 Good afternoon and welcome back to the program. Touchline is the show in Y-254 My Name is Maxel Waseekit. It's about that time we talk about international football headlines on our segment, Fanzone, where we focus on the fixtures of the kind and what it's been trending in terms of global. But before we do, I'm going to read some interesting message with regards to the late President Daniel Mui. In 1987, when Kenya was playing against Malawi, I don't know whether this is true but I've seen it on Twitter. In 1987, when Kenya was playing against Malawi at Kasaran in the Yole Africa Games, Kulifayas Malawi was almost winning the game because Rambe stars were tired since they had played the previous day and like Malawi who had a week of rest. President Mui was at Kasaran watching the game and noticed Rambe stars weren't playing well because of fatigue. He called his bodyguard and gave him orders to do something. In the next five minutes, there was a blackout at Kasarani, something very unusual. The game had to be suspended to be played the next day of which Kenya won 3-2 against Malawi. Mui was a true football fan. I don't know whether that one is true, of course. And with my panelists, Anthony Mutinda is joining us for the first time on TVP. Wasana. Good to have you on board. Do you think this message is true? Well, we all need to survive so... So those tactics are very much important. Very important. Osora Robert, going by the clips we've watched on Mui, we might not have been in position to go to study then because of our age, but going by what we've been told, what we've read and what we've seen online with regards to Mui, you must have been a passionate love of sports. Mui was really a passionate love of sports because you look at everything that they put ahead and you know that Kenya was there on the map when it comes to sports. I think one of them was construction of study. He constructed the Kasarani Stadium for the All Africa Games in 87. He constructed the construction of Nyaya Stadium, which was a big one for them. And not only in football but cricket also. Remember we had the World Cup knockout trophy coming to Africa for the first time and it was played in Kenya. That was a big plus in the cricket world. Actually, some of the sports people who are really mourning president may have got to be the cricket fraternity because he gave them support to have that cup and Kenya made it to the semis of cricket world cup, something that we have never done before. Remember the Mui Golden Cup? Yes. It used to be played on every October 10, it was the final day and it could be there. Look at how full that stadium is in 1987 from that video. It shows you that this was a man who was serious about sport. One thing I learned to us when we lost the hosting rights of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nation hosting rights, do you know that he was the one himself who wrote to Aisha Hayatu apologizing that we are not going to manage to have this tournament here and it was taken to South Africa. So that tells you that he really had a mind to help the sports industry in Kenya. True to that word. I think Mzi Mui being able to go into the stadium, watch matches and I remember as Robert is saying, we used to have the… actually on holidays we used to have cups because the Mui Day Cup and all that. So I think he's a man who was passionate about the sports and this also is shown by the effort he made in building the stadiums. So I think he's a guy who did well and his predecessors should be able to replicate what he did. I think we were promised some stadiums, some nine stadiums but it has not come to fritation. If they follow to those footsteps and I think we can be able to see more maybe stadiums being built. Anthony, what do you remember the retired late president Daniel Mui for? Maybe in terms of what you've read about him? Okay, so in terms of sports personally Mui was a real pioneer when it came to sports because in Kenyan sports you can see from the video the stadium was full. I don't remember the last time we saw such a stadium being full and even a president came in to see our football match so he was a real pioneer and a real champion in terms of football of the country and also maybe something I wasn't maybe born at that time when he was a real pioneer but I've seen something that he has started. He started maybe the Kasarani stadium and maybe the current government should also take after that so it can be able to get more stadiums and more participation in the international tournaments. Do you think we had some pre-election pledges with regards to construction of stadiums in various parts of the country that hasn't come to fritation? Do you think now the current leadership led by President Uhuru Kenyatta for the sake of decent legacy to the late and respect for him they need to continue with construction of the same facilities Right now, as you speak, our facilities are in shambles. Horrible. Well, horrible is a bad word because he has tried something like the stadium in Kakamega. But that is the status of the county. So one thing I normally have never realized is the stadiums are they supposed to be devolutionalized also? I think it's the responsibility of the national government. But I think counties also need to play a role because we've seen other counties doing the same. Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County which was initiated by the incumbent Dr Alfred Mutua though as we speak right now it's also in bad shape and Narok Stadium in Narok County Kenoru Stadium in Meru County. I think also as much as we put the blame on government that we don't have stadia it's also down to the municipalities back then because I remember during the Moide celebrations or at the Jamuri Day celebrations we had government playgrounds that's where people used to go to celebrate in those county playgrounds. What happened to them after? That's now when you are seeing the construction of Narok Stadium, the construction of the Kakamega and Bukungu and all that. But away from that I just wanted to say that it is during President Mui's era that we had successful football years. Remember 81, 82, 83 we won the SEKAFA Sina Challenge Cup three times in a row. We also won the Club Championship three times in a row. During Mui's time is when we won the All Africa Games we won the Konfederation Cup. Kenya qualified for the Africa Cup of Nation three times in a row after missing out in Aspan I think of ten years we qualified for 88, 92 three times in a row when he was in power and that was a big, big plus for Kenya even the athletes flourished our first gold medal came during Mui and that was a big plus during that and no other person has matched that. The problem we might be having now is I think the Mui era there was at that time the kind of facilitation that used to be is not reciprocated at the moment and that's why I've put at that time which kind of facilitation is this? Of course financial wise and maybe fan base and all that right now we can see our teams going to games and getting a lot of problems accommodation wise, allowance wise at that time I know there was that facilitation but a little bit small but that was the economy at that time right now we need to pump to inject more facilitation into the sport What have learned so far from everything and seeing about the late president is for our funds to go back to the stadium the sports industry should start working hand in hand with the political industry because it is the politicians who will pull funds to the stadium and if they can learn that link because I remember during the Mui Golden Cup it was celebrations of the state government and after lunch and everything people could still wait for the final of the Mui Golden Cup and the president could be there and the crowds could be full but today Okay though maybe I can add something as much you want to say the politicians are the ones to influence when it comes to football I think also it goes down to the quality of football you have in Kenya I think also someone wants to get value for his time go to the stadium let's not go even in Europe let's go to South Africa you see those guys have really improved their quality when it comes to football and again the privatization has really helped as much as we blame the government the government also has to let it be privatized because as much as we would like government funding to the football or rather even to the sport because nowadays sports is supposed to be entertainment as well we have seen football matches like the countries just mentioned South Africa you know that Dabi between Kaiser Chips and Alonto Pirates Mauts Watson crowd fans showing up in large numbers to the rafters you know the crowd is very full unlike in Kenya the archivals gore and Tefsile Pats whenever they are looking once again a stitch other during Mashemeji Dabi Kasaran even is not half full I think what we've done when we compare the quality okay fine the quality in South Africa is a little bit not a little bit even not South Africa let's go to Tanzania we have seen by playing against young the problem with our game in Kenya is that we have not commercialized it we are not we are not marketing our sport because if we were marketing our sport if we were getting sponsors who are sponsoring this kind of maybe clubs if we may say because I think mostly clubs will be the ones which can make people come into the stadium and they can pull more crowds as compared to the national team because national team may be having a match after two months but for clubs it's a week in a week out affair so I think if we commercialize the sport and know that it's business market it then why not have the crowds in the stadium of course I think we're going to create a day next week then bring the icons those people who manage to have some close connection and association with the retired president Moe Sportswide so that they can give the in depth views opinions and thoughts with regard to Moe the sportsman but let's go to what we're supposed to discuss the fund zone understand this is supposed to be the winter break how come they are fixed us on car Davidon playing against Crystal Palace Brighton I don't know why are some teams not being given equal preference like the rest I think this is a a case of this is the first winter break that the APL how significant is it two weeks I think Asano is in Dubai and then we are having a much later I've seen Nikola's papers lying I think I think it's we might we might not have a correct answer to that because the winter break has really brought a bit of a scandal I think you remember Jogen Klopp saying he's not going to play Sinetim in the FA Cup and he went with the under 23 so that the players need that rest so