Allan Thigo

Allan Thigo
Thigo with his Hall of Fame award in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth 1951 or 1952
Place of birth Bungoma, Protectorate of Kenya
Date of death (aged 74)[a]
Place of death Bungoma County, Kenya
Position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–? Kisumu Hot Stars
1970–1981 Gor Mahia
International career
1968–1979 Kenya 81 (11)
Managerial career
2008 Gor Mahia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Allan Thigo (1951 or 1952 – 9 May 2026), nicknamed the 90-minute man[1][2], was a Kenyan footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 81 appearances for the Kenya national team, scoring 11 goals.

Career

Born in the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, Thigo began playing club football for local side Kisumu Hot Stars at age 18. He spent most of his playing career with Gor Mahia, leading it to an unbeaten 1976 league title[3] and later helping the club reach the final of the 1979 African Cup Winners' Cup.[4][3] He played for Gor Mahia for 13 years; 1970 to 1982.[3] Between 1970 and 1981, he scored 88 goals for the club, making him the club's second highest scorer.[5]

Thigo made 81 appearances for the senior Kenya national team, including two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, and he played at the 1972 African Cup of Nations finals.[6]

After Thigo retired from playing football, he became a coach. He managed Gor Mahia [7] and mentored players at the Africa Nazarene University.[8]

Personal life

Thigo was married to Rose Auma Ogango, who died in 2012[9] and later to Dorcas Simiyu.[2] He was the father to the Special Envoy for Technology Philip Thigo.[10]

Death

Thigo died aged 74, at his Bungoma County home on 9 May 2026,[1][5] he had long battled prostate cancer since his 2021 diagnosis.[11][10][b] Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya eulogised him as one of Kenya's greatest footballers.[1] He was cremated on 13 May, following his wishes, [13][14][10] at the Hindu crematorium in Kisumu.[15][16]

Notes

  1. ^ Some sources like the Daily Nation state he was 77
  2. ^ According to Citizen TV he battled cancer since 2023. [12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kihaki, Mike (10 May 2026). "Football legend Allan Thigo to be cremated, family says". The Standard. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  2. ^ a b Victor Otieno (10 May 2026). "Allan Thigo, Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia icon, passes away". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Matete, Faith (10 May 2026). "Kenyan football legend Allan Thigo dies". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  4. ^ "When we drunk beer at State House". Roy Gachuhi. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b Onyatta, Omondi (9 May 2026). "Gor Mahia, Harambee Stars legend Allan Thigo passes on". Capital Sports. Capital FM. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  6. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Allan Thigo - International Appearances". RSSSF.
  7. ^ Wokabi, James (14 July 2008). "Gor Mahia hire new coach". Capital FM.
  8. ^ Tony Mballa (11 May 2026). "Kenyan football fraternity mourns Gor Mahia, Harambee Stars playmaker Thigo". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  9. ^ "Former International Allan Thigo Bereaved". Michezo Afrika. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  10. ^ a b c NTV Kenya (11 May 2026). Former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars legend Allan Thigo is set to be cremated (Video). YouTube. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  11. ^ Cecil Odongo (12 May 2026). "I don't want sympathy: How Thigo battled cancer with the help of Raila". Daily Nation. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  12. ^ Allan Obiero (13 May 2026). "Harambee Stars, Gor legend Allan Thigo cremated in Kisumu". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  13. ^ Onyatta, Omondi (11 May 2026). "Gor Mahia legend Allan Thigo to be cremated on Wednesday". Capital Sports. Capital FM. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  14. ^ Stephen Owino (12 May 2026). "Allan Thigo to be cremated in Bungoma as Kenyans mourns Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars legend". Switch TV. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  15. ^ Matete, Faith (13 May 2026). "[PHOTOS] K'Ogalo legend Allan Thigo cremated in emotional Kisumu send-off". The Star. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  16. ^ Matete, Faith (13 May 2026). "Football legend Allan Thigo cremated in Kisumu". The Star. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.