Late ODM leader Raila Odinga has long been known as a passionate football fan, loyally supporting local giants Gor Mahia FC and, from abroad, Arsenal FC.
But few know that before politics took centre stage, the former Prime Minister once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
That dream, however, was abruptly cut short in the mid-1970s by a career-ending injury.
In 1970, fresh from Germany where he had played for several amateur clubs while studying, Raila joined Gor Mahia as a player.
At the time, he hoped to rise through the ranks and become a celebrated footballer for his home team.
But four years later, during a routine training session at the Survey of Kenya grounds along Thika Road, Raila’s football journey came to a devastating end.
The team was preparing for an upcoming derby and was scrimmaging against the Survey of Kenya side.
Just minutes into the game, a rough challenge from an opponent left Raila sprawled on the ground, bleeding heavily and crying out in pain.
The opponent’s studs had ripped through his left knee and shin, causing a deep and lasting injury.
“In hospital, my kneecap had to be pushed back into position,” Raila wrote in his memoir The Flames of Freedom. “For weeks I was barely able to walk and had to crawl around the house. It was agony — and it was also the end of my football career. I sustained an injury whose after-effects would remain with me for the rest of my life.”
Flashback: Days Raila loved football.
Doctors managed to help him walk again, but the damage was permanent. What began as a passionate pursuit turned into a lifelong limp.
Later, the effects of the injury were worsened by the physical torture Raila endured during his detention in the 1980s and 90s. Today, he still walks with a noticeable limp — a quiet reminder of a dream lost on the pitch.
For the next five decades, Raila would continue to support Gor Mahia from the sidelines, clapping from the stands and remembering the days when he was the one on the field — dribbling, tackling, and dreaming.
