Former Harambee Stars custodian Wycliffe Kasaya revealed on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 how he was forced to resign from the General Service Unit (GSU) to pursue his football career.
The 38-year-old started by narrating his journey, beginning from how he was on the brink of signing for Kenya Commercial Bank to joining GSU’s elite unit, Recce Squad.
According to Kasaya, he was minutes away from joining KCB when Red Berets head coach came to him after a friendly match and enticed him with a job if he agreed to join his side.
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Kasaya did not have to think twice because at that particular time he was facing financial challenges.
He agreed to join Red Berets and thus shifted his camp to GSU’s Ruaraka headquarters where he was told by the then Commandant to wait for six months before undergoing paramilitary training.
“By the time they took me, the intakes had already been done, so I had to wait for six months.
"They took me to the Commandant, who gave me something known as a D number. So the next intake was supposed to be done after six months, but I already had a D number.
“The commandant told me to play for the club and proceed for training after six months. I played for Red Berets for a half a season before proceeding to a one year training. No football, no nothing. It was just constant training,” stated Kasaya.
After completing the one year intense training, the former Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards shot stopper was posted to the Recce Squad Unit because he had unmatchable shooting abilities.
“I'm left-handed, so I am someone called a marksman. Marksman means if I handle a G3, even if you are 200m away, I can shoot you on the head.
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“What happens is the Recce Squad usually takes the best. So they came and took me. My company became Recce but I was transferred to the headquarters because I was a footballer, sportsman,” he explained.
However, something peculiar happened in 2008 that changed his mind about the law enforcement career.
“After 3 years, another commandant came in 2008 and disbanded the team. Everyone was asked to report to his station.
“So, this commandant after disbanding the team, did something known as “change over”. I was posted to Turkana, under a different company. I was not the only one, all the footballers were transferred outside Nairobi,” read part of the statement from Kasaya.
Kasaya further added that the changes came at a period when he had just received a national team call up.
“At the time, I had already received a national team call up from Harambee Stars coach Ghost Mulee. The first call up I received while at Red Berets. So I had to make a decision whether to continue with my job or concentrate on football,” he stated.
The player who had a six month old baby at the time the changes were made decided to seek advice from his close friends, both outside and inside the discipline forces.
“I received advice here and there from people who work in the paramilitary and the sports sector. Everyone told me that if I can take the advantage of sport, I would not need the GSU Job.
“I won't lie to you. The police job is a frustrating one especially if you are married. Imagine you have been thrown to Turkana and your kid is six months old. So I resigned,” continued Kasaya.
According to Kasaya, that was one of the best decisions he has ever made in his life because soon after quitting the GSU unit, he managed to get his football career back on track.
“To me that was the best decision I made because I came back to my family and Bandari signed me. They gave me a job, a house and doubled my salary. At GSU, we used to share a house,” he ended.
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