Saturday, December 11, 2010

Kenya’s number one soccer fan recognised


Football fan Isaac Juma during a past match, and right, receiving the award from KPL vice chairman Bob Munro. Photo/FILE
Football fan Isaac Juma during a past match, and right, receiving the award from KPL vice chairman Bob Munro. Photo/FILE 
By FRANCIS MUREITHI  Posted Friday, December 10 2010 at 19:41

As they dined during the Kenya Premier League (KPL) footballer of the year gala  night held at the Safari Park hotel recently, one participant who followed the proceedings was dedicated  football fan Isaac Juma Onyango.
Juma popularly known as ‘Ingwe’ or ‘AFC Leopards’ is one of the most consistent soccer fans that this country has had in recent times.
As he mingled freely in his characteristic jovial mood  with the who is who in the soccer fraternity at the Sh10 million bash, Juma was unaware that he was among the nominees for the awards at the gala night.
He was seated next to top scorer John Baraza and as master  of ceremonies Bernard Onyango called winners, it did not occur to him that he would form part of the roll of honour.
“My name was called three times and I could not believe my ears until Baraza, who was seated next to me, pinched me and told me they were actually calling me to go an pick an award,” recalls  42-year-old Juma.
In an interview with the Saturday Nation, Juma said that what followed was a movie-like scene, where he found himself sandwiched between two beauties and was escorted to the podium to receive his award.
As he received the chairman’s lifetime award from Mathare United chairman Bob Munro, what followed next saw him almost miss a step as he climbed down the podium.
“When master of ceremonies Bernard Otieno went further and announced that the award was worth  Sh100,000, I almost fainted. I have been a soccer fan since 1980 and nobody has ever recognised my efforts,” he said.
He said he will be dedicating the prize to his second-born daughter, Caroline Auma, who has just sat her KCPE at Emukhuwa Primary School in Mumias, Kakamega County.
“This award came at the right time as my daughter has just completed her class eight and every time she calls me and tells me to prepare as she will pass with flying colours,” Juma adds.
Prior to the gala night, the Nakuru-based soccer fan had received a telephone call from KPL Operations and Logistics manager, Frank Okoth asking him whether he could come to Nairobi the following day.
“He wanted me to be his guest and did not give me a clue why he wanted me to be in Nairobi,” said Juma who is a father of 10 — four boys and six girls.
He continued: “The KPL official asked for my full names as they appear in my national identification documents and I thought he wanted to get me access to the gala night venue at Safari Park Hotel.”
What many Kenyan soccer fans are not aware of is that, Juma has never missed a single home ground match involving Harambee Stars.
Yangu iko kwa damu. (My support for Harambee Star is in my blood)” says Juma who says he spends at least Sh2,000 to decorate himself before he attends a match.
Unlike many local soccer fans who are known to have divided loyalty with some supporting English Premier League teams, Juma has only two teams he follows with a lot of passion: Harambee  Stars and AFC Leopards.
Juma is so passionate about the Stars that he could easily name the entire first 11 including reserves and the technical bench — a feat many so-called Man U and Arsenal fans cannot do.
“Why should I know who is who in Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal and yet I cannot name a single player in the Harambee Stars or Gor Mahia line up?” asked Juma.
The journey for recognition as Number One soccer fan in Kenya has been bumpy and rough and many roundly accept that Juma deserves the honour.
He was once ejected from a bus for lack of enough bus fare and was forced to beg for lifts to enable him be in Nairobi on time for a match involving Harambee Stars.

That was in Gilgil as he travelled to watch Harambee Stars and Burkina Faso in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. “I was only saved by a traffic officer who stopped a bus and pleaded my case,” recalls Juma.
The memorable match saw the Stars win 3–2 against their rivals. One of the goals was scored moments after Juma stormed the stadium and did his traditional lap of honour.
Juma becomes the second recipient of the KPL chairman prize which was first awarded to former veteran Nation Sports writer Hezekiah Wepukhulu in 2009.

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