Photo source: Aljazeera.com
Football is by far the most adored sport in the world. While some may attribute it to the game's unique style of play, the fact is this is largely attributed by the passion exuded by footballers on the pitch and the undying love and loyalty from the supporters.
According to a recent survey, approximately 1 billion people watched the just concluded 2014 Brazil World Cup final between Argentina and Germany, while an estimated 32.1 million tweets from all corners of the globe, were posted about the match, to cement the fact.
Al Jazeera network released a shocking expose dubbed People & Power - Killing the Ball which unmasks the global cancerous tumor, gradually eating up the sport.
The expose features Wilson Raj, the world's most notorious match fixer who gives an insight on his lucrative but illegal deals across the earth, with Kenya being one of them.
Financed by Dan Tan Seet, who is said to be the kingpin behind all the dark deals, the two had formed a dangerous syndicate based in Singapore which enjoyed more than a decade of football brutality.
Raj's tactics were to approach a number of football associations, strike match fixing deals together with a number of key players in a number of football teams which he targeted, and offered incredible sum of money in return.
On 14th November 2009, Kenya were scheduled to play Nigeria in the return leg of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in Nairobi after suffering a damaging 3-0 loss to the Super Eagles in Nigeria.
Having zero chances to progress into their first ever World Cup finals, the return leg was viewed as Kenya's Harambee Stars' perfect chance to inflict a revenge as well as restore some national pride against the high flying Nigerians, who were desperately looking for a win and progress into the 2010 finals with Tunisia breathing down on their necks, with just a single point separating the two top teams heading into the group's final games.
Raj whose intention was to help Nigeria march into the World Cup, confesses to have had relations with four Kenyan players whom he used to successful fix Kenya's game against Tunisia, where the three players agreed to a Sh. 6.8 million deal with the fourth player receiving Sh.1.3 million.
Kenya was leading through Dennis Oliech's 15th minute goal, before Obafemi Martins came off the bench to level the scores in the hour mark. Joseph Yakubu had given the visitors a brief lead before Allan Wanga restored parity for Kenya. Martins however inspired Nigeria to a dramatic win with an 81st winner in a 5-goal thriller.
Kenya's starting lineup against Nigeria in 2009
Goalkeeper Willia Ochieng
Defender Julius Owino
Defender John Njoroge
Defender George Owino
Defender Musa Otieno
Defender Edgar Ochieng
Midfielder Peter Opiyo
Midfielder Victor Mugabe Wanyama
Forward Emmanuel Ake
Forward Patrick Onyango
Forward Dennis Oliech
Substitutes:
Patrick Ooko for Patrick Onyango
Allan Wetende for Victor Mugabe Wanyama (73)
Hillary Echesa for Emmanuel Ake (78)
Watch the expose below:
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