Kenyan legendary goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas makes a save against Tanzania veterans at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on December 8, 2011.
Harambee Stars goalkeeping coach Moeneeb Josephs reckons that Kenya can only produce technically-gifted goalkeepers if a deliberate attempt is made to put more emphasis in the development of shot-stoppers.
“I see a lot of potential and ability in Kenyan goalkeepers but technically, a lot of things need to be worked on,” Josephs, who played as a goalkeeper 24 times for South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, told Nation Sport in an exclusive interview.
“I have had a bit of an issue watching goalkeepers here. A lot of emphasis needs to go to their technical training since I have noticed and I have heard that not a lot of goalkeepers in Kenya come from a development background,” said the Kenya goalkeeper coach.
Josephs’ concerns on the wanting technique of Kenyan goalkeepers is replicated in Africa.
Kenyan legendary goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas during an interview at Nation Center, Nairobi on August 29, 2017.
Former Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono told The Guardian newspaper of England in 2010: “In Africa they don't give a lot of work to the goalkeeper. When you go abroad you must have the technique to play there. If you do not, you cannot. Overseas they start at eight years old to play goalkeeper. In Africa you must start outfield, and you go in goal later, when you are 12, 13. It's difficult because we don't have good goalkeeper coaches.”
Ovono, who played for Gabon from 2003 to 2019, is one of six goalkeepers who make the list of 55 African players that have recorded 100 or more caps for their country. The other goalkeepers are Egyptians Essam El-Hadary, Ahmed Shobair, and Nader El-Sayed, Nigerian Vincent Enyeama and Zambian Kennedy Mweene.
Kenya once had goalkeepers who owned the number one jersey for a decade or more.
The legendary Mahmoud Abbas (1976 to 1989) stakes his claim as the only undoubted “Kenya One”, the nickname given to the country’s most outstanding goalkeeper.
Kenyan legendary goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas makes a save against Tanzania veterans at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on December 8, 2011.
Francis Onyiso comes a close second with his 1996 to 2005 stint. Since Onyiso’s retirement, only Arnold Origi, who made his national team debut in 2005, has come close to inheriting the title with such authoritative longevity.
However, Origi’s performances took a dip after 2010 and any claim to the status as the “Kenya One” faded.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi during a training session at Nairobi City Stadium.
Counting African Cup of Nations finals, African Cup of Nations qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers played since 2011, Harambee Stars has had a turnover of 10 goalkeepers in 59 matches.
Origi played in 11 of those matches, and his decline started after Harambee Stars’ back-to-back victories against Seychelles in the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers played in November 2011.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Bryne Omondi stretches during a training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Between 2011 and 2017, Origi did not feature in 15 African Cup of Nations and Fifa World Cup qualifiers. His absence saw the number one Kenya jersey change between Boniface Oluoch (nine matches), Duncan Ochieng’ (three matches), and Wilson Obungu (three matches).
Match-fixing accusations
Patrick Matasi’s era started in 2017 before ending in disgrace this year over match-fixing accusations.
Matasi played throughout Kenya’s successful 2019 African Cup of Nations and was in goal in all the three matches Kenya played in the continental finals in Egypt.
Matasi’s last match for Harambee Stars was the 4-1 loss to Cameroon in a 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier in October 2024.
Harmabee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi collects the ball during a training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on March 20, 2023.
He made 13 appearances for Harambee Stars in African Cup of Nations qualifiers and finals, and Fifa World Cup qualifiers, more than any goalkeeper since Origi’s times. He kept five clean sheets while conceding 16 goals.
“I am Kenya One,” he proclaimed after helping Kenya Police win the 2024 FKF Cup.
Since his exit, the search for a Kenya One continues. Currently, four candidates stand out – Brian Bwire, Byrne Omondi, Farouk Shikhalo, and Ian Otieno. The four goalkeepers did duty for Harambee Stars between 2019 and 2024 when they stood in for Matasi.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo during a training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on October 12, 2019.
Among the four, it is Gor Mahia’s Omondi who has played most matches - eight for Harambee Stars. Six of this matches came after Matasi's last game for the Harambee Stars.
Omondi has kept three clean sheets while conceding nine goals. Harambee Stars won two of those matches with the remaining six producing three draws and three losses.
Otieno of Richards Bay (South Africa) follows with seven appearances, all winless with one clean sheet. He conceded 12 goals in this period.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno during a training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on October 12, 2019.
Polokwane City’s (South Africa) Bwire, who has been trading the number one jersey with Omondi in recent times, has featured four times, keeping two clean sheets and conceding only two goals.
Shikhalo of St George (Ethiopia) has made only one appearance. He has been an unused substitute five times.
The only other goalkeeper to make an appearance for Harambee Stars in competitive matches since 2011 is James Saruni who played in two dead rubber fixtures -- identical 2-1 wins in a 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo and a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.
