Western Kenya underlying passion for football has been witnessed in the ongoing annual national school ball games that started on Tuesday with huge crowds turning up for matches at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega School and Mukumu Bullring Stadium.Known as a hot bed of talents, fans can be seen streaming into the stadiums as early as 7.00 am in the morning to cheer up on their teams accompanied by a band of traditional dancers commonly known as ‘Isukuti’ within the locals.Sharendema 1-1 Agoro Sare 78’What game a we have in our hands in Bukhungu. Omondi’s goal seems to have sparked Agoro Sare into life and also their fans. The fans are now chanting GOR BIRO!#KSSSA pic.twitter.com/AJeghYMJGI— Elijah Ouko (@elijah_ouko) August 9, 2023 During Wednesday’s match between the hosts Shanderema Secondary School and Agoro Sare ,an estimate of about 25,000 fans were in attendance as they got entertained from the dancers as commonly referred to as gadaa among the ‘ingo’ fans.It was quite a bizarre scene as both sets of fans danced to their tune with the Nyanza fans entertaining a fully packed Bukhungu to ‘kalapapla’ drums beats as the host clapped back with catching isukuti dance moves to reminisce Mashemaji Derby atmosphere.Speaking to the press Wednesday early morning before kickoff, the group leader Patrick Muhambe alias Pastor noted that the crew had travelled from Shinyalu sub county to offer their services for free out of the love for Shanderema despite charging Kakamega Homeboyz Ksh 5,000 per game. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7417210##“We love football and our own is playing so we had to walk all the way from Shinyalu to Bukhungu just to give them morale because a win for them is our joy,” stated Muhambe.Agoro cheering squad leader Fredrick Odongo noted that the County government of Homabay through the youths and sports docket worked around the clock to ensure Sare’s appearance at the National level was a remarkable one flanked by fans from the home county.“Our county supported us to be here and ensure Agosa get the needed support as we are the hub of talents in Nyanza,” he said. School Games: Big Day for Western, Nyanza representatives with semifinal spots up for grabsThe match lived to the hype as the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw to stay afloat of their pool with four points though the Western Region Champions boost of a superior goal difference.The high turnout, however, left questions on Kenyan football faithful on what could be done to attract such immense crowds on our league matches with some urging the multitude was due to the attractive football on display at the developmental stage.
