Diblo Kaberia (L), Fred Arocho (M) and Sammy Omollo (R).
Fred Arocho's combo with Sammy Omollo is one of the best football commentary in the country. Having played for various Kenyan football clubs, the two have vast experience and knowledge in Kenyan and world football and adding Sammy Omollo's experience as a coach, them being behind the microphone to commentate on a football is like a fish taking to water.
The introduction of anecdotes about Arocho's former coach who the commentator has refused to name numerous times has added an even more interesting dimension to their commentary.
According to Arocho, the coach did not understand English very and his use of the language was a great source of comic relief as well as confusion in as far as keeping up with instructions he gave was anything to go by.
The following is a list of English phrases that were were frequently "used" by Arocho's coach and have since been adopted into Arocho's and Pamzo's commentary script.
1. You have to perfume or you will not be paid!
What do you mean coach? If we do not come to training with smelling nice cologne we will not get paid?
Well, definitely the coach meant to say "perform" instead of "perfume".
Nowadays it is common to hear Arocho and Pamzo say, "Ah! This team is perfuming very well today," while commentating a match.
2. Sleep with him!
Eh! Coach do you know how odd and weird that sounds?
Direct translations such as these can be a source of great embarrassment much as they can be ribcrackers.
At times Kenyan coaches have to pass instructions in English more in cases where they are addressing a foreign player who does not understand Swahili or some of the other languages spoken in the country.
The phrase sleep with him! is a direct translation of the Swahili phrase lala na yeye! which means "mark him tightly"/"do not let him get past you"/"tackle him hard."
3. Accounts!
What do you mean boss? What have accounts done?
Well, apparently when Arocho's coach said that he used to mean "counterattack". He was definitely allergic to long words.
4. Money has been powered! They scored in the ninety-tooth minute!
You sure meant to say 'poured' and not powered and also 'ninety-second' and not 'ninety-tooth'.
5. Make underground passes.
How is that even possible coach? Only moles can do that.
The good ol' man was definitely telling his players to keep the ball on the ground.
6. You should be the one climbing the highest because you are the longest!
Did you mean to say, "You should be the one jumping the highest because you are the tallest."?
7. We should take advance! They are not perfuming!
Roger that coach! We will take advantage of their poor display as you wished to communicate.
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