I think these are those clubs that were convinced by the FA that you can have your match and they agreed to do that but if you look at those some of the major big clubs could not allow for their matches to go on in the winter break and if we can copy something from the other leagues actually you never have matches if it's a winter break it's supposed to be a winter break it's not that maybe if you're having an FA Cup fixture somewhere other clubs also are having still they are on winter break so I really don't get why we were introducing this break in the first case Antoni which team do you support in English Premier League personally I'm an Arsenal fan big fan of Pepe a big fan of Pepe look for a different team it's the best we have a very upcoming coach so maybe if I can say something about the winter break I think also it's something that was seen last season there were some games that were being played but due to the the position of the stadiums some teams could not play I could take a team like Newcastle they were experiencing snow when the other teams were playing and also for the I saw in EPL they really value the health or rather the players too much compared to the others because some players do not really perform well during winter like their performance is never at their best like take a guy like Nicholas Pepe even when he was in league one during this December to January period he wasn't at his best but now after the summer comes in it's easier so also they are looking at the stadiums also probably and the same summer transfer window set to be changed for September when now players will be acquired by different clubs good move as well? that's a good one because you could see like for example EPL cannot buy Man United lost Lukaku they can't buy and maybe it has come at a bad time so it is good for me I think it also creates competition if the other leagues are closing at September 1st I think they should be at September 1st one thing people have never learnt is English people are funny people they usually don't like doing things the way other people are doing things I think you remember there are some teams that go for break in December they have the chance to do that they don't do it, they go on playing I remember back when the competitions like the UF competitions were starting and England was a prime candidate to be among the pioneers of the UF competitions they took a step back and then they started come back I think that's why they are doing some of those kinds but something that we learn in due course on why they should do that I think it also comes up on the different kind of regions that the European leagues played we have Spain we have England, we have Italy these people these clubs play under different climatic conditions so I think that's why you might see that maybe Spain their break is at a different time in England this one they are introducing at a different time but all in all we should have that uniformity for example the transfer window there's no way I'm going to lose my best player I'm gonna lose him in the summer maybe on a free but I get some some quote in January or somewhere and I sell him and I fail to acquire another player to cover that sale up so I think putting it at far with the best of Europe I think is the best move for them and I think we'll be able to see now maybe transfers that we were not expecting to see Anthony another headline has been there has been much especially on Twitter how paramount a technical director is to the Timer Carbidal is from a Barcelona player one of the best left backs we've ever heard was graced football now is the technical director of Barcelona and there has been a fallout between himself and Lionel Messi but now people branding Messi as you know someone who is even beyond a coach club is bigger than an individual but we've seen Messi departures of several players from Barcelona he had a fallout with Thierry Ronaldinho Gauch as well now he's having a fallout with the technical director of the club Ericka Bidal is it because of his influence it's too domineering that's a good thing but I think Messi has really graced the world of football in a different way he has a very special talent personally at Tangunian Zeku Wachbol I've never seen such a player like Messi as much as I would say Ronaldo but all the same when it comes to the club that is debatable but all the same when it comes to the club I always think the club is bigger but if you can see where Barcelona is right now imagine if they didn't have Messi as much as you'll say imagine if there were without Messi and look at when Messi was rising every time he was eliminating a player every time he was eliminating a player even if it's not an iblimovic the same, Pep had to chase him away the thing is every coach who had a chance to coach Barcelona during Messi's time had to make his game around Messi Messi was the key player in that thing what Ericka Bidal the Barcelona hierarchy and Messi himself have realized is your time is up it's just that simple all these other things I don't know your time is just up you have given us your good 15 years but upende usupende your time is up this is what I'm going to say I'm going to say 33 years yes is that true? no no no look at this Cristiano Ronaldo he trained hard he trained his body to get on to that side Messi he was a feeling he was not that kind of a player