Hooligans in stadiums stifle potential to help youth grow

Nairobi; Kenya: From Ancient Greece and the city-state of Sparta, we got the longest-running sport, the Olympics and the Marathon. Successive generations of humankind have staged sporting events, some with a winner-take-all bent and yet others as tools of cohesion and expressions of camaraderie between neighbours.

In more recent decades, we have engaged in sports for its attendant health benefits and as a source of income. But we have not forgotten that the least common denominator of any sport lies in the participation and triumph of the human spirit, enhancing goodwill through healthy competition, complete with rules of engagement.

Kenya is a world sporting powerhouse, especially in middle and long-distance athletics. All other sporting disciplines have not fared quite as well, but the jury is still out on whether we need to specialise in particular disciplines and throw our national weight and resources at excelling in these.

But then again, football is the world’s most popular sport with a three-billion-strong audience during the best of times, especially the World Cup. Despite our lowly ranking on the world stage, football has remained popular in Kenya. That is why it is important to understand why some football fans wrought a trail of destruction through Machakos town last week.

The real football fan is generally a committed adherent of his chosen team or league, but there are also the wannabe fans who bring intolerance and violence from the touchlines and stands. Throw away the kid gloves for these are hooligans. Criminals. Period.

The negative energy witnessed in Machakos by supposed Gor Mahia football fans, or at least people dressed in Gor Mahia-branded jerseys, brought back memories of previous stampedes witnessed at various stadiums around the country, usually triggered by a losing side or fans aggrieved by a referee’s alleged suspect decision.

Bottomline is, who will bear the cost of the destructive force that was visited on the shops, offices, cars, homes and physical infrastructure of Machakos town?

Machakos is considered one of the most forward-looking counties, constantly trying to open up to the rest of Kenya and the world to business, and sports facilities and various get-togethers and has registered top billings. Recently, the county hosted thousands of rugby fans during the three-day Masaku Sevens. Then came the bike-a-thon among other tournaments.

The hooliganism that blitzed through their town last week is not welcome and is a stain on the fabric of any sport. All sporting fans must conduct themselves with restraint because such incidents not only hurt the game but also destroy the image of Kenya as a sporting powerhouse. Which African nation will want to dispatch their players here should Kenya host the African Nations Cup all the while dreading the loss of life of limb, God forbid, should their Kenyan hosts lose a game?

As Kenya develops in other areas, we cannot neglect sports or behave in a way that does not help the growth of the sector. The Jubilee administration has committed itself to the development of sports in the country by channeling more money to sporting infrastructure.

County governments have also taken the cue and are developing their own facilities and organising major sporting events. 

Developing sports has a direct benefit to the country and its citizens. If we can develop sports to the extent of hosting international tournaments, we will find ourselves attracting many visitors and investors. The country can do with sports tourism as an added source of income. That is why, for instance, Uasin Gishu County has branded itself the Home of Marathon Champions and seeks to build on the runaway, globally-acclaimed success of its sons and daughters. Kenyans must encourage fair play and discourage hooliganism. Let’s always put the benefits of sports ahead even  as we express zeal for our favourite teams.