By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (May 3^rd 2026)

The Centenary and its Legacy

The Chairperson of Kenyan Football’s Legends, Josphat Murila, played for the Harambee Stars (Kenya) from 1974-87. He wants to see the centenary of the Gossage Cup, which is the first international football tournament in African history (May 1^st and May 3^rd 2026) have an important legacy for Kenyan football.

Murila’s international career began after the rise of Kenyan athletics, which had seen Kenya’s Rift Valley, especially Eldoret produce some all-time greats, such as Kipchoge Keino, among others. In the 1960s athletes, especially 3000 metres Steeplechase and other middle and long distance runners replaced footballers as the major sporting icons in Kenya.

It should, however be remembered, as mentioned in previous articles by former Marathon runner and the current Organizing Secretary of Kenya’s Veteran Athletes Association, Simon Biwott, that football has a storied history in Kenya that should be appreciated and celebrated see https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2026/05/01/veteran-athlete-wants-to-celebrate-kenyan-footballs-history/ and https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2026/04/30/by-satish-sekar-satish-sekar-april-30th-2026/).

Africa’s Pioneering Football Event

The CECAFA Cup had started life as the Gossage Cup, named after British luxury soap manufacturers, William Gossage & Sons. The first edition of the Gossage Cup took place at Kenya Railways, Landi Mawe Grounds – Tanganikya and Zanzibar declined the invitation to the inaugural Gossage Cup, but would take part in the tournament regularly from the late 1940s onwards.

Meanwhile, May 1^st 1926 hosted the first match in the history of the Gossage Cup – it ended 1-1 between Kenya and Uganda. A replay was necessary – it took place 100 years ago today and ended with Kenya lifting the Gossage Cup after beating Uganda 2-1. The last Gossage Cup took place in Zanzibar in 1966. After a brief interlude of the East and Central African Challenge Cup from 1967-71, the CECAFA Cup took over.

Murila wants the tournament to have a legacy – a particular one.

The Academies Route

Murila wants to see Kenyan football develop and achieve its potential in international football. He believes that Kenya needs football academies to do that.

“That is the most required issue that we need to deal with especially through our football structures,” Murila told me exclusively.[1] “It [the building and development of football academies in Kenya] is a matter that can be under discussion and especially with the current federation, because they are the ones that can now honour and say, ‘this is what we want to change,’ and because of this effect of Gossage, we want to align ourselves with this level of development, and from that point now, we can move one step higher from where we are.”

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[1] For further information on Kenyan football legend, Josphat Murila’s views, especially on the development of Kenyan football please refer to the exclusive interview that he gave me Josphat Murila on Kenyan Football History at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fLuyMM4gUc