Marked for Hamdan Al Junaibi
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad23 Oct 2028
The manager makes an example of Brian Ndenga
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad23 Oct 2028
When it matters, Kevin Ouru plays
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
Market23 Oct 2028
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Herit Atariza signs something — a contract at Mathare United or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad25 Sep 2028
Kevin Ouru was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad25 Sep 2028
There is a version of every career where the player ends up somewhere he chose rather than somewhere that chose him. Youssouf Mbaiguedem is living that version at Mathare United, and it tends to show in the first month.
Match23 Sep 2028
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Bourama Boiré. 1‑0 against KCB, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Squad25 Sep 2028
Words at Mathare United training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Daniel Edeh is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Player ratings25 Sep 2028
Marked 8.02 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings25 Sep 2028
Successful dribbles: 16. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Boardroom25 Sep 2028
93% of the income goes out in wages at Mathare United
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
Squad25 Sep 2028
“The easiest signature of my career.” Youssouf Mbaiguedem and Mathare United agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Market25 Sep 2028
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Herit Atariza signs something — a contract at Mathare United or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.