With the 2018 World Cup fever finally taking reign after four years, questions now linger as to where notable names in the football world from Kenya have been up to.
In this trail, Dennis Oliech is an icon too familiar to many, but has faded in recent years with little being said about him.
The 33-year-old football guru who was once named by a British newspaper as one of the world's most wanted young players according to Wikipedia has been off the grid for three years.
A few months ago, there were rumors that he was ‘cash-strapped’ after quitting his lustrous international football career which traces back to 2003 when he first played for Al-Arabi in Qatar.
The former Harambee Stars captain later played for French Ligue 1 team, Nantes in 2005 before moving to Auxerre where he played until 2011. He moved to Ajaccio in January 2015 and joined Dubai CSC.
Last month, there were reports he was angling to join South Africa’s Free State Stars. He has been training with the PSL side and could join the team starting August when the 2018/2019 league season starts if all goes well.
Additionally, Francis Onyiso has also been missing from action for a long time.
Francis Onyiso, former Harambee Star goalkeeper. [photo/Border Media Group]
Onyiso, 45, a Sergeant in the 81 Tank Battalion of Kenya Defence Forces started his football career in 1992 playing for Ulinzi Stars. He went on to become the national’s team goalkeeper from 1996 to 2005.
Onyiso hit the headlines in 2014 after placing an apologetic advert to his wife in one of the local dailies. It is not known what he apologized for to his wife of 20 years who bore him three kids.
He was appointed as interim coach for Ulinzi Stars the same year when last was heard about him in relation to football.
Lastly, former Western Stima, Muhoroni Youth, and Chemelil Sugar boss, Francis Baraza is a man scores of football lovers are asking of his whereabouts.
Former Western Stima, Muhoroni Youth, and Chemelil Sugar boss, Francis Baraza. [Photo/Citizen]
Baraza was last year in October named the Kenyan Premier League Fidelity Insurance coach of the month shortly after he was appointed as Tusker FC’s stand-in coach.
He traces his football career back to 1991 where he played for now-defunct, Nakuru-based team Transcom Nakuru.
Two years later, he moved to Rivatex FC before joining coveted AFC Leopards in 1996. In 2005, he was elevated to a coach with his first team being Sony Sugar FC and later moved to Western Stima and Muhoroni Youth.
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