PHOTOS: Munro termed as true father of football as he takes final trip to land of no return

Revelation 21:4; “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Indeed, there were no tears yesterday inside PCEA St. Andrew’s Parish in Westlands as friends and family bid farewell to one of Kenya’s most celebrated football administrators, Robert ‘Bob’ Munro.

Even though in every tear, there’s a shared story of love, there she stood, as stoic as former Mathare United twin defenders George ‘Wise’ Owino and Edgar ‘Fighter’ Ochieng in their heydays.

Ingrid was unflustered, not agitated; calm and self-controlled as she chose to celebrate her departed husband, Bob Munro.

“Bob is not dead. Even though he has departed, it’s only his body that has left us, but Bob is with me and he is with his children. He will forever be with us,” she said.

To her, Munro remained her loving husband, the pillar of their family. Indeed, whatever her lot, she must have been taught to say, it is well with her soul.

Former Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi said he owes his success to the fallen soldier. It is Munro who shaped the tactician to become one of the most successful coaches in the region.

“Bob was influential in shaping my football career both as a player and a coach. He even convinced me to shave my dreadlocks that I had when I was young. He’s the grandfather of football,” Kimanzi said.

Mathare United CEO Jectone Obure was equally full of praise as he remembered his boss Munro.

“I knew Bob as an honest principled and well-organised person. He was a mentor friend and a father figure.” 

Others who spoke at the funeral service included former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) deputy president Doris Petra, former Kenyan Premier League head of technical committee GMT Otieno, and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.

The late Munro, who died on January 19 at his home in Westlands, had two daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren.

In their 1973 The Capitol Session album, Bob Marley and The Wailers’ sung thus; One bright morning when my work is over, man will fly away home.

Bob has flown away home, he’s now trodding on the King’s highway. What remains with us are memories, for we never want to lose our respect for him.