Kenya to host regional football legends tournament
Age Watch Africa CEO Richard Waindi, with Gor Mahia Football Club legends Tobias ‘Jua Kali’ Ocholla and ‘Six Million Dollars man’ John Bobby Ogolla, on September 7, 2026 when they paid a courtesy call on the Nation Sports Desk at Nation Centre.
Kenyan football legend John ‘Bobby’ Ogola’s eyes light up with excitement at the mention of a forthcoming legends football tournament.
As a player, he was part of the Harambee Stars defence that won three straight Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) Senior Challenge Cup titles from 1981 to 1983. For his starring role in Harambee Stars defence, he earned the moniker ‘Six Million Dollar Man’ from a popular TV series at the time.
Now as coach, his trade-mark grey hair stands out in the fields and playgrounds as he nurtures future talent. The former coach of Gor Mahia, City Stars, Kenya Police and Muhoroni Youth hopes that when football legends gather at Ulinzi Sports Complex from September 28 to October 1 for East Africa Legends Festival, their work ethic can rub off the young players.
“We still have a lot to contribute towards nurturing the next generation of players. Last year’s tournament was a very good reunion of people I played against in Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in 1977 as a 19-year-old,” Ogolla, 67, says.
The tournament, organized by AgeWatch Africa, will be held to commemorate the International Day of Older People, which is observed on October 1 each year.
Last year’s edition was held at the University of Nairobi grounds, and featured teams of football legends from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In addition to the three countries, this year’s tournament will also feature teams from Burundi, Zanzibar and South Sudan. The tournament is open to players aged 60 and above.
Kenya fielded a team featuring Ogolla, Josephat Murilla, J.J Masiga, Tobias Ochola, James Nandwa, Mike Amwayi, George Sunguti, among others.
The tournament’s organiser, Richard Waindi, has appealed for support from local organisations.
“We use football to bring together legends, to improve their lives. We have held workshops for legends in Nairobi, Kisumu, and in Mombasa. We aim to create platforms and structures around football such as academies, and attaching legends to them for mentorship. The end game is to keep the legends engaged, and to empower them socially, economically, and physically,” Waindi said on Monday.
Tanzanian legends, led by Abdalla Kibadeni, won last year’s tournament held at the University of Nairobi grounds. The oldest player at the tournament was 83-year-old Ugandan international Polly Ouma.
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