My kind of girl-friends!

I was having a splendid conversation with one Dcknight, winger Nondies RFC, about ‘chips funga’ and it got me thinking about the kind of friends that we keep. I mean, “ Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”.

I have those girlfriends that are always there for me, regardless of whether we meet often or just have coffee once every three months. After all, we are at that stage where everyone is trying to figure out who she will become, and what she will be doing for the rest of her life. So am comfortable with those five pots of coffee every three months at a local café.

I have another set of girlfriends that are more frequent and just as loyal as the first. They tend to be a backbone and are always there when I need them for fun or just to talk to. They are more reserved with the kind of people I associate with, and will never fail to tell me when the man I have picked is as simple as, “Uyo ako down”.

Going out with them is the perfect, why? There is always the watchdog to prevent the rest of the pod, yes I said it pod, from getting “scooped”. Awesome. The fact is, when we are together we are so compatible and well entertained that we need not any other species to help us enjoy ourselves. This is the kind of pod that you can as well drink till you drop. Be sure that you will get home safely, and wake up in your nightdress, almost as if you went to bed by yourself.

I am sure you know about those girlfriends that are good to party with but you become the watchdog; I do that a number of times. You are very afraid that if both of you get too drunk then hell will break loose. These are also the ones that depend on the pod for the drinks, they will insist on getting the 750ml bottle because they know it will keep them going all through the night. They never get ‘chips funguad’ at least not with you, but will get much of the attention from the crowd around. Your night is characterised by, “pole amelewa and wacha ujinga” but you end up having a real laugh and great memories, and meet new people. You will also get some free drinks from the guys she decided to “chokoza” and then run away. These girlfriends have their own level of standards that only they can explain.

 

The bad girl friends are those that depend on other parties to help them get to autopilot. This acclaimed “divas” will dress up and go to the club with their 150 bob, purchase a black-ice or better yet a Guarana or king fisher, sip it for three hours while trying to seduce a fellow from the crowd. Now you, or rather me, her sidekick, is forced to indulge and talk to the fellow’s friend. It is only the two of you at the table; others are getting to know each other through bend over and daggering. Living the club is scheduled for 6 am, as the last four hours were spent on the phone trying to figure out where the leader of your pod had gone. Let us just guess!

If you are a pretty girl am sure you have those friends that will push you to a fellow, insist how they are familiar with the guy and even pace set the conversation for you. They may think you are a bore and getting you occupied with an old guy with a Merc X at the parking is the best way to enjoy the night. They will insist you over indulge taking shots and downing drinks in seconds, to prepare you for the feast you are going to partake, as they enjoy their drinks filling the table.  She must accompany you to the bathroom to ensure you come back to the Merc X-ian table for her to be filled with the drinks and the foods she only dreams of. Her words are more often than not, “ Take one for the team.” We all know what that one is…with the old guy. Lust!

Those are the ones that I know; feel free to add any you have encountered. Open your eyes ladies and see it as it is…

MY LAST ‘24’ WEEKEND

It is about three years ago since I first visited the University of Nairobi grounds for a Mean Machine tournament. It was a Kenya Cup match and they were up against KCB lions, at the time the likes of Derrick Wamalwa a.k.a “burdizzo” as I knew him from back in the day when he played with my brother, was in the KCB squad.

I had heard about the team, but it was only when Fly half Filden Sinei insisted that on my number something ‘22’ weekend, we have a road trip from our prestigious campus in Eldoret to Nairobi for a game. So being the people’s person that I am (do not deny), I rounded up a couple of my best buds. Sophie, Njeri, Christine, Jossy were among those who made the grand appearance for a game they knew nothing about. (I am not in that category I was exposed to the game by my big bro when I was in primary school)

That was a small genesis of my “relationship” with the team, which was rekindled last Saturday at the pool party for their annual Chairman Mbuzi event. The event saw the likes of George Mutuku “Tuku” handing over captaincy after a splendid season playing for Kifaru and Kenya A. A nostalgic event it was, I remember how the first one I attended was characterised by darkness and disorganization. Then former captain Cedo set the standards with a wild bush party, organizing for transport and affordable drinks, though people slept in the cold. I must give it up for Tuku, he brought both the formality of the event as well as the fan aspect, having “live” awards for the job well done, and of course that concoction that takes contenders to auto pilot in an inch of a minute.

