Giant Killing

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Giant Killing

What is giant killing? This is when a team that is viewed as an underdog in a competition beat the team considered as the favorite (Giant) to win the competition. The origin of the term is from the biblical story of a young King David who killed a giant (Goliath) with one stone to defeat the feisty Philistine army. It is common in most leagues around the world especially in the knock out format where each game is a must win or go home. In these kinds of games, the pressure is high, it is a world stage and small mistakes can make the difference. In the same way, making the most of your chances than mean the difference between a win and a loss. In a point system format like the premiere league, a team needs consistent wins each week to win the league. However, any team can beat any team on a given game day. Lost Creek is no different, teams often branded as “favorites” take the fall to the much less favorite teams.

Mapambano (2015)

  This has to be the biggest underdogs in this competition’s history. The average age of the team was 50. Three of the players were injured and one was wearing a boot in front of goal. Their only fit and best player was Tony. They were described by many as DOA (Dead on Arrival). Everybody knew that the plan to beat them was to contain Tony and the job was done.

They were the biggest underdogs behind 310 Mbegu. Why were they underdogs? Age: they had two senior citizens in Moha and Professor and no other team had any player close to that age. You might say age brings more experience and leadership but in a competition such as this one where you have young players as your opponent, you need some athleticism and strength both of which tend to wane with age. Injuries: one week before the game professor suffered a right ankle sprain that required him to wear a boot for a couple of weeks. This injury ruled him out of the game as he was supposed to rest his ankle for recovery. The rules of the tournament do not allow replacements for any reason even though professor had requested that Charlo (Warlord) take his place in his team. That request was denied categorically by the council. As long as they had 5 players or more they were expected to play. Dagi was coming off an injury as well which he re-injured on game day. Kefah had a chronic injury which he had to treat gingerly in order to last the whole tournament. Expectation: They were expected to be a good team before the injuries. Omari placed them second in his power rankings only behind Gerrarahia for obvious reasons (He was in Gerrarahia).

Omari: Mapambano might need to ask for big goals all those strikers
Omari: NFL I actually respect your team . I think in order of strength , 4 -2 - 1 – 5-3
ZORROH84: Omari's Power Ranking 
 1. Team 4
 2. Team 2
 3. Team 1
 4. Team 5
 5. Team 3

Team 2 was Mapambano. Philo predicted them to win 1 game against Silent assassins and he actually respected the team based on the same qualities of multiple strikers and size. He predicted a 2-0 victory against Tobiko (Labo) just to ruffle his feathers.

Philo: Mapambano Ina enda ku chapa silent assassins...you heard it hear first
Philo: Wrath ya mapambano ita Kuwa lethal for obvious reasons...na nyinyi ndio first recipient
Rodgers Machuka: I predicted a 2-0 start for Silent Assassins. Guys, make your calls.
Philo: Same margin mapambano
Philo: Team of strikers, and size

Jojes wrote them off based on injuries -

Ikenye George: 2 ina kiguru wawili

So how did Mapambano overcome the odds to win the tournament? They had the best striker in the Tournament (Tony). He was not the top scorer but he scored the game winner in crucial moments and played defense when they needed to. They scored a total of 4 goals which matched Bro Ocholla but they only conceded 2 goals as opposed to 3 for Bro Ocholla. Gerrarahia scored 3 goals total and conceded 1. The other reason they won the tournament is because they believed in themselves from the beginning. This is what their key players said before the game:

Douglas Gichana: It is all fair.. Thanks Max for randomize this.. everybody should come in ready to give their best... It will be my first game back from an injury na don't under-estimate my team.... 􂗎􂗎􂗎􂗎. Mungu atusaidie.....
Douglas Gichana: 2 & 3, tujitahidi na tuombeane jo..􂗎􂗎􂗎Mungu husaidia wale hujaribu...maisha ni mli.a lakini tutapada*
Douglas Gichana: *Mlima*
William (nfl) Musando: Team 2 is the team to watch. We got experience, speed and strength in great proportions. And we're all arsenal􀙢
Douglas Gichana: Point donors may pull a surprise.. kumbuka harambee na Super Eagles in 2007...
Douglas Gichana: Kelele ya nini? You called us donors wa points.... tuonane uwanjani.... @Omari, I had rather lose on paper than on the ground.... You should come ready to play anybody...hii ingine yote ni premature ejacs..

