Why Odongo became a household name in Eldoret

Alfayo Odongo was the Most Valuable Player in the 1991 Kenyan Super League. He was playing for Rivatex FC, helping them to win the 1990 Moi Golden Cup. Rivatex FC became the first club outside Nairobi to clinch the Cup. Ramogi FC of Mombasa had won the FA Cup in 1979 before it was renamed Moi Golden Cup.

He was named after Alfayo Odongo Mango, the founder of the Roho Movement of churches in 1934. Odongo was burned to death in Musanda, the border between Luos and Luhyas in inter tribe skirmishes. Nobody knows if he is related to Odongo Mango because the Mango family scattered after the colonial government confiscated their land.  

The younger Alfayo hailed from Emwiru village in Khwisero. His parents could have been Roho Church adherents. He was born around 1969 and attended Heshima Road Primary School in Nairobi Eastlands. He got the nickname “JJ” in primary school because of being likened to JJ Masiga for his football prowess. Musingu High School came calling when he joined a school in Nairobi in Form One and he walked straight into the “Scorpions” squad.

He was scintillating with his left foot as an attacking midfielder and winger. He was in Musingu from 1985 until 1987, where he played alongside Mike Otieno, Festus Serenge, Vitalis Ngaira among other super talented players. They lost the 1987 Western Province football finals to Kakamega High School after several re-plays. He used to turn out for Shauri Moyo Sportiff whenever he was at home on school holiday.

Upon completing their studies, Eldoret-based Rivatex signed him as well as Mike Otieno. However, Mike got a better offer from Gor Mahia and Rivatex let him go. Alfayo settled well at Rivatex where he was employed and sponsored for a tertiary course from 1988 and soon he became one of their star players.

Rivatex had signed Tom Tera from Kakamega High School to link up with Patrick Mutai, Patrick Nachock, Sammy Sholei, and goalkeeper Charles Namudeche.

Rivatex FC soon became a thorn in the flesh of many top flight clubs. Eldoret Kipchoge Keino Stadium became a fortress, but they were also a tough side to play away from home. Eldoret KCC was the other club from Eldoret in the top flight and the two clubs set the North Rift town ablaze whenever they met. Alfayo Odongo soon became a household name in Eldoret.

In 1990, Abdul Majid coached Rivatex to Moi Golden Cup glory by beating Bata Bullets 2-0 at Nyayo Stadium. Bullets equalised in the last 10 minutes of the match and over celebrated. Before they could settle, Patrick Nachok scored Rivatex’s second goal to send the Moi Golden Cup out of Nairobi for the first time. Rivatex eliminated Gor Mahia and then went on to sweep away their other opponents. Alfayo was the toast of the Rivatex squad. His sublime dribbling, fast runs and ball playing skills turned around matches for the Eldoret based side.

In 1991, the Super Cup was held for the first time between league and cup winners. Austin Oduor had led Gor to the 1990 league title as player-coach. In that match played in December 1990 and sponsored by East African Standard, Alfayo Odongo was a thorn in the Gor Mahia underfoot. Despite Gor winning 2-0, Alfayo Odongo won the fans’ hearts. Bata Bullets then got hungry for titles and raided Rivatex for Tem Tera, Patrick Nachok and Sammy Sholei at the end of 1991, but Alfayo remained in Eldoret.

Before the raid, Rivatex played in CAF Cup Winners Cup in 1991 where they had to go to preliminaty round as debutants. Their first opponents were Plaisence FC of Seychelles who they beat 1-3 away in Seychelles in the first leg. They won the return leg 3-0. In the first round they met eventual winners, Zambia’s Power Dynamos FC.

The first leg in Eldoret Rivatex won by a solitary goal from Nachok. In the return leg in Zambia, Dynamos went four goals up in the first half. In the second half Rivatex managed to score two goals which sent Dynamos to pack the bus and avoid the lone goal that would eliminate them on away goal rule. The match ended 4-2. Alfayo was in the midst of all the action providing the crosses and scoring some good goals.

Despite not winning any trophies in 1991, Alfayo Odongo had a good season where he won the golden boot and golden ball in the Super League. He also got a call up to play for Harambee Stars in 1992 Afcon in Senegal.

He was instrumental in Kenya’s only goal for the tournament when he was fouled as he dribbled past two Nigerian players from the left flank into the box.

Mickey Weche scored the resultant penalty that halved Rashidi Yekini’s two goals.  

He retreated from Nairobi at the end of 1997 season and spent his time in Western Kenya. He was found dead around his home in Khwisero under unclear circumstances.