The Kenya lioness party I had left for the chairman’s mbuzi was still in place with my pod mate Emily ‘number 3’ bringing it to a super hype after a grand entrance, and I hear she made a grand exit as a passenger on an ‘apache’ motor bike. Well in!

My last ‘24’ weekend had lots of nyama choma, ugali, kachumbari and the other clear liquefied strong scented stuff. It was amazing to share it with people I played with, and had spent much time with in preparation for the Elgon cup, which we won in aggregate 72-25, not that am bragging.

The Eschuma one however caught my eye the most, having not seen some of the former players for a long time; it was more a reunion then a party. I had thought my ageing was individualized until I saw Motomoto and Smalls and realized mine is much slower, and ineffective.

These people, some of them my good friends, I blame them for the number ‘2’ position I have played in two years, yes them! Though I did it in high school their criticism, mockery and some kind of support went a long way in making me take on those tackles. I moved from fan to player in six months of intense training and weight loss, with the extensive help of 8^th man and Madegwa, and changed a major perception of who I was…. I have nothing but absolute appreciation.

 

Back to the day where food was in plenty, shots at Ksh 40 with a shortage of the popular Guarana drink, my bestie Winnie and I indulged, we even had scrum down competitions with some of the very old boys, who were unable to beat us. We are bad like that, but I don’t like to brag.

As I soon turn the page to a new dawn, I remember how on my ‘22’ day I had a party with Coco at Rodgers place in Langata. With Elly as the side kick they never failed to ensure that a well planned but not to capacity party went down with an ‘after party’ at Rafikis, that I had to miss cause of my work commitments.

I look back and think, and then remember my crazy campus days, which The Eschuma boys had a part to play in. Taking an 8-hour bus ride to enjoy the blue boys anxiously waiting to have one at Base ya Hard with Milly and Vostie, the former ensuring we are well entertained. I miss Vostie and Milly.

As my ‘25’ days start I feel that going back to those days would be insane. I am too weak for those weekly trips, too lazy for the weekend hangovers and too grown up to do anything without a worry of the world, plus my commitment to one engineer shall not be tested.

A character has definitely been seen from having built my faith on nothing else, memories that not even a concussion from a tackle by Christine Kizito can take away. My 24 was good, I managed to graduate, but unlike the others, it has been more reserved, focused with too much heart ache and too many disappointments. I am hoping the 25 will be a bit more exciting, not as much as the 22 but a good one would not hurt. I pray that I get to see the end of the 25 note it down, because I can see lots of success stories in it. Here we go…

 

DICKSON MUCHIRI Martial arts professional and advocate

At the age of 10, Dickson Muchiri, 26 chose to join a martial arts group rather than roam the streets of Lucky Summer estate in Babadogo ward, a place he refers to as the ghetto. With little knowledge of what it was, he started with the hope of making something out of life. He tells ME of his journey to becoming a martial arts champion.

The starting point …

A martial arts training session is underway as Dickson walks past, heading to a football play date. He stops to look at what is being done and is impressed with the fighting techniques showcased by the individuals. The man instructing them, Coach Hillary Wahanda, notices Dickson and immediately invites him to join the group. It was to be his first martial arts session.

“It was a way to avoid being bullied. In the ghetto if you did not do this, you will suffer in the hands of those bigger and older than you. I wanted to be a fighter and it was the only avenue I had come across. You know in the ghetto, not all that you want is provided for you,” he said with a chuckle.

As the interview progressed I noticed Dickson’s eloquence and jovial nature by the way he comfortably spoke of his youth in the ghetto. His tall stature and calm nature would tell how suitable he is for martial art, as he sat opposite me in the boardroom of the Orange House office along Valley Road.

Dickson immensely enjoyed the martial arts class and on learning the basics of the sport majored in Onwado- a traditional form of tae-kwon-do martial arts. He trained for five years in the art with the hope of one day making the national team. He also participated in various local competitions that were set up to build match fitness for the fighters with no awards.

His parents grateful that he had found an avenue to avoid the dangerous youth vices in their streets were skeptical about the safety of the sport to their fifth born child.

“I attended training sessions everyday after school and even on weekends. I had great passion. My parents supported me but cautioned me about taking up the sport competitively. They were afraid I would get hurt. I attended the tournaments without their knowledge until I got the call up to the national team later. Had it not been for this art, I would have been socializing with my friends; drinking and taking drugs.”

