Gor Mahia captain Jerim Onyango is ready to quit football for politics. The skipper has declared his interest in the post of Ugunja Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA). “I have decided to go for the post based on the people’s desire for change and good leadership. My people here have suffered under leadership that is not so directed at them and these are things I need to help address if given the chance,” he is quoted as saying by Gor Mania fans’ news blog (gormahia.net)
“I grew up here and I know the region and my people’s challenges very well. My motto is putting people first and that is what I want to do,” he further said. Jerry joined Gor Mahia in 2009 from KRA fc and was handed the captain’s armband following the departure of Julius Owino and is curently the longest serving player at Gor Mahia.
Jerry hopes to use Jerry Jagoal Sports Tournament, an annual event which he sponsors and has made him an icon in Ugunja and Ugenya constituencies, as a starting base to kickstart his political career.
Having lost his first team berth to Boniface Oduor, this move has been welcomed by fans who hope that he will use his political position to spur the growth of sports .This comes in the wake of massive land grabbing in the country by private developers of public and primary schools playgrounds on which the youth should use to develop their sporting talent.
It remains to be seen whether he will be able to punch away political shots and he can bag a different kind of trophy from the ones he won during a successful playing career with the country’s greatest club. We wish the best of luck.