to come to play physical and everything but he had that talent and I think he made his debut in 2005 that's when he made his debut made his debut in 2005 it is now 2020 those are good 15 years and in those 15 years he was one degree but but with Barcelona and even the players playing around Barcelona at the moment they know that it has come a time that Messi is going to leave this field of play I think what I'm going to say right now is they are going to be casualties from all of these because I think Bidal was wrong how? you cannot go to the media and start saying that these players who are not working hard under Valverde they are the ones who made him they are the ones who made me suck Valverde so Erika Bidal is the one who sucked to Valverde yes exactly he said that some of these players are not really working hard it was sabotaged yes but you cannot this is an internal matter you cannot go on commenting such kind of issues to the media and this is a classic example of what happened to Mourinho when he was at United he was a casualty because most of the time Mourinho would go to the media and make criticize exactly criticize a player on camera it's really not good and if there was sabotage and maybe Abidali is trying to insinuate he would this is an internal matter they would have tried to solve this matter internally I agree with that that the players might not be working hard and everything now look at this at that golden era of Barcelona it had Erika Bidal himself it had Puyola at the back it had this Kymid field Xavier Nandes now how many people have remained from that golden generation only two Saido Busquets and Lionel Messi you look even at the game where they lost to Atletico Bilbao you saw the picture of Saido Busquets sitting on the ground with his arms like this and Messi with that picture him looking at the ground they themselves have understood that this one is good Erika Bidal might be saving his job but you are not going to save your job you are going to the media and make pronouncements which will really affect the club because trust me this season Lionel Messi has played 17 matches we are saying fine his time is up but he has played 17 matches he scored 14 goals fine his time is coming but he is still performing he is still performing can we unanimously say that there is dwindling standards of football especially at the top Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid they do go to eliminated from Copa I don't know does that mean that the other teams are coming up because Atletico Bilbao beating Barcelona that was Astana that's true actually the quality is actually dropping because of the two guys but I also think when it comes to Messi as much as you will say his time is out imagine now Barcelona without Messi some people argue on this particular front will Messi come at work for the English Premier League and play the same way he does at the banner don't run high but I also think Messi he kind of he owes the team he really owes the team because if you can look at where he came from the Barcelona and UNICEF they are the people who helped him so he is more of a family to Barcelona that one we cannot debate that one we understand but I'll still stick with my point Barcelona is getting they are getting they already know and they are being told you are going to follow the likes of Manchester United your golden time is done go and make new players they are following the full steps of the invisibles these players were good you played very well but now go back to the drawing board they are following the likes of Madrid look at what is happening with Madrid go back to the and now the big question is you have been playing for 15-20 years with Messi as your key player so who is the next key player Dembel what is the next key player actually I saw somewhere someone saying right now Barcelona is a bunch of clowns true a bunch of clowns are at a tip with no class because since Zavi and Iniesta left actually their recruitment has been I don't know what right now Abidal is going to change their recruitment has been pathetic they signed Kevin Prince but he they signed Cotinio where is he right now look at Dembel Aturo Abidal he is still there but performance wise as that comment is saying it's a team of clowns and without clowns look at even the players they left can you believe that Adama Trahor was a Barcelona product they want him back who will say you know what you give us 90 million Anthony Liverpool despite the fact that they fielded a weak squad again in the FA Cup replay they managed to win I think you can club deliberately he wants to be eliminated from this minor competition so that he can concentrate on English Premier League but is he on course is he on course for Trebo this season because he looks like he is going to win English Premier League title because right now as he speaks they are on top of the table 22 points champions league on course they are looking for to retain the same area as it has done before FA Cup they have qualified to the next stage I think they will be playing against Chelsea and you can club win at Trebo Trebo all no given the team is fielding in FA and given that he is not even in charge of the FA much actually this is only one game remember this is only one game that was playing when the winter break was happening the first team is not going to be in hold let me relax the