No Gear? No Problem - Kapsambu FC keeps dreaming
On a dusty pitch in Shauri Moyo, Kapsambu FC trains with little more than passion and borrowed gear. Despite financial struggles and a lack of equipment, the Nairobi County League side is chasing promotion with hope.
On weekday mornings at Kamukunji Grounds in Shauri Moyo, a weather-worn field becomes more than just a pitch - it turns into a gym, a classroom, and a sanctuary of dreams. This is where Kapsambu FC, a little-known but determined side competing in the Nairobi County League, trains under the watchful eye of Coach Kenneth Odera.
Here, football is played with more hope than gear. Players wear mismatched kits, some don’t have proper cleats, and training balls are shared—and often worn out. Despite these challenges, Kapsambu is a team built on passion, held together by a coach and captain whose commitment never wavers.
“The challenges I’m having as a coach are lack of equipment, lack of balls, lack of training gear, and also lack of finance,” says Coach Odera, who trains the team from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. before heading off for his daily hustle. “Even giving players small tokens for transport back home has become difficult.”
Odera’s ambitions are clear. He wants to take this “people’s team” to the regional league - but knows it will require more than tactics and talk. “I’ve won my first two matches in charge. With 13 games left, I believe we can finish top two.”
Coach Kenneth Odera Kapsambu FC (C) Justine Ondieki
He’s not alone in the effort. Team captain Joseph Malusi - known as Askofu among his teammates - shares the same vision, despite juggling early morning training and side hustles to make ends meet.
“We train in the morning, then by 1 p.m., I go to work. From 10:30 to 12:30 p.m., I’m here training,” says Malusi, who anchors the defence.
Formed in 2022, Kapsambu climbed from the sub-county to the county league in under two years. While the journey has been impressive, Malusi paints a stark picture of their present-day reality.
“There are times we’ve shown up without a ball. Sometimes, when we go to matches, we even have to borrow equipment. Some coaches give us second-hand MasterCard balls just so we can play.”
Still, the team is showing progress. Under Odera’s leadership, Malusi says their style of play has evolved.
“Before, we used to play randomly, just kicking the ball. But now, with this coach, our passing and structure have improved. In our last game, which we won 3–2, you could see it clearly.”
Kapsambu FC Captain Joseph Malusi (C) Justine Ondieki
Recruitment at Kapsambu is informal but sincere. “New players just show up with socks, a jersey, and shorts,” Malusi says. “There’s no formal process. You just come ready to play.”
For young men in Shauri Moyo, football at Kapsambu is more than a game, it’s a lifeline. Malusi, like his coach, sees the sport as a way to save lives.
“I send a message to the boys out there - come to football, avoid drugs, avoid idleness. This is where your life can change.”
With 13 matches to go, both coach and captain know the road ahead is steep. But what they lack in boots, gear, or funding, they make up for in belief that football can still offer a way forward in Nairobi’s overlooked neighbourhoods.
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