This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
September 11, 2019, marked a day when former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Mathews Ottamax shared his thoughts on the state of Kenyan football. In an interview, he emphasized the need for local clubs to invest in youth academies to improve the game.
Ottamax criticized top clubs like Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards for relying heavily on foreign talent, labeling their academies as 'plastic.' He highlighted Kariobangi Sharks as a shining example of a club that has invested significantly in youth development.
According to Ottamax, encouraging top clubs to focus on player development rather than buying talent will ultimately benefit the national team. He drew parallels with European leagues, where top players often mature in their home countries before joining bigger clubs.
“When you get EPL having a player like (Paul) Pogba and French players, they do that after these players have played and matured in football when playing in their own countries before they go for an outside exposure in bigger clubs. Here in Kenya we don’t have many reliable youth centres, we don’t have academies,” he said.
Ottamax, who resigned as keeper trainer at Leopards last year, has since ventured into the entertainment industry as a brand ambassador for 40 Forty Lounge.
