambee Stars striker Henry Motego in action. [Photo/koderoh,wordpress.com]
Former Harambee Stars striker Henry Nyabuto Motego is a man who rekindles sweet memories in the minds of Kenyan football fans of yesteryears.
Born on May 21, 1964 in Gucha district, Kisii county there is no doubt that the former Kenya Breweries Limited (Currently Tusker FC) and Shabana FC lethal striker makes it in the top list of the best attacking talent the nation has ever produced.
Motego may have not been born in a region that is best known for the best soccer stars in the country but while at Iterio Secondary School, the ‘elephant man’ rose against all odds – by having a strong belief in his abilities – to stick his name among the best footballers ever to emerge from the Abagusii community and bring glory to the nation.
Had the forward been playing today, when gaming giant SportPesa is promoting sportsmen and women all over the country by encouraging Kenyans to believe in their local heroes, he would have done even better. At the moment, any person in Kenya can identify a person can help propel the career of a local sports personality – by nominating them.
The lethal striker used his footballing techniques in the 1990s while playing for Kenya Breweries to earn himself an unchallenged call up to the national team -- Harambee Stars.
Motego alias Ndovu (Elephant) got the nickname after he tore nets with his numerous goals.
While at his boyhood club Shabana FC, Motego employed his menacing skills to help his club earn promotion to the premier league in 1988.
Henry Motego at work. [Photo/goal.com]
The game against the Gabonese side was a second-leg match played at the Nyayo National Stadium and Kenya Breweries only needed a nil-nil draw to advance to the finals after a 1- 1 draw in Gabon. The Elephant man scored a hat-trick to secure his team a place in the finals this happened despite the heavy downpour on match day.
Any football fan who lived in the late 90’s can’t forget 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier where Motego scored a penalty and provided an assist to Vincent Kwarula in a game where Kenya easily dispensed Algeria by a 3-1 scoreline.
Motego represents a crop of Kenya greatest strikers like the late Sammy ‘Jogoo’ Onyango and Ambrose Ayoyi whom he had the pleasure of partnering with in his illustrious career.
From the annals of history, Motego’s best goal must have been the one he scored against Gor Mahia at the City Stadium beating the late K’ogallo custodian Tirus Omondi by lobbing the ball past him from the halfway line.
The elephant man of Abagusii football did not just stamp his authority in Kenyan football but from 1991 to 1992, Oman club Al Oruba came calling and Motego joined the list of Kenyans plying their trade abroad to mention but a few, Mike Okoth (Divock Origi’s father) Peter Mwololo and Douglas Mutua.
Henry Motego (First from right on the front-row) appearing for Kenya Breweries Limited. [Photo/kenyastar.com]
Motego, is not only a great player but one who shares his skills with upcoming football talents, for instance, former Inter Milan player Macdonald Mariga benefited from the ‘Elephant’s’ skills while playing for Tusker when Motego took the assistant coaching role under Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulei in 2000 and later took the leading coach role.
For the fan, Motego is a father of two, Brian and Zachary and both are following his route since they are strikers for their schools.
The 53-year-old is currently taking an active role sharpening football talents in Kisii County after County boss James Ongwae appointed him Kisii County football team coach under the Culture, Youth, Sports and Social Services Ministry.
Motego dealt well with the golden hand shake he got from Kenya Breweries that he used to construct a house in Kasarani, Nairobi and did some repairs to his Gucha rural home.
Motego did great and we celebrate him today as a man who gave the nation that nostalgic feeling and pride so it’s time for us a nation to rise up and lift the arms of our legends of yesteryears and today to make them feel we appreciate the efforts they make every time they lift our national colors.
In spite of his sweet memories, Motego mourns that Kenyans concentrate more on players from other countries in Europe and South America yet in his days JJ Masiga was his favorite player.
“Anyway nowadays, there is shortage of Kenyan players to look upto. If you ask a young Kenyan football player who he looks up to he mentions names of European and South American stars. Everything about our young players is just Europe because there are no role models for them locally,” said Motego.
“When I was young I looked up to JJ Masiga and I was thrilled when I met him at the national team for the first time. I told him that he was my favorite player and it made me happy that I will be playing with him in the national team. JJ was happy for me and he took me under his wing and gave me advice and guidance. Then one day he gave me his jersey and told me that I was ready to take over from him as he was retiring. Our footballers need such. Local heros who can make them dream,” he added.
The Tujiamini campaign by Sportpesa holds dear the prayers of Motego, the Bookmakers seek to rally the public to come out and support their own to propel them to the world stage.
It is your time to stand up and be counted click on this link http://bit.ly/2hNCCVo and nominate anyone who you think can be the next Motego if they are nurtured today.