It’s not clear why the likes of Lukio Agonda, William Ouma ‘Chege’, Allan Thigo, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla, Jonathan Niva, Apollo Oketch, Masanta Osoro, J.J Masiga, Abdul Baraza, Wilberforce Mulamba, Maurice Godwin, and Simon Nyatome who played top-flight soccer until the 70s failed to join the professional ranks.
Others who played in the early 80s, such as Nahashon Oluoch, Austin Oduor, the Musuku brothers, John Ogolla and many others, could have also joined the professional ranks.
Pursuit of Professional Soccer
Agonda and a host of his peers did not pursue professional soccer in the 1970s, yet it was the time the likes of Roger Miller and Jean Manga Onguene of Canon FC of Cameroon joined top-flight soccer by joining Espalier Club of France.
The move was a major accelerator in the subsequent development of professional soccer in Cameroon from that time to date.
According to former Prime Minister Odinga, it is time the government took soccer seriously since some of the richest people in the world are billionaires, such as Christiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi, among others.
Mr Odinga says other countries like South Africa and Egypt have embraced professional soccer, where some of their players now play in top-flight soccer in Europe.
“It’s high time Kenya emulated several countries in West and Central Africa by investing in junior soccer for things to move,” said Odinga who doubles up as Gor Mahia FC Patron during the burial of the late Lukio Agonda (72) at his Kisumu West home recently.
Mr Odinga reminisced about Agonda’s achievements from his schooling days at the prestigious Alliance High School.
“Agonda could occasionally be called upon to come and play for various national league teams.”
Some of the Kenyan soccer greats who attended the funeral included former Kenya Breweries Player-Coach Peter Odera, his former right winger Elly Adero, Odhiambo Gor, Maurice Ochieng “Sonyi”, Albert Oketch, Dennis Olando, Maurice Khaduli, Swaleh Ochieng, George Njaya, Fred Umara, George Onyango ‘Fundi’, Alfred Okoth, Peter Ouma ole Tunda among others.
Agonda was a household name in the region, especially during his debuts in both local and regional tournaments, where he was a thorn in the flesh of many defenders.
The late Agonda built his reputation to international levels alongside contemporaries like Chege, Thigo, Yongo, Jonathan Niva, Edward Kizza, Binzi Mwakolo, Apollo Oketch, Yusuf Chanzu and James Sian’ga among others.
He started playing football at the age of 15 as a pupil at Alego Primary School in Karachuonyo and later joined Ongalo Primary School.
Books and Football Genius
He combined games and academics effectively thereby passing the Certificate of Primary Education with three straight As as he scored 36 points.
Agonda’s ambition of joining Alliance High School did not materialize immediately because the late Tom Mboya wanted bright students from South Nyanza to join Mbita High School. He joined Gor Mahia in 1971.
However, the chairman of the Luo Union, Agai Koyier, poached him alongside many players. He played faithfully for the club, rising to steal the limelight at the national team.
Agonda featured in international matches, most notably the 1978 African Cup of Nations qualifiers played in 1976 against Egypt and Algeria.
He remained in the Luo Union even when they were renamed Re-Union a year later after the late President Daniel Arap Moi took over power.
Moi decreed that tribal names be banished as they were fuelling ethnic feelings.
In 1981, he left the country for further studies in India, returning home in 1984 armed with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
He played football as he worked for Del Monte in Thika as a Senior Finance Manager. In 1986 he abandoned football to concentrate on his career.
Life After Football
Agonda left Del Monte in 1990 to become the Financial Controller at the Lake Basin Development Authority.
After retiring from the government, Lukio started an accountancy consultancy firm in Kisumu. The legend maintained that semi-literacy undermined the prosperity of many African footballers.
“Lukio never took alcohol in his life and led a stable family life.”
He leaves behind a wife, Jane Lukio, and five children – two sons and three daughters.
Therefore, the recent burial of former international utility player Agonda, marked the end of an era as evidenced by an array of former legends who attended his interment.
