Kenya's former striker inducted into Hall of Fame

Kenya's former striker Ambrose Ayoyi was on Saturday inducted into the country's Football Hall of Fame.

Known as "Golden Boy" during his heyday, Ayoyi played Scarlet FC and became the fourth player to be honored for his exploits since the inaugural of the award in 2013.

Those who were awarded the honors previously Joe Kadenge, and goalkeepers Mahmoud Abbas and James Siang'a.

"I am humbled by the award which recognizes my contribution to football in the country. I thank the panel for coming up with my name and I am sure they know what they saw," Ayoyi remarked during the occasion on Sunday evening.

Ayoyi is part of the generation that rose through the Olympic Youth Program set up by German Bernard Zgoll across the country in the early seventies which produced some of Kenya's top talent.

The Hall of Fame is recognition of former national team players' service to the country and is organized by a group of former Harambee Stars players in Kenya and the United States.

As a player, Ayoyi had the height, pace and power and at time carried the weight of the nation weight on his shoulders and scored when it mattered at the moment when fans were calling upon for a goal to break the deadlock.

Kenya's former legendary goalkeeper and the first inductee to the Hall of Fame, Mahmoud Abbas, said Ayoyi deserved the honor, whereas former national team coach, Jacob Mulee said Ayoyi had everything one would want in a striker or winger.

His former national teammate and later coach, Tom Olaba, said Ayoyi was a lethal striker with good dribbling skills that ended with powerful shots.

"He was a complete player blessed with very good physique, and technically he was a really good player," Olaba said. Endit