MWAURA: Kenyans demonstrate love for country through sports

It’s amazing how Kenyans have really showed up for our team Harambee Stars during the ongoing African Nations Championships popularly known as the CHAN competition in the three traditional East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

During the inaugural match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, it was evident that Harambee Stars not only dominated the game, but what was most encouraging was that Kenyans from all walks of life have been coming out in large numbers to support our national team. Many DR Congo fans were present due to Kenya’s longstanding hosting of many of them, but support from the stands was critical in boosting the morale of our national team, leading to their ultimate win.

It was very encouraging to see our fellow citizens wearing all manner of clothing adorning the colours of our national flag: from sports gear to caps, bandanas, etc., it was a moment to behold. Actually, for many of them, it was the first time that they were witnessing live soccer, away from watching the United Kingdom’s and European Union’s champions leagues via television or other devices. The fact that tickets are sold out way in advance is a clear testament to the great enthusiasm demonstrated across the country.

True to it, the motivation by President William Ruto to reward the team with Sh1 million for each per player has gone a very long way in boosting the confidence of the team. This clearly shows Kenya has great potential to become a great nation.

For the fans, it’s dignifying to be in a state-of-the-art Kasarani stadium that has been refurbished to very high international standards. While watching the game, one could easily be confused and think they were in London, the US or South Africa. Our facilities are that good!

What was even more encouraging was the match between Kenya and Angola. While on one hand, it was clear the latter had a better track record than our national team, but Kenya still went ahead to draw 1-1 with them at fulltime! Interestingly, we had only 10 players, and the opposing team had control of the game. However, our national team played a very good defence game, buoyed by the big fan base that showed up on a Thursday afternoon, straight from work. Can you imagine that there were more fans at the second half of the match than before on a weekday? This was really encouraging, to say the least.

It was also amazing to see the whole stadium lighting up with tens of thousands of mobile phone torches, with everyone waving, making a booming sound by hitting the plastic seats across the stadium in a wonderful moment of ubiquitous and unflinching solidarity. In fact, nobody was allowed to leave the stadium, even when the Angolan team scored an illegal goal offside. A certain senior government official was forced to sit back until the end of the game, even when it looked as though we were going to lose. That’s the solidarity that our nation displayed. As the President had promised, the team got Sh500,000 for each player since they drew against Angola, yet it was a 10-man team.

Come Sunday, many people expected Kenya to lose against the giant Moroccan team ranked 12th globally by Fifa. How could Kenya, a small African team that could only dream of competing with other low-ranked nations match up to a well-resourced and experienced squad of highly paid international players?

In the same vein, we did win 1-0! History had been made. It was indeed a very proud moment for us all. The President visited the Harambee Stars camp the following day, and it was great to see the players barefoot or in slippers as he interacted with them! Now, the newest millionaires in town have gotten Sh2.5 million each so far, and they will bag an equivalent amount if the team goes ahead to win against Zambia coming Sunday.

The President is a symbol of national unity, and he demonstrated exactly that. He has rallied all of us to support our national team in a manner not witnessed before. In the true spirit of kusema na kutenda, he has fulfilled his pledge, really boosting the spirit of our national team. President Ruto is such a transformational leader.

By the end of his tenure, Kenyans with love him so much, for being intentional in executing his vision for the country: undeterred, fearless, determined and committed to lift millions of hustlers out of poverty. It is disheartening that certain leaders make wild unsubstantiated claims, directly contradicting to our national aspirations. Wishing our President and country to fail, speaking ill of our nation abroad, while halfheartedly backing the Harambee Stars is unpatriotic.

We are one country, one nation, one people. Let’s rise above our petty parochial and political differences. Sports unites a people and politics organises society, yet corruption misallocates opportunities. Titles are transient, yet commitment to service and country is beyond the temporary. Let the spirit of uzalendo reign across the length and breadth of our great nation, Kenya.