Former Harambee Stars sensational striker Dennis Oliech has urged local football players plying their trade in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) league to try and insure themselves.
According to Oliech, the players should actualise being insured rather than depending on their respective clubs to sort out their medical arrears, given the window of playing in the top flight is small.
The all-time goalscorer for Kenya advise to the players come at a time when Sofapaka midfielder Wisdom Naya is suffering from cancer.
Oliech felt pity for the ailing midfielder, who was once a promising youngster in the local football circles.
“I am urging footballers to get personal football insurance cover. Life in football can be short, and you cannot depend on your club. In fact, make it a priority. It is so unfortunate to see what is happening to Sofapaka midfielder Wisdom Naya,” Oliech said in a Facebook post on his timeline.
Naya was a promising player who had already signed a three-year deal with Sofapaka back in 2019, but had to cut short his football aspirations after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Just before being diagnosed with cancer, the 18-year-old Naya was voted the best player at the 2018 Copa Coca-Cola youth tournament before going on to play for Sofapaka.
However, the FKF football league was suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.
Nevertheless, Naya remained optimistic by coming up with ways to remain fit during the lockdown as the world tried to come to terms with the pandemic.
It was during his personal training daily routine noticed all was not well, forcing him to seek medical advice where he was diagnosed with a thigh tumour known as Soft Tissue Sarcoma, which is a rare type of cancer.
This forced Naya to cut short his promising football career, forcing him to stay at home under the careful watch of his
Due to the accruing medical expenses, Naya’s family appealed to well-wishers to chip in financially and help them settle the debt.
The medical appeal was well received and saw Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga contribute Ksh500,000 during a political rally at Laina Moja in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