Secondary school was a difficult time in his career as a martial artist. The school he attended, Joy town Secondary School, did not participate in the sport; he was therefore forced to pass forward any training and competitions to holidays only. It is at this time also that wrangles within the martial arts federation developed and caused his coach to split to form his own club that would participate in a different martial art, Tong-il-Moo-do, a unique art that comprises of all the forms of martial arts; kick boxing (kicks and punches), tae-kwon-do (kicks only), judo (more physical and harmful, opponents look for joints to dislocate) and karate (low kicks an punches).

Torn between two, Dickson a Bachelor of Arts graduate, took a leap of faith and in 2005 chose to follow his Coach Hillary in founding the Best Kickers Club. As the only student for close to two years, he worked hard to meet the targets set and to build the sport to other young people, his classmates and neighbours, but was unsuccessful. Though persuaded to join the military to continue with the sport, Dickson opted to pursue his passion.

The United States International University (USIU) become his home for four years, and though a challenge to raise the fees, assistance from the school ‘work study’ program plus Higher Education Loans Board bursaries facilitated his degree in International Business Administration.

“It was easy for me to get the gist of the new art, Tong-il-Moo-do, due to my experience in the previous one. It was difficult to get people to join our team and we often concentrated on physical fitness and not art. We had no facilities and often trained in Hillary’s house. We got help from a church that allowed us to use their halls, which eventually become our governing body. We are now over 50 team members. I could have easily gone to the military, but that was not my path.” He said enthusiastically.

Achievements…

Dickson has a total of 21 gold, seven silver and three bronze medals. In his most recent tournament, The 7^th World Martial Arts Peace Cup, held on March 2014 in Thailand, Dickson managed to bag a gold medal and a trophy in the Tong-il –Moo-do category. He has also won many awards in various military martial arts tournaments.

Campus tournaments were also good grounds for his match fitness, bagging another two gold medals in competitions in 2007 and 2008 that led him into the leadership of the campus club and head of facilities.

Dickson was scheduled to attend an invite to an international tournament in Italy but poor support from the government and lack of sufficient funds hindered him from this desired journey.

He expressed his disappointment,” We have been forced to work with little resources. As a growing sport we hope that our efforts will eventually bear fruit to the future Martial Artists. I will continue with the sport, it fulfils me and hopefully in the next four to five years, I will have certified myself as a Tong-il-Moo-do coach in Kenya”.

Giving back to the community…

The best kickers club has established branches in slums and estates like Dandora, Kawangware, Rongai and Kabete in Nairobi as well as in Mombasa where young people take the opportunity to learn the art.

“It was not easy to choose, but I did. If I did not I would have been idling in the streets and end up like majority of my classmates, that are either thugs or dead. The girls have numerous children with no father. Tong-il-moo-do molded me to reach where I am today.” He said confidently.

He added that the rules of art that govern the sport are essential to the young people. The commandments and literature learned through training and practice build good character. The foundation of a church as a governing body makes it better as discipline of the students is paramount.

Dickson and his team, with the intention of exposing the youth to the sport and making them gain more interest, have organized schedules for games and tournaments. He further states that popularising the sport in those areas will persuade the youth and the children to join in early enough and grow in the sport, and especially avoid temptations.

Most of the members of the Best Kickers Club are unemployed and they formed a SACCO to help them come up with enough capital to start various businesses. Dickson, a committee member helps to advice on business plans and ideas that can help the individuals prosper financially.

“ We are getting the youth out of the streets and teaching them how to behave in life. Some of our members now own their own business, we promote them through fundraising. We have businesses that venture into fashion like salons and barbers, and entertainment through movie parlors. I organize funds to host our tournaments. So far so good.”

Since November 2010 working at Orange-Telkom Kenya has been a good experience for him and he has managed to rise in rankings from Intern to Analysis and Reporting Manager. Apart from Martial arts Dickson is a lover of football, and has played it even before joining coach Hillary’s team.

“We are providing a solid foundation for martial arts particularly Tong-il-Moo-do for the next generations in this country. Do not fear to venture into whatever you love. Nothing comes easy, find your potential, take risks and work with it. In the next few years Best Kickers will provide participants for the Olympic games, as an entity and not part of the military. I am happy with the far that we have come.”  Dickson enthusiastically concluded.

Email: Bestkickersmartialartsfitnessclub.com

Photo courtesy of Mboya Paul