- He started playing football since his childhood.
- Over time, he rose to a famous footballer and football coach.
- Mulee now nurtures young footballers.
In 1968, when Kenya was celebrating her first Gold Medal from the Mexico City Olympics, a legend was born, Jacob Mulee.
“I was brought up in a family of 11 under the care of a single mother. I grew up with a lot of discipline in the ghetto and after school I would go play football. Football has been my life. It is like my second nature,” says Mulee.
Scholar Media Africa had the pleasure of having an up-close-and-personal with Jacob Mulee, famously known as Ghost, at the Multimedia University.
Dressed in casual attire and with a welcoming demeanor, he shared his career journey with us.
Jacob Mulee was born in 1968 and was raised in Jericho estate, Nairobi, by a single mother. He was the sixth born in a family of eleven children.
He went to St. Michael’s Primary School and later joined Ofafa Jericho High School.
A young footballer
Starting as a young footballer, Mulee faced resistance from his late mother, who didn’t support his football dream.
“My mother used to beat me up when I came back from playing football and really discouraged me from playing it. I think she is now dancing in the grave seeing what football has made me achieve,” he explains.
His siblings snitched on him when he returned from playing his favorite game.
“My siblings used to secretly tell my mother that I was playing football. She would “discipline” me nearly every day because I loved playing it alot. She knew the best time to find and beat me, 6 a.m., before I went to school.
Regardless, I still love her because she taught me a lot and raised me well. I have a special place in my heart for her for raising me single-handedly and teaching me many values, including reading the word of God,” he said.
Chasing the dream
“I dreamt of being the national team coach while in form two back in Ofafa Jericho when I won my first trophy in 1981, as a player during the Coca-Cola Cup, formerly known as Kadenge Cup,” Mulee recounts.
At this time, he was playing both as a goalkeeper and striker.
Within no time, he was named the school captain and led his team to win several tournaments, the big cup being the Kadenge Cup.
The worst defeat was when they played with Stahere Boys, whose captain was Peter Kenneth. He remembers the 4-1 defeat to date; even his team members thought he was paid to let the goals pass through.
After completing high school, he joined Iqbal FC in Division 2 and then proceeded to Volcano FC.
Later, he joined and played for Re-Union FC.
“I knew Ghost when he was playing for a team called Iqbal FC and watched him grow in his football career. Later, I met him in commentary, where I taught him a lot and I can say that I’m really impressed with his growth.
It has been a pleasure working with him in the just-completed world cup held in Qatar,” Bernard Otieno, sports commentator and Mulee’s friend, added.
Mulee’s exploits
Mulee never gave up on his passion for football. For 10 years, he was with Tusker FC and won three league titles and a similar number of CECAFA cups.
In 1997, he was appointed the assistant coach of Tusker FC and took over as coach in 1998.
He led them to victory in 1999, and the following year, he retained the title and won the East and Central Africa club championship.
In 2001, he led the team to a successful defense of the regional crown and was appointed the national team’s assistant coach.
Between 2003 and 2004, he took over the national team, Harambee Stars.
In 2004, he led them to the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON).
This was the first time in 12 years the team appeared at the AFCON.
“Every player who worked with Ghost went out of Kenya to play football. He really played a big role to the players and my development too,” Titus Mulama, former Harambee Stars midfielder, says.
Mulee then resigned and went to coach APR Rwanda and then Yanga FC of Tanzania.
In 2006, he came back to Kenya and was appointed coach of Tusker FC, and won the National League crown the following year.
The same year, 2006, he was appointed deputy coach of the national team and the following year, he became their captain.
Family
Mulee is a husband to Carol Mulee, married for over 26 years.
“I’m a family man, married to my lovely wife and blessed with three boys who are now men, actually. My family means a lot to me. Two of the three are still in university finishing their degrees and one recently graduated,” he explains.
The two first met in a matatu over two decades ago, with Ghost snatching Carol’s heart with his contagious laughter, the rest has remained history.
A different path
Mulee’s journey then took an unexpected turn when Carol Radull spotted him and introduced him to radio.
He soon became a household name with his iconic laughter on the Gidi na Ghost Asubuhi morning show on Radio Jambo, which he co-hosts with Gidi.
The Patanisho segment of the show, which he enjoys most, tackles relationship and marital issues, helping separated spouses reconcile.
“I thank Carol Radull for spotting and introducing me to radio. I never thought I’d be a presenter, but here I am on Patanisho. I enjoy the show, giving people a platform to reconcile with their loved ones,” he says.
Currently, Mulee is the Technical Director of Liberty Sports Club, a fast-growing sports club in Kenya that nurtures young players.
He takes pride in the club’s success, having produced top players like Michael Olunga, who is playing for a Qatari club, Al-Duhail.
Finding inspiration
He credits his mentors, the late Oti Father and the late Tete Alhaji, for inspiring him with motivating words.
He also shares that he has never applied for a job, as jobs have always come looking for him!
Looking back, Mulee has no regrets and is satisfied with his achievements.
Despite being offered coaching positions, he is not willing to go back. His focus now is on Liberty Sports Club and helping people through his radio show.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: When radio ‘slept’ at midnight and ‘woke up’ in the morning
“I’m at a point where I have achieved everything I wanted in life,” he asserts.
Mulee’s story is a true inspiration which young people can learn and grow from, urging them to put in all efforts in chasing their life’s dreams.
