A statute in honour of the late soccer legendary Joe Kadenge should be erected at the Nairobi City Stadium,former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has suggested.
Odinga said Nairobi City Stadium where the late soccer doyen made his name especially during the Gossage Cup and Football league matches must be the ideal pace for the statute.He praised the late Kadenge saying Kenya has lost a true hero,father and a symbol of unity both to the old and the young generation.
Speaking at the Ngong Road based Friends Quakers church,Raila who was later joined by Senator Moses Wetangula and ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi urged Kenyans to remember and honour Kadenge by buying the book he left behind which was authored by BBC journalist John Nene.
The opposition leader narrated the many times he engaged with the late Kadenge saying he has a special seat in his house that was preserved for Kadenge alone.
‘If you go to Arsenal ‘s Emirates grounds ,Odinga added,you will find the statute of legends like Thierry Henry.I support my brother Mudavadi who suggested Nairobi City Stadium be renamed in honour of the late soccer wizard.He also suggested for the Government to buy a house for the Kadenge family which I do support“.
Mudavadi rekindled the days of the defunct Volcano United, the first professional club in the county where Kadenge was the team manager while he was the club treasurer.’My friendship,he added, with Kadenge started long time ago especially the time when we worked together at the defunct Volcano United where many don’t know, I was the treasurer while Kadenge was the team manager.We worked so well and managed to meet our objectives and goals.We had five players in the National soccer team Harambee Stars by then”
Musalia urged the Government to set aside money for a house for Kadenge family since the current flat they have been using belongs to the Nairobi County Government where changing of the title deed might be a long process.
Senator Wetangula described the late soccer doyen as a great hero.‘Mzee is going to his maker after fulfilling all the good things he did while on earth.He will remain decent,great human,honest ,generous and loving father of football.He gave everything on earth and the best thing to honour him is to emulate what he did.I will present a heroes bill at the senate that is aimed at honouring our sports heroes which I hope it will not gather dust at the majority leader’s Aden Duale’s desk.”Wetangula observed.
He went on to add “We should honour our legends with free houses. Recently,Madagascar National team players were given each a house by the Government for reaching the quarter finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.We can do the same to our Sportsmen” Wetangula noted.
Other speakers included Makadara legislator George Aladwa, Vihiga Senator George Khaniri,His Migori counterpart Ochillo Ayako, and Nairobi women rep Esther Pasaris among other dignitaries, football administrators and retired soccer legends.
The late Kadenge will be laid to rest on Saturday at Kisambai in Tiriki,Kakamega county.