They were consistent and determined in all their games. Any team can win one game. In fact rarely does a team go win-less in these kind of tournaments (but it happens). This team understood that you have to play the full 20 minutes of the game and they were relentless until the final whistle. Players used many words to describe them after the tournament and among them were; class, grit, determination and champs. This is what their team mates said when congratulating them for their victory:

Micah: Congratulations to the champs,..they went out there n proved everyone wrong􀚖. Great competition. Happy thanksgiving!

Ikenye George: Eish... Mapambano. Had written them off. Thought Doug n prof were injured.

Omari: Mapambano deserves respect, they undermanned, overmatched but they didn't sit there and let them stop them from winning. I have to say they were class personified

Philo: 310 and mapambano showed the rest of us what grit and determination and organization is

Philo: Doug nili ona uki fill prescriptions...mtu 6 plus Moha naHawa choki!

Steve: One thing we noticed with mapambano even when they were leading they didn't try to run the clock....that was fun to watch

Steve: Mapambano were up 2 nothing and they were still running to play the ball..Hamza and I were like what?

Harrison Musembi: Reminds me of gerarahia losing to mapambano􂗎􂗎

Steve: vile mapambano walishinda ilikuwa miracle 􂗎􂗎􂗎

Roba: Some of us we forget so fast...it is just few days ago a miracle happened. who knew Mapambano was going to win the tournament? That was a miracle

Omari: NFL I see you let that mapambano victory dilute your thought process, now it's just emotional stuff no logic 􂗎

William (nfl) Musando: Omari, mapambano victory is greater than any EPL or CL championship.

Philo: Babu Owino, just so you and your PE folks should know, the greatest champion in that tournament to date was chapa ilale... Scored in every round, no playoffs and total domination. The 2nd most accomplished team is mapambano who did it with a man down. Now, let's try and find the significance of your win…

Rodgers Machuka: Team Mapambano:

“Worthy champions. Congratulations. A team that leading up to the tourney, wasn't supposed to compete. Point donors, also-runs, maembe etc. A team minus a player to begin, a senior citizen in Moha, another senior in dagi playing on borrowed ankles wound up tighter than an Egyptian mummy, Kefah playing with one bum knee...They were supposed to show up, undress, get violated and go home. BUT they never got the memo. They violated assassins, drilled Ocholla, gave Gerrahia a game (without Kefah). NFL the bully intimidated at the back, all-rounder Tony played like Deco and Mehdi stretched the field. This team owes an explanation for winning a tourney they had no business winning.”

D-Minus (2017)

This team played in the 2017 Easter Tournament. The day was a Sunday, April the 16th. There were 4 other teams participating; Kijiji FC, Kanungo and Team Renowned. They were declared DOA (Dead on Arrival) because of stronger opponents, more skilled players as well as their record at LC up until that point. It was Allan’s first tournament having been introduced to the team earlier that year. Naturally not much was known about him except he few times he had played. They had the least probability on paper to win the tournament. Why were they underdogs? Age: they had the senior-most citizen on their team (Moha). He is a great player but lacks athleticism and size against he younger players. Another player that is not so athletic is Petey. He is very good at positioning, striking and crossing he ball into the box. He can also dribble the ball, but he lacks speed and agility. Talent: on the LC scale they did not have the most talented players on their roster. They had mostly defensive players, the only offensive player in the team was Chris and Kevo. They also played a very defensive game that prompted a rule change on the tournament that followed.

After Team 2 picked their name as “D-Minus” Labo responded with - “Glad you know your rightful place...” to which Kevo said, “Winning at LC is never given, its taken. Tukutane kwa debe.” Then Chris responding to Rodgers’s analysis said, “You will be shocked” and on his diesel stuttering… Chris responded with, “you re right about that but as long as kuna fumes tutajaribu. To which Rodgers replied, “Good luck. Prove me wrong. it’s what makes these compes fun.”

Brian Opande: Kesho History will be made

Rodgers Machuka: Team 2: oh my! It will be uphill all day. But Harry has been here before. And kevo. They are gonna need all that experience. And a muse on the side line. This team has the wisdom of Moha infused with the youth of Brayo, the righty/lefty specialty of Harry and Peter and the versatility of Allen. Just surviving to tell the tale woll be a worthy achievement today.

Rodgers Machuka: Forgot Chris was on team 2. He could have been a difference maker. Even get his team contending. But then he went and had a baby. That diesel engine is stuttering.

