Omar Shaban Guda: Top goalkeeping talent of 80s

In 1988, the two football giants in Kenya, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia represented Kenya in the CAF Cup Winners Cup. In 1987, Gor Mahia had won a treble: CAF Cup Winners Cup, Moi Golden Cup as well as the league. Leopards’ came second in the league and Shabana FC came in third. Shabana was left to fly Kenya’s flag at the CAF Cup of Champions.

AFC Leopards eliminated CAPS United of Zimbanwe in the first round before sending out FC Kalamu from Zaire in the second round. Gor also eliminated Mukura VS FC of Rwanda in the first round and then eliminated BTM Antanarivo of Madagascar in the second round. The two clubs went into the quarter-finals and Kenyans believed they could see and all Kenyan final but it was never to be.

Gor Mahia was eliminated by Inter Club of Congo Brazaville and Diamant FC of Cameroon sent out AFC Leopards. Leave the Gor Mahia failed defense for a minute. Leopards also had a great squad, and goalkeeper Omar Shaban Guda was an important part of the squad.

In the first leg at Nyayo Stadium, a Leopards defender Sammy Tabu sent a back pass to Omar in goal without knowing a Cameroonian striker was lurking in the shadows. He watched helplessly as the striker faced off one on one with Omar Shaban in what looked like an obvious goal. He failed to convert the chance. Leopards won by one goal to nil.

He also kept Ingwe in the game away in Yaounde as the hosts won by one goal to nil. Diamant eliminated Leopards’ on post-match penalties. Previously Shaban had stood strong with great saves as Ingwe eliminated CAPS United in Mombasa and then FC Kalamu of Zaire by four goals to three.

AFC won by four goals to one at Kasarani before losing by two goals to nil in Zaire. Shaban, who had been accustomed to being on the bench since he joined Leopards in the early 1980s, had proved worthy of the trust.

He had played in the shadows of the legendary Mohammed Abbas and Francis Lubembe through the 1980s until Abbas left for Re-Union in 1987. Things looked bleak again when Leopards signed John Busolo from Maziwa FC in 1986 to replace Lubembe. Washington Muhanji later joined the den as well from Armed Forces side Scarlet FC. However, Shaban managed to slip through and proved worthy even getting call-ups to the national team.

Ghanian Charles Kumi Gyamfi, who coached Leopards from 1988, had faith in Shaban after Graham Williams was sacked the previous year. He gave him enough played time, making the country regret how such a good talent had stayed in the shadows for long. In 1988 he helped Leopards to win the league “unbeaten” as their last match against Kenya Breweries was abandoned. Omar Shaban conceded only five goals to pay Gyamfi’s trust.

In 1989, he got a call up as Kenya was hosting CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. He was selected as the goalkeeper for Kenya-B as the host country back then gave two teams. David Ochieng and Washington Muhanji still held sway in the main national team. Kenya-B came last in Group B with one draw and a loss. The two losses were one goal to nil losses to Malawi and Zambia and those are the two goals Shaban conceded.

He began playing football in his home in Kwale County before he joined Kabete Technical Training School for his high school. He then joined Nairobi City Council FC where Leopards spotted him during Local Government Authorities games in August 1981. In 1982, he got fringe matches as Abbas and Lubembe were the preferred shot-stoppers.

From 1985, the form of Abbas and Lubembe who are close in age began to dip almost simultaneously. This gave Shaban some hopes as he had begun to get frustrated and he stayed on as he got more playtime. He played in the Leopards Cup Winners Cup match against El Mmereikh and they won two goals to nil. It was a big stage for the fringe goalkeeper to show what he is made of.

Shaban is one of the top talents of the 1980s to mid-1990s who were victims of top football talent in Kenya. His prowess was swallowed in the mass of top goalkeepers who played in that era.