But for those of us who knew and worked with Peter, one of the greatest tragedies is that he should have been changing people’s lives for many years to come.
As a former director of the Mathare Youth Sports Association Peter dedicated his life to improving the lives of young people in disadvantaged communities in Kenya, particularly in the slums of Mathare and the refugee camps of Kakuma.
Peter was a wonderful international ambassador for Kenya and Africa, whose work teaching and mentoring young leaders all over the world contributed greatly to the global understanding of the power of football as a tool for social development.
He was also a truly exceptional football coach who brought joy to millions in his home country, working with both national league champions Mathare United and Tusker FC as well as the national team, the Harambee Stars.
“The death of our colleague Peter Serry is a very big loss to all of us and has left a big vacuum in the development of soccer in Kenya and Africa,” said the Peter Serry Funeral Committee, which is led by former Kenya and Mathare United head coach Francis Kimanzi and Executive Director of MYSA Peter Karanja.
“He was a compass leader. He was to the north and to the south; he was to the east and to the west doing what he liked best. As a former director of Mathare Youth Sports Association he helped to design and model a brand of young talented leaders.”
Peter was laid to rest at a burial service in his home district of Butere on Friday 27th February 2009.
His death leaves a space that can never be filled. But his life will inspire us all to strive even harder to improve the lives of young people all over the world.