#UnstoppableKenya: Harambee Stars Trends On Social Media As Algeria Looms
23rd June 2019
Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko lights up Twitter, Facebook by flagging off 100 supporters to travel to Cairo to cheer the team
- For the first time ever, Kenyans who have taken to social like fish to water can debate about their team on the micro blogging sites that have become an integral part of their everyday lives with Stars returning to AFCON for the first time in 15 years
- In a video posted on his Twitter and Facebook handles, Sonko who was flanked by former Vice-President, Kalonzo Musyoka, is seen rallying the supporters to roar the team on in Egypt while decked out in national colours
- With East African neighbours, Uganda upsetting the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 and Burundi holding their own against the mighty Super Eagles of Nigeria before going down 0-1 on Saturday night, Kenyan fans have every reason to believe their side can give Algeria a good go when they clash in Cairo on Sunday night
NAIROBI, Kenya- If social media was a barometer to measure the pulse of the nation, then the entire country was bleeding Harambee Stars on Sunday morning ahead of their Group C Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener against Algeria as the national team and everything related to it trended on Twitter and Facebook.
For the first time ever, Kenyans who have taken to social like fish to water can debate about their team on the micro blogging sites that have become an integral part of their everyday lives with Stars returning to AFCON for the first time in 15 years.
For the record, Facebook, the platform that connects up to 8.5m Kenyans was only a few days old when Kenya last played at Tunisia 2004 and it would not be until November 2017 when Twitter came to be and the East African nation's netizens are clearly, making up for lost time.
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Nairobi Governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko, #UnstoppableKenya and game ID #ALGKEN were among the trending topics on Twitter on Sunday morning as users of online news and social networking service talked about their national team that will be led out by Tottenham Hotspur FC midfield star, Victory Wanyama against the Desert Foxes.
Manchester City FC winger, Riyad Mahrez, who every Kenyan will be watching to see whether he can weave his magic against their beloved team was also a hot subject as the AFCON fever reached a crescendo in the final countdown to the Stars showdown against his Algeria.
On Saturday afternoon, social media magnet Sonko was at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to see off 100 fans who were travelling to Egypt to cheer on Stars having reportedly catered for their trip in the latest gesture from the Nairobi County chief who will never miss an opportunity to connect with the masses.
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In a video posted on his Twitter and Facebook handles, Sonko who was flanked by former Vice-President, Kalonzo Musyoka, is seen rallying the supporters to roar the team on in Egypt while decked out in national colours.
"We have come to see you off. We have two lots travelling to Cairo, the first is leaving now (Saturday) of 40 and the rest of 60 and I will follow tomorrow (Sunday)," the former Member of Parliament for Makadara Constituency told the cheering group.
Clarion call
"We wish our boys a big victory and we pray for Algeria to fall to Harambee Stars on Sunday," Kalonzo who styled himself as the Patron of Kenya Football Fans added on the video posted by Mike Sonko TV that went viral.
The Governor was then seen handing a wad of notes, some KSh500,000 to one of the supporters to cater for their expenses once they landed in Egypt with the leader later posting a message of support to the team via his social handles.
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"We are seeing off second batch of Kenyan football fans lead by Isaac Juma Harambee Stars die hard who are heading to Cairo, Egypt to support our national football team. I've catered for their travel, accommodation and match tickets. I wish Harambee Stars success ahead of the opening match against Algeria tomorrow (Sunday) night," he added.
The #UnstoppableKenya has tag was the clarion call for supporters on social media to rally behind their team that beat Burkina Faso 3-0 on their last outing at the biannual continental football showpiece in 2004 having already crashed out of the competition after losing their first two game to Mali (1-3) and Senegal (0-3) when it was a 16-team affair.
"Harambee Stars put on your best show tonight as you take on Algeria in you first Group C match and let us show Africa that we are the #UnstoppableKenya," Wachira Njega cheered.
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"Four years ago we embarked on a journey to change Kenyan football, not because we're the best, but because we're passionate and committed. Not because we were perfect but because we believed in the potential of Kenyan football," Football Kenya Federation president, Nick Mwendwa, posted on the same platform.
With East African neighbours, Uganda upsetting the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-0 and Burundi holding their own against the mighty Super Eagles of Nigeria before going down 0-1 on Saturday night, Kenyan fans have every reason to believe their side can give Algeria a good go when they clash in Cairo on Sunday night.