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Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo thanks football fraternity for support after loss of wife
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 18.12.25. | 15:43
Overwhelmed by the turnout and support, the former Harambee Stars defender spoke emotionally about the importance of community during times of loss
APS Bomet head coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo has expressed deep gratitude to the football fraternity for rallying around him and his family following the demise of his wife, Vera Omollo.
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Vera, a former striker, passed away on Monday, 1 December, leaving behind three children.
In a powerful show of solidarity, retired footballers and friends organised The Friends of Pamzo Tournament on Tuesday, 18 December, at the Uhuru Sports Complex in Salem, Nairobi, to help raise funds towards her burial.
The tournament, organised under the Wadau League, a recreational football league for retired players, brought together 10 teams, each contributing Ksh5,000. The event also featured a candlelighting ceremony, something Omollo admitted he had not anticipated.
“I want to thank everyone who has turned up. I didn’t even know about candle lighting until today, and I am truly grateful,” Omollo said.
Overwhelmed by the turnout and support, the former Harambee Stars defender spoke emotionally about the importance of community during times of loss, noting that grief is not a journey meant to be walked alone.
“What matters most is that, as Africans, and especially those of us from the Western and Nyanza regions, losing a loved one is a long journey that no one can walk alone. You need friends who can hold your hand through it,” he added.
The former defender, known for his bone-crunching tackles, emphasised the unique bond within the football community, describing it as a family that shows up when it matters most.
“Your presence here, and anything you have contributed, will go a long way in supporting my family. I always say this: footballers will bury footballers.
When you look around, most of us here are footballers. My wife loved football; she was a striker, and I was a defender. Football runs in our blood,” he said.
Reflecting on his life with Vera, Pamzo spoke of love, loss, and gratitude, describing her as a central figure in both his family and his football journey.
“I loved my wife, even in death. This is a journey we all must face at some point. She left me with beautiful memories and made me a father of three, two daughters and a son. I will always appreciate what she gave me,” he said.
Vera Omollo will be laid to rest on Friday, 19 December in Gem, Siaya County. Her body will leave the Kenyatta University Referral Morgue on Thursday, 17 December, ahead of a service.
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