I have never been a football fan. I know the names of a few players, mostly because they pop up on my newsfeed, but I have never cheered from the stands.
I have never painted my face in team colors, never felt the pulse of a live match.
But all that changed on Thursday, August 7, when I found myself in the middle of a roaring crowd at Kasarani Stadium, watching Kenya take on Angola in the TOTAL CHAN group stage.
That was my first-ever match in a stadium, and at the iconic Kasarani Stadium, no less. By the end of the night, I had discovered that football is not just a game.
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Getting to Kasarani Stadium and the First Whistle
The roads leading to Kasarani were closed, meaning most people plying the road were headed to the stadium, and matatus dropped us right at the main gate. That was a big relief. Right from the gate, the energy from the fans was already evident.
But before stepping into the main arena, I learned the first rule of live football is that the journey from the gate to your seat is also its own kind of marathon.
We went through five checkpoints. At the first gate, I had to throw away the sweets I had carried, along with fans, ditching water bottles and other prohibited items.
However, I was taken aback after the second checkpoint when I spotted vendors selling the exact same soft drinks and bottled water we had been forced to discard.
Two ticket scans later, we were finally in, and I was determined to sit in my allocated section, even though regular and silver ticket holders were all mixing freely. It did not matter how much you bought your ticket for, except for the VIP, of course.
I arrived one and a half hours before kick-off, and Kasarani was already alive. The DJ was blasting music, fans were dancing, waving flags, and turning the stands into a living, breathing wave of color.
The vibe from the gates to the terraces was electric, energy at 100/100. I knew I was in for a treat the moment I stepped into the stadium. What I didn’t know was that I was also in for anxiety, headaches, and every emotion on the human spectrum.
The CHAN Game- Joy, Panic, and a Lesson in VAR
Barely seven minutes in, Angola scored a goal, and the stadium groaned, but almost instantly, fans started chanting encouragement for the Stars.
I was amused by the self-appointed analysts. One who was seated right in front of me kept predicting how the match would unfold. Nobody really knows, of course, but the passion was infectious.
In the 12th minute, Harambee Stars’ star Austin Odhiambo gave Kenya a goal through a penalty. When Kenya scored, there was an immediate eruption of joy. Drums were banned, but this is Africa, so we made music by slamming our palms on the plastic seats. At first, the noise was deafening, but you grow into it.
Then came the drama at the 21st minute, when Marvin Nabwire received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle. Kenya was down to 10 men for over 70 minutes.
Also Read: Profile of Byrne Omondi, Kenya’s Goalkeeper During CHAN 2024
Beautiful Moments from Kasarani
One of the most beautiful moments was when the crowd did the celebratory wave, rising and sitting in perfect rhythm. For me, that was a sign of unity.
Half-time felt like a mini street party, the DJ keeping the adrenaline high as we sang and danced our legs off.
However, in the second half, I kept darting to the clock. Angola pressed hard, and near misses made my stomach flip.
I was constantly at the edge of my seat or on my feet, the tension growing with every attack.
You feel all kinds of emotions at a football match. Joy, excitement, panic, sadness, disappointment, hope. And I felt them all in those two hours.
Then came the big shock moment. Angola scored what looked like a heartbreaking late winner. When the commentator’s confirmation came, for the first time that night, the entire stadium went dead silent.
That’s what “pin-drop silence” truly means.
But VAR, our unexpected hero, ruled it out for offside. Relief mingled with a touch of guilt for celebrating someone else’s disappointment overcame me.
I love Angola, I love their Kizomba and Semba, but on that night, it was Harambee Stars all the way.
Walking out of Kasarani, the air was still ringing with chants and laughter. I understood that nothing unites people more than sport. In a divided world, for two hours, 46,000 strangers become one heartbeat.
Would I recommend this experience? Without hesitation. Even to non-football lovers, perhaps especially to them.
Because football in a stadium is not just about goals, it is about the shared gasps, the waves of song, the strangers you high-five without knowing their names, and the feeling that, for one night, you were part of something bigger than yourself.
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