Former Harambee Stars Defender Hawking Charcoal In Eldoret Opens Up About His Struggles: "Inauma"

• Alfred Namai, a once-celebrated Kenyan footballer, has been grappling with financial hardship since retiring from football
• In 1986, he played as a defender for several Kenya Premier League clubs and, ultimately, the national team, Harambee Stars
• During an interview, Namai disclosed that he was not only a prolific footballer but also an excellent student

Former Harambee Stars footballer Patrick Alfred Namai has opened up about his life's shortcomings since he retired from football.

When did Alfred Namai play for Harambee Stars

During his era in the 80s, he showcased his skills as a national footballer under-21 team player and notably contributed to Kenya's representation in Italy during the 1986 international competition.

Speaking to NTV, he spoke about the numerous achievements he made back then when he was still a footballer.

"I went to Zambia when I was in school Form 5. We struggled till we won the match. I remember that I was the one who made the final goal that brought us victory,' he said.

Namai also spoke about his academic prowess.

He added that he got admission to join Maseno University but turned the offer down due to a job opportunity he got at Rivatex.

What is Alfred Namai doing now?

More than three decades have passed since the former Harambee Stars defender departed from the football scene, along with the gradual fading of memories from his heydays.

Today, Namai engages in burning and hawking charcoal as a means of livelihood in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

His once illustrious football career now exists primarily in the form of pictures preserved in his vintage album and an old passport.

Namai stated that ever since his father passed away two years ago, his business went down, and now he makes most of his money through doing odd jobs for people.

Namai urged the government to recognize the unrecognized heroes of Kenyan sports, highlighting that many of them currently face the harsh realities of poverty.

Former AFC player loses sight

Earlier on, ex-AFC Leopard's Martin Imbalambala opened up on his plight, three years after losing his eyesight in mysterious circumstances.

In 2018, at the age of 32, Imbalambala experienced partial loss of sight, severely impacting his career in football.

Despite efforts to restore his vision, his condition deteriorated, and as of the publication of this article, the former football star is blind in both eyes.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke