If you have been to a Mathare United game this season, there is a huge probability that you were either in the midst of a group of the club’s loyal fans or you watched them enjoy the game from a distance.Win or lose, the fans have made their presence felt in games.The closing minutes of Mathare United’s game against Kariobangi Sharks last week had a similar feeling. Leading by a goal inside the last minutes of added time, every clearance and save from the ‘Slum Boys’ was greeted with huge cheers and claps, and that looked to have an effect with the team as they ground out a 2-1 victory – their second win of the season and one that took them above the automatic relegation places.##NAJAVA_MECA_7041308##You’d be excused to think that ‘yeah, it was a Slum Derby and that the fans would obviously turn up’, until I attended their next game.Normally at the Ruaraka Stadium when Tusker are playing, you’d expect the home fans to be vocal all over the ground, but that was not the case on Saturday afternoon.In the stands and around the barriers was a huge number of Mathare United fans that had arrived for the game, and even seemed to rattle the Tusker players as they headed to the locker rooms at halftime. At the same time, the Mathare United players hurdled on the center circle before heading out on the opposite end of the field for halftime – some of them applauding the crowd that was on its feet rallying the players on.Even in the loss – a 2-1 defeat – the fans still showed support for the team as it gathered around for a post-match team talk.These fans made a difference for Mathare United yesterday as they played Kariobangi Sharks at the Kasarani Annexe Grounds. #FKFLPL pic.twitter.com/QgoAKZnlMr— Vincent Ooro (@scentor) February 16, 2023 “I have been a die-hard Mathare United fan for years,” one fan said at full time. “This actually isn’t a big crowd as compared to years before. We are just making our way back to the stadiums.”The past few years and months have not been graceful for the club as it has had to deal with finances, relegation, late reinstatement into the league and just recently, suspected match-fixing allegations among its players.“Those months weren’t easy,” the fan [who requested anonymity] said. “The events definitely played a role in the fans being far away from the team but you can feel some change now. It’s just not about the club giving the young talents in Mathare an opportunity to play, but also what the team is being reflected to be right now – a hardworking side that isn’t ready to give up.”Those virtues are the same ones that Mathare United interim manager Samuel Koko believes are the reason behind the fans showing tremendous support.“They are here because they can see the graft that we are putting in as a team. It doesn’t matter whether we are playing in a midweek game or not, they just show up. That gives me much joy because I know that there are people out there who are appreciating our efforts and we are here to make them feel part of us,” Koko said.As a few fans admitted Saturday, it’s just not about mental support, but also monetary.“This is a family,” one fan said. “These boys are putting everything on the line to entertain us. We just can’t leave them empty handed. We as a group contribute some cash for the players no matter the result. They need it.”Mathare boss working to improve team’s striking after Tusker blowAs loyalty and togetherness goes, Mathare United looks more like a united family now and head coach Koko understands that he has got to give the supporters the best.“Let them not worry about anything,” Koko sent a message to the fans. “We are doing the best we can to move out of this situation [relegation fight]. Trust me that we are going to remain in the league and not just, but we will finish in a higher position.“Let’s keep working and believing.”
