Since the Eighties, India has been the favourite destination of middle-level African footballers. The likes of Chima Okorie, Emeka Ezeugo (both Nigerians) and Samuel Omollo (Kenyan World Cup player) have added spice to the country’s clubs and leagues. Now an Indian company has suddenly struck a treasure trove of Kenyan talent, though quite inadvertently, it seems.

India’s largest floriculture company Karuturi Networks, based in Bangalore, recently acquired Dutch floriculture giant Sher Agencies with operations in Kenya and Ethiopia. And bundled with the deal arrived a gift: Kenyan soccer club Sher FC, now ninth in their 18-club league’s standings.

Definitely, not something the Indian company’s promoter and managing director Ramakrishna Karuturi had bargained for. “I didn’t really think about it before the acquisition,” Ramakrishna Karuturi told The Indian Express over phone from Bangalore. “But now I realise that opportunities do exist to make great use of the coincidence.”

Karuturi hasn’t really tied up the details, but he believes there is great potential to be able to use this positively for the growing Indian soccer profile.

“We will need some time for the acquisition process to be completed, after which I will turn my attention to the club,” said Karuturi, adding, “six or seven of our (Sher FC) players are in the (Kenyan) national squad, which makes it a good club to further develop.”

He hopes to have had a clearer picture of the situation at the club by October-end and may then want to think of possible gains from this sporting acquisition.

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