Sports

Former Kenyan Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei gives reasons for joining politics

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2024

Former Kenyan 800m Olympic champion turned politician, Wilfred Bungei, has explained the reason behind his decision to transit into the murky world of politics.

In an interview on the Safari za Mabingwa show hosted by Oga Obinna, Bungei recounted an embarrasing encounter that left him with no choice but to contest politics.

The former Olympic champion who ran in the Emgwen Parliamentary in 2017 but failed to win the seat, recounted the embarrassing incident that made him venture into politics.

Bungei, however, said he was not affected by the loss since he was not in the running for the money but rather, to help his community.

He went on to narrate how he booked an appointment with a top Managing Director in the country but never had a chance to sit down with him because shortly after he arrived at the destination, two MP’s walked into the office before him, but after waiting three hours, the meeting had to be canceled.

Bungei said he was frustrated and concluded that the only way to help his people was by joining politics because there, doors would be easier to access and open.

“I was going to see a certain MD, and I won’t mention his name, a very senior person and he asked me to see him at 6:30 in the morning as he had requested. You know these guys, you need to see them earlier before the office hours.

“After 20 minutes, I was told to be patient and then some MPs walked in and they just stayed in that office until 9:00.

“This was around 2014. After that, the guy walked out and said, ‘Wilfred I’m really sorry, hawa wanaume wameniweka (These guys have engaged me for long).’

“I realised that MPs are the only people who will have all doors opened for them and I said that the only way to help my people was only to be an MP. It wasn’t for money or fame because I spent almost Ksh 100 million,’’ he said.

The 43-year-old Bungei added that he never wanted fame when he decided to venture into the dirty game because deep down, he knew he still wanted to do something for his people back in the village and he thought politics was the way to go.

He added that during his time as a runner, he had so many people who would come to seek help from him and he believed by being the area MP, he would be able to help everyone.

“When I ran for politics, most people thought that I wanted money or fame but I believe that I had made a name that was bigger than going for a seat as an MP.

“I ran for office because I felt that I still had something that I could be able to do for my society. The only way that I knew I could be there for them is by representing them.

“When I was in athletics and people knew that I had money, they would come and ask for help from me and I realised that the only platform I could be able to help people would be through politics.

“We regard politicians so high in this country compared to professionals and this is where I have a problem and many times I would go to an office to seek something and I would be told, ‘Wilfred we know you and we shall see what to do.’,” he said.

Related Topics:Featured Kenya Olympics Politics Wilfred Bungei

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Sports

Nigeria’s Lookman, Zambia’s Banda big winners at 2024 CAF Award

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigerian sensation, Ademola Lookman, has wrapped his footballing year with another win after being declared as the Men’s Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Lookman, who plays for Italian club side Atalanta, was the biggest winner at the star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech following 12 months with Italian side Atalanta and the Nigerian Super Eagles. He follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023.

This is the first time Nigeria has had consecutive men’s award winners since nearly thirty years, when Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were awarded.

Other top African achievers recognized for their exploits during the event include South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Zambia’s Barbra Banda. Banda was instrumental in leading Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season in the United States. She scored the game-winning goal in the final against Washington Spirit.

Other winners include Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row after another impressive season for French side Paris FC.

Sanaâ Mssoudy, a forward for AS FAR and Morocco, received the Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award after winning the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Best Player title. Agile box-to-box midfielder, Lamine Camara of Senegal and Monaco, won the Men’s Young Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances for both club and country.

Doha El Madani, a 19-year-old Moroccan and AS FAR player, won the Women’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring six goals in five games to win the Golden Boot at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.

See the full winners list below:

2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Cote d’Ivoire

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Nigeria

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Al Ahly (Egypt)

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)

CAF GOAL OF THE YEAR
Mabululu (Angola)

Sports

Salah wins 6th EPL Player of the Month award

Published

3 days ago

December 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Egyptian national team captain and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, was on Saturday voted the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for November 2024, making it his sixth POTM diadem in his career.

Salah, who has been in inspiring form this season, has scored and assisted five of Liverpool’s seven goals as the Reds won all three of their Premier League matches to stay top of the table.

Salah’s was November’s highest scorer in the Premier League and the Egyptian is now on 13 goals for the season, level with Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.

The 32-year-old also has 21 combined goals and assists this season, the most in the Premier League, four more than Cole Palmer, who ranked second in the voting.

This award also puts Salah alongside Premier League legends like Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo, who also won the Player of the Month award six times, and is now just one win away from equaling the record of seven awards, held by Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero.