Kevin Oliech: A special soul and talent that deserved better

On Sunday, August 16, 2020 at around 7pm East African Time, Kenyan football was thrust into a rare moment of unity. The football fraternity - administrators, fans, coaches, referees, players – have never looked this united in recent times, but sadly this was in grief.

Kevin Opiyo Oliech, the youngest of the Oliech brothers, breathed his last in Germany following a long battle with lung cancer. 

Social media was awash with condolences messages to the Oliech family, who only two years ago lost their mother, Mary Auma Oliech also to cancer.

The disease has now claimed two lives in the Oliech family, but Kevin's death hit the football fraternity differently. 

Football in Kenya has had little to smile about over the last few months with the coronavirus pandemic grounding all football activities to a halt, court cases grabbing headlines more than the players, with administrators jostling for positions at Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in a bid to "transform" the game.

The number of presidential candidates keeps rising by the day and the current figure is almost competing with the coronavirus cases in the country.

Anybody who has been in football, regardless of their track record, suddenly wants to manage the game. Sam Nyamweya, Nick Mwendwa, Lordvick Aduda, Herbert Mwachiro, Nicholas Musonye, Twaha Mbarak, Sammy Shollei. I've even lost count.

Sorry, there is also Dan Mule and Tom Alila, who has resurfaced after four years in the dark. Like Covid-19 cases, the number will certainly keep rising as the October 17 polls draw closer. 

Kind soul

But back to Kevin. Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama led the football fraternity in condoling the Oliech family.

"My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Kevin Oliech. Prayers to the family during this time of sorrow," Wanyama tweeted. 

Sports CS Amina Mohamed also expressed her shock following Kevin's death.

In her message of condolences, she says Kevin was a talented and hardworking football player who made great contributions to the growth of the sport in the country. 

“I convey my condolences to the family, friends, relatives, fellow footballers and the entire sports fraternity for this major loss. May God rest his soul in peace,” she said after getting the news of the demise of the former Mathare United, Gor Mahia, Tusker, Nairobi City Stars, Thika United, Ushuru and Securicor player," she said.

Like all the children of Boaz and Mary Oliech, who have interacted with the beautiful game, Kevin had confidence, natural power and speed.

Off the pitch, he didn't speak his mind like Dennis Oliech or Andrew Oyombe, but he was a kind soul who always left everyone with a smile.

If his elder brother Steve Okumu was alive today, I’m sure he would have spared kind words for "Yeboah", as he was fondly referred to on the football pitch after Ghanaian legend Anthony Yeboah.

Like the former Leeds United striker, Kevin had a big heart and though he never reached his full potential, he won the Kenyan Premier League title with Mathare United in 2008. 

"It's sad that we have lost Kevin to cancer. He showed great strength even in his final moments in life and it's sad that we have lost such a talented player. He has fought so hard and he rests like a champion," said Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi, who managed him at Mathare United. 

Greatest player

At 19, he was touted as the next big thing in Kenyan football after his brother Dennis.

Some like Kimanzi even believed he would be greater than Dennis, who was already playing in the French Ligue 1 with Nantes at that time. 

"He was special. He was very explosive, had good balance, good power which is not easy to find in a striker at that tender age. His take-off was top and he knew how to work around small spaces.

He could match players who were playing at the top level and that's why he was already being introduced to the national team early. Not because he was from the Oliech family, but because he had quality," Kimanzi waxed lyrically of Kevin's potential.

"We felt he would have been the greatest player from that family.”

'Omunyambis'

Oyombe's post on Facebook on Sunday night summed up what Kevin meant to the Oliech family.

"My last born you shall always be in my heart, till we meet again Kevin Yeboah Opiyo," wrote Oyombe. 

While Oyombe and Dennis were extroverts, Kevin was equally lively but preferred to keep a low profile. 

"He was my roommate when we played together at Mathare United. He had nicknamed me Omunyambis. I remember during away matches he would always tell me 'Omunyambis chukua funguo ya room twende'," said former Kenyan international Innocent Mutiso. 

"We would then stay up until midnight just sharing stories. He also taught me a certain technique how to kick the ball like Cristiano Ronaldo which I will never forget to date. He was one of the biggest players I've played with in terms of size. He could run behind you in training and you could feel the ground shaking," added Mutiso. 

Mathare United team manager Vincent Okello, who played with Kevin as captain, interacted with Opiyo in his last trip to Kenya in December last year.

"He contacted me and told me he had a party for family and close friends which he wanted me to attend.

He assured me that he was getting good treatment in Germany and we even made arrangements of having his friend, who is a nutritionist to start getting involved with Mathare United as a way of giving back to the club. It's sad we have lost such a great guy," said Okello. 

"He was full of life, he took life as it was. He loved life and would make the team bubble with laughter. Before high pressure games, he used to make a lot of jokes in the team bus which made everyone relax," reminisced Okello of their playing days before drawing comparisons of his playing style with Dennis. 

"He had his own qualities, he was explosive, full of energy and always hungry. On the pitch, he had flashes of brilliance you could see Dennis in him. He would have had a great future if he was lucky to play abroad. But that's life, you don't get equal chances," he added. 

Reggae lover

Kevin's football journey took him from Mathare United to Tusker, Nairobi City Stars, Thika United, Ushuru, Gor Mahia and now defunct Nakumatt.

Tim Bryett, who coached Kevin at City Stars and later moved with him to Thika United, took to Facebook to make a moving tribute to his former player. 

"Kevin Oliech - The world should know how good this boy was, and taken from us too soon!" began Bryett. 

"As I finish tucking in my son to bed and kiss him good night, I sit down barely seeing the letters on my keyboard due to the tears in my eyes and whiskey beside me, I come to the realisation that I have lost one of my football sons, Kevo.

When I took charge of Nairobi City Stars FC, I was warned that I would have trouble with two players, one of whom was Kevin Oliech. Let me tell you that he was one of the hardest working, professional, kindest, loyal and talented players I have ever had.

When I left Nairobi City Stars to take over at Thika United, Kevin was part of my agreement. I said to the chairman, if you want me to sign then Kevin is one of the players that comes with me, of which he smiled and jumped at the chance for us to continue together. I have strong views on how football should be played and Kevo always was 100 percent on board and we achieved many great things together.

I will always be indebted to your loyalty and talent, I miss and love this dear boy, and can only take peace knowing that you rest now with your mother. Keep the pitches in heaven clean and one day we will meet there to play this beautiful game once more," read Bryett's post. 

Starehe MP Charles "Jaguar" Njagua gave a glimpse of the selfless friend that Kevin was outside the pitch. 

"Kev was a kind person. I remember the last time we met as if it was yesterday. He paid for my lunch at Ranalo. RIP my friend. Gone, but not forgotten," he tweeted on Sunday night. 

Kevin was a great fan of Reggae music.

To quote Beres Hammond lyrics in Kevin’s favourite song “Come Down Father”,

In my heart I know that you won't let;

Your chosen people suffer (too long)
I know you will never let us down, no, no no no;

You never let us down Kevin, you fought a good fight. Born in Kenya, defined by football, danced to reggae tunes, battled cancer and took a final bow in Germany. Yours was a life well lived, shine on your way. 

Rest in Peace Kevin Opiyo Oliech. One day, cancer will also die! 

Additional reporting by Geoffrey Anene