Special Feature: Throwback On How Everton Stole Hearts In Tanzania

13th June 2019 - by Mutwiri Mutuota

The Blues will be touring Kenyan next month to play Kariobangi Sharks FC on July 7 at the MISC Kasarani having left a lasting impact on their maiden visit to East Africa two years ago

Everton FC forward Wayne Rooney (left) in action against Gor Mahia FC during their friendly at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on July 13, 2017. PHOTO/File

SUMMARY

In the heat and humidity of the coastal commercial city, Gor eventually surrendered to a 1-2 defeat to side stacked with international stars led by former England captain and Manchester United FC legend, Wayne Rooney
In showcasing their talent against the Blues and in the SportPesa Cup, Gor stars such as Meddie Kagere (Simba/Tanzania), Tuyisenge (Petro Atletico de Luanda/Angola), Godfrey Walusimbi (Kaizer Chiefs/South Africa) and Musa Mohammed (Nkana/Zambia) have earned lucrative moves from the SPL
Going by SportPesa’s rallying call it is time for Sharks players to take every opportunity to make it count at the Kasarani Stadium on July 7

NAIROBI, Kenya- East African football will never forget July 13, 2017, the day when one of the region’s biggest teams, Gor Mahia FC tested their talent against nine-time English League winners, Everton FC at a packed National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

In the heat and humidity of the coastal commercial city, Gor eventually surrendered to a 1-2 defeat to side stacked with international stars led by former England captain and Manchester United FC legend, Wayne Rooney.

Rooney left his permanent mark on this historic pre-season friendly when he scored a goal of stunning beauty to put Everton 1-0 up in the 34th minute, a strike worthy to illuminate any stadium in the world.

Receiving the ball in deep midfield, the England record scorer took two steps to advance before letting fly to beat Boniface Odhiambo from range to send the crowd into raptures.

Rwanda striker, Jacques Tuyisenge then glanced in the equaliser past Dutch international keeper Marten Stekelenburg for 1-1 at half time to spark unbelievable scenes among the vociferous Green Army Gor supporters most who had travelled overnight to attend the game.

Another goal of top quality from young Kieran Dowell in the 77th finally broke Gor’s resistance to hand Everton victory on the climax of their maiden tour to East Africa where the club touched the hearts of locals.

As the Blues prepare to make their second trip to the region and the first in Kenya to play Kariobangi Sharks FC on July 7, 2019 in another 60,000-seater sporting monument that is the MISC Kasarani, SportPesa News takes a trip down memory lane to recap Everton’s maiden trip to this part of the world no other English Premier League team has ventured.

It all started when SportPesa- the technology and entertainment business that has grown to be an unmatched investor in East African sport- opened its doors to the Tanzania market on May 9, 2017.

Inspired by the warm reception the company received in Tanzania, the decision makers of the firm decided to launch a football tournament that would bring the best eight teams- four each from Kenya and Tanzania- to play in a knockout tournament.

Hefty cash

The idea was mooted as a vehicle to invoke the passion of the decades old football rivalry between the two East African titans and apart from a hefty cash reward of USD30,000 for the winners, a bigger motivation was needed to bring out the best of the talent on show.

Having just announced a lucrative shirt partnership deal with Everton in the same month, a record in the English Premier League for a company with roots in East Africa, it was then suggested the winners of the regional competition would have the honour of hosting the Blues as the biggest prize.

In only three weeks, the SportPesa Cup was born, organised and the first edition organised in Tanzania at the Uhuru Stadium that stands shoulder to shoulder with the National Main.

Gor, arch rivals AFC Leopards, 2016 Kenyan champions Tusker FC and Nakuru AllStars FC who were playing in the then second tier National Super League were chosen to fly their nation’s flag.

In the Tanzanian corner, Dar stalwarts, Simba SC and Yanga SC led the charge alongside Singida United FC and Jang’ombe Boys FC from Zanzibar.

The high-octane tournament then branded as SportPesa Super Cup produced a mouth-watering final on June 11, 2017 featuring the Mashemeji derby between Gor and Leopards who were playing for a trophy on foreign soil for the first time since 1985.

Gor tore through the old enemy 3-0 to win the cup and a ticket to play Everton at the National Stadium a month later and gave then manager Ronald Koeman and his side a run for their money before their eventual surrender.

The maiden visit is not only remembered for that game because the Blues players and coaching staff spent less than 48 hours on the ground in Dar but managed to make plenty of new friends and pack in lots of activities - both on the pitch and in the local community.

From meeting members of the famous Maasai tribe and cooking traditional Tanzanian food, to visiting a local school and joining in with a training session at Albino United, the Blues were an instant hit in the football-loving nation.

The presence of Rooney, who was making his prodigal return to Everton having become a global super star at United where he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, five EPL titles, three League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup added the flavour to the maiden tour.

His presence sparked mania among the fans as the BBC reported.

Pitch invader

“The goal was even cheered by fans of the opposing team, with one dressed in a Manchester United shirt forcing the game to be stopped after invading the pitch to give Rooney a hug. The former England captain responded by returning the favour before the fan was bundled off the pitch.

“Many fans - some of whom travelled from the neighbouring East African nations of Kenya and Uganda - chanted "Rooney, Rooney" as the players left the stadium at the end of their two-day stint in Tanzania.”

After running Everton close, Gor were driven according to their former head coach, Briton Dylan Kerr to return home and reclaim the SPL title from Tusker FC and have not relinquished the crown since, adding the 2018 and 2018/19 championships to their record breaking collection of 18.

The narrow loss also saw the Kenyan glamour club retain their SportPesa Cup title in Nakuru last year where they outclassed Simba 2-0 in Nakuru on June 10, 2018 to book a ticket to travel to Goodison to play Everton.

Although they came on the wrong end of a 4-0 crushing defeat, the first ever trip of a Kenyan side to play in an EPL ground was an occasion each of the Gor players will celebrate for life.

In showcasing their talent against the Blues and in the SportPesa Cup, Gor stars such as Meddie Kagere (Simba/Tanzania), Tuyisenge (Petro Atletico de Luanda/Angola), Godfrey Walusimbi (Kaizer Chiefs/South Africa) and Musa Mohammed (Nkana/Zambia) have earned lucrative moves from the SPL.

Others such as captain, Harun Shakava and midfield star Francis Kahata are on the verge of big moves and it is such an opportunity that will be weighing in the minds of the Sharks FC players when they host Everton next month.

Going by SportPesa’s rallying call it is time for Sharks players to take every opportunity to make it count at the Kasarani Stadium on July 7.