By Antynet Ford
Renowned founder of Mathare United and the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) Robert Donald Munro has passed away.
Bob as referred to by many in the football circles passed away yesterday at his Westlands residence.
A statement by his wife Ingrid Munro indicated that Bob had been in and out of the hospital for the past six months due to respiratory issues.
“My darling husband Bob as affectionately referred to by many in the football circles has been in and out of hospital for the last six months due to respiratory problems,” Ingrid said in her statement.
He leaves behind a lasting legacy in Kenyan football and community development.
His journey in Kenya began in 1987 when he, alongside his wife Ingrid, moved to Nairobi.
Moved by the challenges faced by children in the Mathare slums, Munro established MYSA as a means of empowering youth and promoting community development through sport.
The organization grew to become a model for youth development and has touched the lives of countless young Kenyans.
Munro’s significant contributions extended beyond grassroots football.
He played a vital role in the professionalization of the Kenyan Premier League, earning the title of the “Father of the KPL.”
His vision and leadership helped shape the future of football in Kenya at both the grassroots and professional levels.
In recognition of his work, Munro was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) by President William Ruto during Kenya’s 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations. This prestigious honor was one of many accolades Bob Munro received during his lifetime, including the Help for Self-Help Prize (Oslo, 1999) and the Play the Game Award (Aarhus, 2015).
Munro’s legacy will live on through the thousands of MYSA alumni who have gone on to become leaders in various sectors of society.
In2001 Bob once shared a memorable story when his team celebrated finishing as Premier League runners-up.
As they admired their hard-earned trophy, a local sports store owner approached, handed over his business card, and said;
“KFF (Kenya Football Federation) borrowed these trophies from my shop this morning for the ceremony. Could I kindly have it back now?”
It turned out that not only were there no cash rewards for the winners, but even the trophies had been borrowed, not purchased.
