Sri Lanka Get Sharp Lesson From Kenya’s ‘Unbwogable’ Generation

Feb 26, 2003

NAIROBI - It is doubtful whether Sanath Jayasuriya and his Sri Lankans had ever heard of the Luo tribe before their extraordinary World Cup defeat by Kenya on Monday.

NAIROBI - It is doubtful whether Sanath Jayasuriya and his Sri Lankans had ever heard of the Luo tribe before their extraordinary World Cup defeat by Kenya on Monday.
Steve Tikolo’s side, however, who beat the 1996 world champions by 53 runs in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, were heavily stocked with the tribesmen from the west.
If the Kalenjin tribe from Kenya’s expansive Rift Valley Province have made distance running their preserve, it is the Luos who have dominated cricket.
While the game was initially championed by the country’s Asian population, the Luos, from Nyanza province were the first indigenous Kenyans to take to bat and ball.
The first player to break into those predominantly Asian squads was Kenneth Odhiambo, a Luo who toured England with Kenya in 1976. Two years later, Thomas Opondo joined him.
Many boys, sons of poorly-paid government workers saw cricket as an escape route from economic hardship. They would perch on the fence of Nairobi’s Sir Ali Muslim Club, to watch the game.
Several Luos held middle-cadre government jobs in the days of the late Luo politicians Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Tom Mboya. They predominantly occupied the so-called government quarters around Nairobi’s Ngara and Parklands.
Maurice Odumbe was captain when Kenya pulled off its other major success, beating West Indies at the 1996 World Cup. Edward Tito Odumbe was also in the team of seven years go.
At the 1990 ICC Trophy in the Netherlands, the Kenyans reached the semi-finals with six Luos in their ranks, four of them Odumbe brothers - Tito, Maurice, Bernard Owino and Martin Oriwo. The Suji brothers, Martin and MacDonald, also featured.
Tom Tikolo — a Luhya and who is the eldest brother of current Kenyan captain Steve — was also in that team, with another brother, David Tikolo.
Leg spinner Collins Obuya, man of the match on Monday with five wickets for 24, took away a 12,000-rand ($1,482) gold watch, far beyond the wildest dreams of most well-paid Kenyans.
Obuya is also a Luo. And, of course, he is joined by brothers Kennedy Otieno who scored 60 against Sri Lanka, and David.
Monday team members Peter Ongondo, Thomas Odoyo, Martin and Tony Suji and Joseph Angara are fellow tribesmen.
They may not run 10,000 metres for a living but they can play cricket.

Reuter
Ends

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