muscles but right now I am telling you is not going to feel that kind of team look at this every player knows when you have record breaking points you can do anything with the team adrenaline is already gone if they have a chance to keep the Premier League why not also try for the FA Cup because you have got the good players you have still got good Liverpool players who can go head to head against Chelsea and actually perform so you have got a chance to have a double at home and still you have another knockout competition which is the Champions League which takes 2-3 weeks break and you can field your team there and go ahead and win ok for me one thing I know about Klopp Klopp is a very tactical guy Klopp will never field his strong team and the next week he knows he is facing another team in Champions League so probably he will play like the Clikes of LaLana the quality but but but but he is a field player he plays second field role Chelsea have a superior team and given that they are in Stamford they definitely have a superior team let me ask you what are you talking about having a superior team than the second team which team a team that could not win against a 10 man Asano for like a whole game 75 minutes let me tell you the game against Chelsea is going to find he is not going to field all of his first 11 but he is going to jag around that team and still get a winning team against Chelsea but the quality of the Chelsea team is very very down and with the Qajons that Liverpool are having right now trust me I think they are more than capable of winning actually they won the Premier League and you remember when Liverpool I think Arsenal Liverpool played against Arsenal in the same competition the one that ended 5-4 I think it went to post much penalties I think it went to post much penalties I think it went to post much penalties time remember where Arsenal was Ahn that time Anai Emery had also filled some of the academy players so they were at least at par you can see Anfield and here he is going to field as strong he will only gamble to go through the round of 16 yes that's the mic we are heading into the quarterfinals if you don't know So, if he beats Chelsea, then he's into the quarterfinals, actually not quarterfinals, he's into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, so why not field a strong squad? That's what I'm saying, he's gambling. If he goes through Chelsea, he's going to field the next strong team. Next. Because, come on, if Yale is done and that's it, the Champions League... Unless something happens, when do you know what's going to happen? So, I think they need six wins, and that game, I think the seventh one or sixth one, they will be playing against Chelsea. The sixth one will be against Everton, then City. Those things will not defeat Liverpool. But in case Yugan club fields a weak squad against Chelsea, and he wins, he will take bragging rights of course. Bragging rights and also, guaranteed that's attribable. You see, when the under-23s want to get on to the Yugan club team. So, they are putting all their best. In case Yugan wins the English Premier League title, you have a Champions League, is it honorable for him now to quit Liverpool? Why quit when you have already... Look for another challenger. Because you have achieved that milestone. No, no, no, no. Fakassun did that still state. The only thing these coaches have is, how do you transition these teams? Because it will come at time, the way we are talking of Barcelona, you don't have sadio mani. You don't have famino, you don't have Salah, you don't have Fabino. So, what kind of players and club are you going to bring to still have the same DNA that you have at this moment to go on beating teams? Are you giving us a golden team for a generation? Or you are just becoming a pep good. Strike us for three years and then forget about it. The one thing I always know about Klopp, Klopp is very good in recruitment. He takes just an average player, makes them outstanding. Yeah, he did that with Borussia Dortmund and they still failed. No, he did well. We have to agree, we didn't know about Robertson, we didn't know about Trent Alexander Arnoldt. Jijo Ilnardam is one of the outstanding players right now in the midfield of Liverpool. Jordan Henderson, James Milner. Talk about mani. Also mani didn't even know him at Southampton. Yes. So, I think, right now as you speak, I think he's undeniably the best manager. I think he's arguably. Not arguably. I'm not going to put that arguably there. I think right now he's the best in Europe currently. In the world. Are we talking about club football overall, even at the national team level? Okay, we have no, you know, club football is really very, is very different from... The dynamics. Exactly, the dynamics are very, very different unless he gets to manage a national side, then we can be able to see what he brings on board because national sides always... But you see club football is the best one to rate him because he's working week in, week out. Yes, and he's playing a lot of matches. So, I think for now he's the best coach in the world and as you were trying to assume that he should maybe, was it a question? That he should leave Liverpool if he wins the table? I don't think so. It's a good time that now he'll put in more effort to try. Maybe win the Champions League. Let me help you with this argument. You