Laban Opande: Halafu team 2, inajiita correctly D Minus, and then try to convince us that they know variations of colors...at Royal blue…… We know D Minus can’t possibly think that far.

Laban Opande: Team 2: Team D Minus…… DOA...Dead on arrival...not even Mwalimus randomization strategy would have helped...everything from the name, royal blue color, average age, is simply wrong! Harry will be playing everywhere and his veins will be popping out from frustration about being told what to do… Petey, will take his known position by the left side of the parking lot, Moha will be coaching all day in Arabic, kevo will be wondering all day why he has two left feet...Allan, ...he will be constantly looking at the stats to se whether his name appears on the most missed chances...Chris will come disoriented and with eyes full of sleep from baby David, and so the whole team will be looking for the teenager Brayo to carry the team...

How did the team win? They believed in themselves. While everyone was writing their eulogy and predicting doom and gloom they stayed calm and responded with few words but had a quite confidence and most important, belief. Chris, Brayo and Kevo all expressed that winning mentality, not panicking, not biting into the pre-game banter. They stayed in the game mentally. The entire team defended very well eventually conceding zero goals and in the first game Petey had two saves that could have lost them the game. He was relentless. Matter of fact their style of defending which was later labeled “parking the bus” was criticized by some players as “killing the game”. Iniesta said, “D- took footie to a new low yesterday. I wouldn’t wanna win like this They played worse than mapambano, and that takes some doing #make footie great again. On another aoccassion Iniesta on replying to Tony saying that style is called “Strategy” he said, “After the celebration has died down, we should come together to prevent this murder of footie from ever happening again And its not sour grapes, congratulations D-, u played within the rules But we should change the rules. Philo echoed the same concern when he said, “One team disregarded the spirit of the game. This rule does not need to be told but will provide proof.” Other players welcomed that style of defending like and had not problem implementing it in their teams. As they say Defense wins games. Finally the third reason they won was because of resilience and determination. They simply wanted it more than others, they worked harder than their opponent and they did not let up on effort.

In Kevo’s own words:

Kevo: Wazi Kind words…. Sometimes All the Ducks line up .. and like most of us.. sometimes we just have to make the best out of what you’ve been dealt. We had a great team, I would say almost Zero egos and blue collar-ish

1. Brayo – very versatile and effective defender. He owned the layer 2 defence … outstanding job …

2. Peter – lefty: remarkable patientce and lateral view coach… we couldn’t have won game one without the 2 on goal stops/saves.

3. Harry: today we saw the disciplined approach, read the game well, made crucial stops and above all .. he kept a level head.

4. Moha – The wise Sage, you can’t teach experience, he provided the blueprint, that was well executed.

5. Allan – played the best game of his short “career” at LC. Scored a marvelous goal vs Kijiji and the assist of the day vs renowned blurry...Brilliant

6. Chris – As always, the energizer bunny that kept going. Top Team scorer and Blue print executioner in chief.

We played very good teams, They were all determined to win, we honestly were not sure who would have dropped points to us...

After the win this is what team mates said:

Douglas Gichana: Wapi nduru ya Enforcer basi? Mungu ni wa ajabu if that’s true. Don’t underrate any team. Moha has several years experience of turning impossibilities to possibilities….

Julius Macharia: Wazi @Kevo & Co. On paper your team was the least likely to be champs. Teams were well balanced though, nani Team Mkia must have a very good reason, unless ni points diff.

Julius Macharia: I take it back, I think least likely ni akina Ernesto.

Kevo: Team D Minus: We had the last laugh! The game is never won on paper, we just wanted it MORE than almost all the ENTITLED and technical astute teams.

Douglas Omboga: You deserved the win and we all deserved what we got for underrating you….

Dustino: Well deserved win indeed, never write anyone offensive

Simon Muraya: Congrats Team D-. U deserved the win. U proved everyone wrong.

Rodgers Machuka: There is a certain intangible quality needed in tourney play. Some have it some don’t. Kevo is a back to back champion. Both times with teams that on paper, were supposed to be routed. 3 tonas ago, his team played the last 2 games 3 men down but still finished 3rd. Before that, the draw gave him probably the worst team possible-on paper. They clawed and scratched and didn’t get embarrassed. That’s what won ‘em today’s Okombe.

This is proof that any team can beat any team on any given day. The favorites on paper do not always win. You need talent, skill and you also need luck on a big stage. A wise man once said, “The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.” You have to believe in yourself and your team in order to win.