Bring the Mashemeji Derby to Kisumu
-
- February 1, 2023
Mashemeji Derby, a big sports event, arguably always the biggest in the country, happened at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi last Sunday.
AFC Leopards SC (Ingwe) hosted Gor Mahia Fc (K’Ogalo) in a top-drawer league derby fondly nicknamed the Mashemeji Derby.
A Gor Mahia fan attending the Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi
The stadium was impressively filled with rival fans, despite the backdrop of less marketing deserving of such an event.
It’s the stuff that makes Kenyan football purists gush with pride and yearn for more serving.
The numbers showed fans still value our sport. And our league still has some pull even with the constant uncertainty brought about by leadership struggles and inadequate input by stakeholders across the board to make and take the fierce ages-old derby what and where it should rightly be on the African football map.
What if this good feeling we had over the weekend was to be a regular happening?
How can the derby be made more exciting and spectacular?
Something you can replay over and over and get the tingles each time?
One sure way is this, bring the Mashemeji derby to Kisumu!
Yes. Devolve the premier fixture of our league and bring it closer “home” once in a while. This side of the country is starved of that high-stakes, pride-on-the-line action.
Kisumu has so much going for it as an ideal host of this beautiful showpiece that it’s hard not to want to have it happen. It’s a traditional football powerhouse; football flows in the hearts of the Kisumu people.
No wonder this lakeside city is home to a legion of Gor Mahia super fans, those who can swear their blood is green (Gor’s home color). It’s by all standards a Gor Mahia city. As the home team, Gor will effortlessly pull crowds to the stands. Filled stands, good optics, and sound intensity.
This also means millions of shillings from ticket sales, at least 5 million. Our community clubs need such windfalls.
K’Ogalo’s roots are in Nyanza, Homa Bay county, to be precise, and Kisumu is Nyanza’s unofficial capital city. You can imagine what the derby’s frenzy will elicit all across this region, from Siaya, Homa Bay, to Migori. That is good for our football, bonding people’s hearts with the game right down to their villages. That is devolving the league’s following. Additionally, our mashemeji are on the other side of Kiboswa hills. They will descend in droves to the derby with all their mukombero and isikuti, dancing and hopeful.
Lastly, Kisumu now boasts a venue that can comfortably host this hallowed fixture.
The Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, with a projected capacity of 30,000 people, is very much suited to be the melting pot of some good Luo celebratory renditions and infectious Luhya energy.
This is a derby that will have it all, color, fanfare, sold-out crowds, vigor, and an authentic Mashemeji vibe.
The atmosphere in and around the stadium will be palpable. A good showcase of our game to the African and global audience in beams of positive light makes for super branding and future marketing. Someone, please bring the Mashemeji derby to Kisumu.
