Sunderland Naivasha: the rise of a club flying the red and white flag in Kenya

09/02/2025 07:00

Kit delivered to a British Army base and four promotions in eight years — it has been an interesting ride for Sunderland's Kenyan side!

Sunderland AFC has a reach that goes much further than the banks of the Wear or even the UK. Supporters branches exist around the world, and you'll spot the odd Sunderland shirt in many countries around the world.

Africa is full of people who support English clubs, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United being the main sides. But in one Kenyan town, the shirt you'll likely see the most of is Sunderland. This is down to people with a dream of starting a football club, and the generosity of the public thousands of miles away in the North East of England.

Sunderland AFC Naivasha were formed in the village of Karai, on the outskirts of the town of Naivasha, Kenya back in January 2012. The support from England started after Gary Lamb, now UK president of the club, was contacted by those starting the club — also a Sunderlans fan. It was one of those situations where you can say 'The rest is history'.

Gary Lamb explained how things got underway with the club over a decade ago, and how the generosity of people back home was a huge help.

I used to be secretary of a charity in Seaham, and I received a message on Facebook from someone called Paul. He said that he was part of a group setting up a football team in Kenya and it was called Sunderland AFC Kerochi, this was the name at first. This message was sent by someone who was also a Sunderland fan, that's where the name came from, and it asked if there was any chance I could get some kits and boots.

I showed it to my friend John Eilbeck and we agreed to give it a go. At first, we posted on all the fan sites asking for old kits and boots, anything football-related. We ended up filling a 45-foot container with stuff. As we were doing it, people came to us to donate bedding and bikes, and a local bedding company donated mattresses.

We got involved with Tombola, they were the first main sponsor, and they were Sunderland's sponsors at the time. I also got in contact with someone at Boldon who had a shipping company, he shipped this container over to Kenya for us for free. As years go on, you find the problems. It was costing a fortune to get stuff across, but the biggest issue was where the kit was being sent.

The donated items were making it to Kenya, but there was an issue when arriving at the airport in Kenya's capital. This is when another Sunderland fan stepped in with a suggestion that saved the say.

The containers would land at Nairobi Airport, and customs would steal the gear as it went through. We were lucky though as another Sunderland fan, originally from Spennymoor, was based at the British Army camp in Kenya. (Known as BATUK). He asked where exactly was the pitch, and he and his family went to see a couple of games. This lad then asked why we shouldn't send the stuff straight to the army camp, as it bypasses customs. When we got the stuff, he came and picked it up.

Gary is sent the details of matches from the players and officials in Kenya, and he writes them up on the club's website and social media.

We started as the village team but because we could attract players with free kits, we could attract the best players from Naivasha. It was great because we ended up getting promoted four times in the first eight years. This was to the National Division One, but then you were up against big company-owned clubs with unlimited resources. They would travel to a game the day before and stop in a hotel, we couldn't do that.

Gary added that the history of SAFC has been well communicated with the team and supporters in Kenya, and the club captain Jose made sure everyone who saw the team bus was aware.

The villagers know all about SAFC because me and John have been across five times now. When we go over we take them out for a drink or a meal, and we teach them about the rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle. So much so that on one occasion our captain one away match put a sign in the coach before leaving that said: 'This bus is for Mackems only — nee Geordies allowed'!

If you were driving around the town, the shirt you'll see more than any other is Sunderland. All the extra shirts we have for the people in the town, it's great to see. People have gone over from the UK and our captain takes them all around when they are there. It's an authentic Kenyan experience, with the football too.

Fans back home and around the world can help to keep the club going, and Gary explained how this is possible through sponsorship deals.

The main person who has kept the team together all these years is our captain Joseph Theuri. Everyone just calls him Jose. everyone in Naivasha just calls him Captain Joe now. He does everything, all of the finances. If anyone would like to donate a player it's £50 a season, and if you want to be a main company sponsor it's £500 a year- these are the two choices. We try to build up the funds, and no one sponsors them in Kenya.