see, like in tennis we play best of five. To know that you are the outright winner or best of three. So you have won the Champions League, you have won the Premier League. Now that is just the first round. Now we have got another round to go. Prove it to us. Then give us another round again. So that we understand that you are... If he does what he's done this season for three consecutive seasons, then I think now it will be high time that he may try to see how a transition of the Liverpool team happens. Because it failed with Borussia. Exactly. So... Okay, maybe if I can cut you short. Something I can say about three consecutive seasons. It's so hard to three consecutive seasons. Look at him. That's CPL. Three consecutive seasons. But one thing I'll say. I think you did it twice at Chelsea. But one thing I'll say with Klopp. Klopp did well last season. They slept at the last moment. They broke points for the season, some points for the club. Also this season they are going to do well. So let's give it up to next season. I think that will be three. I think we have to wind up time is up. The show ends at three. You are parting short final thoughts. So Robert, what are you looking for after here? Now that Buju Banton's concert is cancelled. Because of the late, you know, the concert was supposed to take place at KICC. And you understand the burial of the return. Live on channel one by there. For those who are looking for catching up with what is happening, you can get glued on the screens of KB, some other station to get notes happening. So Buju Banton's concert is cancelled. So what happens next? I think we were treated very well prestigiously by you before you were in town last weekend. I think it was the concert for the cool kids. You remember the president, former premier, who were there at the carnival? I don't know. May I be going to watch just the La Liga matches? Because I'm really hoping Real Madrid can bounce back because they really lost to Real Sociedad and see if they can take this leg from Barcelona. And that will be now the nail on the head. Merci, you are off. I think I can sneak into RFU for a few minutes and then maybe at 6... Queens again is home boys. Exactly. Then at 6, I have a concert at the Kenya National Theatre. Kisi nim kisi. Oh, there is that concert. Yes. Yes. This evening. And then maybe in the... So what's happening there? Late hours today. Ya, they have... Ya, Natisa coming to showcase their prowess. Exactly. Their prowess and their talent from the Lajagusi region. So I think it's something you can maybe have a sneak in and check out what they have in store for you. And then maybe in the late hours I can join Osoro in watching the La Liga matches. Their timing is very, very okay with the time that I will be leaving the Kenya National Theatre. Anthony, for you, what's the plan ahead? Well, the plan ahead is not to do anything for me but I'll just enjoy EPL as normal. Ya. I know I love EPL. But maybe if I can say maybe something small about the parting shot, I would like to say maybe if we can try to do something like privatization of the football match in Kenya, I think we'll go so far. How? Like, let's take maybe the government to release officially from the government fundings to the privatization. Like, for example, you can see in England you know, fly medics are investing, ATI always are investing. So personally, that's one of the investment we'd like to do in the future. I'd really like to, like the private sector to get into football. And hopefully you'll have that patience whenever your entity is performing. Ya, ya, personally. Badly you will have to, you know, wait for a little longer for results to come through. Oh, so you are used to. I'm planning to run for the FQF presidency. Help you out there. Anyway, that has been touchline every Saturday 1, 2, 3 on Y2, 5 we keeping it cool and easy. You know, trying to keep you posted with what is happening in the local and international sporting headlines. We never discriminate. You can as well come on the show. Next Saturday on the fund zone and defend your team the same way Anthony has done. He's very proud of us now despite their horrible show in English Premier League. Ya, ya, ya, not horrible. Not horrible. Not horrible. I'm noting a forest in the championship. That's the team I support. Equally doing pretty well, hoping to see them in English Premier League. I think of course they are the booting champions league winner. They have at least one title that Arsenal has known. That's the defence he has on. And so it's Arsenal villa. Arsenal fans, man united one. Noting a forest. There is a man united. There is a man united. We are camera man. Camera person supports. Hopefully it's Arsenal as well. More likely. She looks like an Arsenal fan. You know I'm told beautiful women support Arsenal. And handsome men too. Oh, I really know. Thanks to our crew for facilitating these the likes of Zakaria Abirahman, the young man coming up my good friend here, Padila Thmani at the gallery of course. Let's do this again same time, same place. Next Saturday 1, 2, 3 touchline the public viewing of the late President Daniel Moy happening right now at KCC. You can get the opportunity to go and watch yourself as well or probably get glued on TV, KBC Channel 1. Parliament building sorry. Thank you for your time. Always a pleasure. Have a good afternoon and good bless you.