Davis Oyiela: Epitome of great talent Kenya wastes

In 1986, Jonathan Niva led Sammy Nyongesa and Chris Makokha in assembling an Under 21 national team in Nakuru. The camp had players from Western, Nakuru and Nairobi. The players were taken from the national Super League and Division One sides and schools.

The aim was to select a squad that would tour Italy. The competition was so tough, that the three teams formed in the camp beat all the sides they played against in friendlies. Davis Oyiela was in the Nairobi group that went to Nakuru with Niva.

Ultimately, they decided that the best way to randomly pick the final squad was by letting players pick papers with numbers. Oyiela picked one of the top numbers that got him in the squad that toured Italy.

He was with Mike Wambani, Ben Ouma, Eliud Omukuya, Hezrone Osuka, David Ochieng’, Arthur Coimbra among others.  He played as an attack-minded midfielder, earning him the nickname “Armando”, Argentinian legend Diego Maradona’s middle name.

Oyiela, who hailed from Itumbu village near Luanda town, grew up in Eastleigh Section One. He kicked the ball made from polythene bags in open spaces before joining Undugu FC. On the tour of Italy, they played against Inter Milan and Napoli among other sides. His talent in ball handling and dribbling was scintillating. He had robust bursts forward to attack but could hold the ball as well as eye a good pass.

He was picked by the new “money boys” in town Volcano United for the 1987 season before he crossed over to AFC Leopards’ when the hype around Volcano came tumbling down. In 1987, Reinhardt Farbisch picked him for the final squad for the All African Games that were hosted in the brand new Kasarani Stadium. He was the youngest player in the squad.

Before the All African Games in August 1987, Kenya played the CAF qualifiers for the 1988 African Cup of Nations in Morocco. Oyiela was to Kenya what Denis Oliech was for the 2004 AFCON qualification, he scored the goal that made the difference.

Kenya played Madagascar in the first round and beat the competition three goals to two on aggregate. Abbas Magongo and Henry Motego scored at Mombasa Municipal Stadium for the two nil win before George Nyangi Odembo pulled back one in the two goals to one loss in Madagascar.

Kenya was pitted against Zimbabwe in the second round. The first match was away in Harare on July 5, 1987, where Zimbabwean player Stanley Ndunduma scored in the 76th minute at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare.

The home side was holding the match well with abated celebrations as time slowly wound up. Two minutes to the final whistle, Oyiela pulled one back for Kenya to level matters up. They waited for the return leg two weeks later in Nairobi.

Zimbabwe managed to hold Kenya to a goalless draw at Nyayo Stadium and Kenya qualified for the 1988 AFCON.

Unfortunately, Oyiela missed the AFCON squad that travelled to Brazil for training camp under Chris Makokha before going to Morocco. John Zangi Okello, Nyangi Odembo, Douglas Mutua, Wilberforce Mulamba and George Onyango Fundi went in the midfield. Forwards were David Odhiambo, Henry Motego, Peter Dawo, Ambrose Ayoyi and Sammy Onyango Jogoo.

At the All African Games, Kenya had a star studded squad with a midfield that was full of talent and experience, better than the current squad of Spain. Abbas Magongo could be left on the bench in the final against Egypt that Oyiela started.

The other midfielders were Wilberforce Mulamba, George Nyangi Odembo, George Onyango Fundi, Douglas Mutua, and Charles Otieno. You would not want to look at the talent that did not make the squad like John Zangi Okello, John Shoto Lukoye, Kefa Tasso and Peter Zimbo Owade.

For him to be the youngest player in the squad and make it in the first eleven of the final shows how dependable Oyiela was to Harambee Stars. Kenya lost to Egypt by one goal to nil.

Later in December 1987, Oyiela was also in the Harambee Stars squad to CECAFA Senior Championship held in Ethiopia. That squad had goalkeepers Washington Muhanji and John Busolo, as well as Wycliffe Anyangu, Wilberforce Mulamba, Henry Motego, James Nandwa among others.

In 1990 Oyiela was in the Abaluhya Football Club (AFC) Leopards’ squad that lost the quarter final of CAF Cup of Champions against Ivory Coasts’ JS Kabiliye despite winning the first leg 2-1 at home. For reasons beyond his doing, Oyiela’s great talent did not translate to great fortunes. He retreated to his rural home in Luanda where he lived in destitution until he passed on in July 2012.