By Reuben Olita
Former Premier League Side Panpaper FC utility player and soccer administrator Stephen Emee has passed on after a short illness.
Isamaa clan vice chairman Emmanuel Osirang broke the news of their member who succumbed to his illness at Bungoma Life Care, where the body has been reserved pending burial arrangements.
Former Panpaper coach Apollo Oteba said Emee joined the club as a midfielder in 1989, where he helped his team to memorable victories in the Premier league.
Panpaper was a household name in the country where it remained in top flight football between 1984-1992 when it was demoted to Division II after facing relegation.
Oteba said Emee was a good player who was always in the team’s first eleven, adding that discipline was his cardinal rule that made him the darling of fans.
The late Stephen Emee.
Martin Ideke recalled his working career with Emee between 1989-1996 before he resigned to land another job at Kaptembwa Post in Nakuru.
When Panpaper was put under receivership, Emee returned home, where he became the treasurer of Kenya Football Federation North Western Branch for six years.
Football Kenya Federation Busia Branch chairman Hillary Musundi said Emee’s death was a big blow to soccer fraternity in the county and sent condolences to the deceased family.
