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By:
HARRISON MAINA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted:
Apr,25-2016 12:31:01
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LAS VEGAS--During the recent US Rugby Sevens tournament in Las Vegas pitting 16 best countries in the sport from around the world, over 2,000 Kenyan nationals from across the US and even from the Uk descended on the popular city, partying hard at several joints, and leaving a huge impact at the stands with wild cheering and colorful representation.
The increasingly popular event took place at the Sam Boyd Stadium on the outskirts of the Las Vegas Strip from Wednesday March 2nd to Sunday March 6th. Clad in the red, black green and white Kenyan colors represented in all sorts of gear, the fans swarmed the Sam Boyd stadium on the outskirts of Vegas and left a mark on the minds of many with their raucous cheering and happy go lucky attitude--of course with their legendary drinking and enjoyment knack on display. Interestingly, among the Kenyan fans were many caucasian folks, who, being closely related to Kenyans in different ways, donned Kenyans colors with pride and style.
The Kenyans profile was buoyed even more by the great performance of their team who ended up winning all their early stage matches where they even beat the dreaded New Zealand team to advance to the quarter finals, only to be bundled out by hosts USA for one of the semi-final spots. However, the sterling performance by Kenya left most fans from around the world in awe, with other competing teams dreading a match-up with the east Africans. Led by a former Starehe boys center cheer leader from Dallas, Kenyan fans rent the air around the stands with "Wakenya oooh, Wakenya Yeeeh," in readiness for the quarterfinal match between Kenya and the host nation, USA on Saturday. Dressed in the traditional Starehe Boys uniform, the dedicated cheerleader occasionally reached into his Kenyan flag decorated box of tricks to pull out a variety lyric of popular Kenyan cheering squad.
Fans followed suit with much vigor in anticipation of an easy win against the US, literally silencing all American fans present who gawked at the Kenyans with admiration bracing themselves for a loss on the pitch to the now much feared Kenyan side. However, a few minutes into the match, tables were turned when the US team took an unexpected early lead, which they maintained and extended till the end of the game. Kenyan fans who just minutes ago beamed with smiles and pride were promptly reduced into snarling folks, dumbfounded with utter shock and disbelief. "I still can't believe this. It happened so fast and all of sudden we are out!,"said Victor Anga'wa from Boston. "Our guys played well though but luck was not on their side today. We will be back next year and we win the title," he added.
When the Kenyan team was not on the pitch, fans would roam about the stadium, snacking on various bites and drinks as they socialized with other fans. A duo of Kenyan friends, Brian Mutula who had travelled from London, UK and Ceasar Ondula from New Mexico, caused a stir as they roamed the stadium drinking right from half cut guards, in a traditional Luo cultural style, backed up with a "drinks tank" of strapped Mutula's back back replete with a sipping straw. Many American fans thrilled with the spectacle asked to take pictures with the Kenyans, requests that the Kenyans obliged to with ease. And when evenings came, the never say never die Kenyans met up for music entertainment at different locations around the strip where different DJs and performers provided a blast. Among the most popular shows were hosted at the Tropicana Hotel next to the MGM Grand hotel where most Kenyans were booked for the entire week.
However, the weeklong entertainment kicked off at the Paris Hotel where several hundred fans gathered in the hopes of meeting their much adored rugby players, as promised by organizers. Unfortunately, the players did not show up for the party.Tight lipped organizers did not shed light as to the development, but fans did not seem to care as they got into the party mood. However, the Kenyan Ambassador to the US, H.E Robinson Githaegraced the event in the company of several Embassy officials in town to issue New Generation ID cards to Kenyan fans at the Rumor Hotel venue. The envoy praised Kenyans who came from all over the USA and beyond to cheer their team, and wished the team well in the competition.
"I would like to thank all you fans who came from various destinations just to support our Kenyan team. That is what I call patriotism," he said. Other joints where parties were held included the Hard Rock Cafe where Diamond Platinumz, Tanzania's leading artiste entertained well over 1,000 wildly cheering fans present, as well as and the Rumor Hotel where the popular Take Over DJs group entertained to the max. "This is pretty cool to see all these Kenyans come out here and have a good time as they support our team. We hope more and more Kenyans come out here for future events," said Tony Ngari, a director at Safari Boston Golf club, a group of Kenyan golf lovers based in Boston who were hosting a golf tournament in Vegas on the sidelines of the Rugby Sevens. The fancy celebrations ended in the wee hours of Sunday night before fans staggered away into their rooms, hoping to catch their flights home on time till the next "Vegas time" in 2017.
More Pics coming soon in the Photo Gallery! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICA NEWS
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