Gor Mahia legend Allan Thigo cremated in Kisumu as Kenyan football pays tribute
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 13.05.26. | 18:00
Before the cremation, mourners were given a final opportunity to pay their last respects to the iconic footballer, with fans singing and dancing to traditional Gor Mahia songs
Kenyan football on Wednesday, 13 May, bid farewell to one of its greatest-ever players after legendary former Gor Mahia midfielder Allan Thigo was cremated at the Hindu Crematorium in Kisumu.
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Thigo, who passed away on Saturday night at his Bungoma home following a long battle with cancer, was accorded an emotional send-off attended by family members, close friends, and a section of Gor Mahia supporters who gathered to honour a man widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders Kenya has ever produced.
Before the cremation, mourners were given a final opportunity to pay their last respects to the iconic footballer, with fans singing and dancing to traditional Gor Mahia songs in tribute to a player whose legacy remains deeply woven into the club’s history.
Fondly remembered by generations of football fans, Thigo carried several famous nicknames during his illustrious career, among them 'The 90-Minute Man', 'Midfield General', 'Ogango Wuon Pap', 'Owner of the Field' and 'The Professor'.
The midfield maestro spent 13 years at Gor Mahia between 1970 and 1982, becoming the heartbeat of one of the club’s most dominant eras.
Renowned for his vision, creativity, leadership, and commanding presence in midfield, Thigo played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of the record Kenyan champions.
One of his greatest achievements came in 1976 when he guided Gor Mahia to an unbeaten league title while doubling up as a player-coach.
He would later help K’Ogalo reach the final of the 1979 African Cup Winners’ Cup, now known as the CAF Confederation Cup, again serving in the dual role of player and coach.
Thigo’s contribution to Gor Mahia went beyond leadership and influence on the pitch.
He scored 88 goals for the club, making him the second-highest scorer in the club’s history behind Sammy 'Jogoo' Onyango.
At the international level, the legendary midfielder also enjoyed a distinguished career with Harambee Stars, earning 86 caps and cementing his place as one of Kenya’s finest attacking midfielders.
Paying tribute to his father, Philip Thigo described him not as a football icon, but simply as 'Baba'.
“Many knew him through the names he earned in football: the ‘90-minute man’, ‘Midfield General’, ‘Ogango Wuon Pap’, ‘Owner of the Field’, and ‘The Professor’. To us, he was simply Baba,” he said emotionally.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the Kenyan football fraternity, with Gor Mahia patron Eliud Owalo leading the messages of condolence.
“Kenyan soccer has lost the greatest attacking midfielder of his generation,” Owalo said.
He added that Thigo’s style of play united fans through “flow, entertainment, and orchestration of the finest midfield play ever displayed by a Kenyan team.”