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KENYA
NIGERIA
It meant that we were doing something right as Kenyan football, we were moving in the right direction.
Having a player in a club that was not from Uganda and Tanzania was a joyous move.
If they were from Congo, it was wonderful, if from Nigeria, even bigger.
The talent and different approach they brought on the table was good for the game, as it improved our local players and football in general.
Gone bad
However, it has gone bad in recent times, as the players who have come through are not of the right quality.
That is so because our players have now improved to the level that they were not at before. Our players have incorporated what the foreigners showed them earlier and are now fine.
You think of the likes of Joseph Emeka who was once a leading light in Kenyan football, but is now a poor player.
As was the big band of Congolese players brought in by Sofapaka's emergence.
They were good for some time, but now the quality they offer is not good.
Give young players a chance
If you think of the Kenyan top flight today, it is hard to point out a foreign player who is really worth a punt.
Maybe Jonas Nahimana at AFC Leopards, Dan Sserunkuma and Ivan Anguyo at Gor Mahia.....
From there it becomes difficult to mention anyone who is that good.
The rest are decisively average.. They do not inspire and are just a waste of space and money.
You ask yourself, why don't we give our young local players that space and time to grow and develop and in the end prove themselves?
Ndayisaba
A friend recently mentioned AFC Leopards' Floribert Ndayisaba as a case in point.
He was brought in for a lot of money and the effort and time the club took to register him was alot. The worst bit is that he has not set the world alight.
My point is, if Leopards could have invested that money on a good young Kenyan player, they would not be bollocking as they now are and the youngster would have got a chance to show what he can do.
If it were up to me, I would force clubs to have just two foreigners in their squads because we need our young players to develop too. We do not want at English Premier League scenario where we have a good league and a poor national team.
Let us give our young players a chance please.
