World Cup: Kenyans thrilled by finals at Mama Ngina Drive

Caption: Kenyans watch World Cup finals pitting Argentina Against France at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa on Sunday December 18, http://2022.PHOTO/COURTESY

Kenyans trooped to different places to watch the thrilling World Cup finals pitting defending champions France against Argentina on Sunday evening.

One of the locations to be was the historic Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa where giant beverage company Coca Cola had pitched a big screen to beam the game live for the hundreds of ecstatic football fans.

The crowd started pouring at the serene venue over looking the Indian Ocean as early as noon.
Some donned jerseys of their favourite team, while others of their football icons; Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi.

As usual boda boda and tuk tuk operators made a kill ferrying the mad game fanatics to and from the venue.

Food vendors saw a boom in their businesses as the boisterous fans drank and partied during the greatest football showpiece on earth.

Some families used the occasion for picnics, as they enjoyed the cool breeze emanating from the ocean.

The atmosphere at the Mama Ngina Drive was highly charged, it was electrified with songs and dances at intervals during the game.

The fans, who cheered and jeered at each other in equal measure, took part in various competitions including penalty shoot outs and ball juggling to test their might in the sport.

Other lucky ones won fabulous prizes including balls, washing machines, fridges among other high end electronic gadgets.

"I'm really surprised with my luck today, the whole of my life I have never won anything," Tracy Amina, whose lucky ticket bagged her a washing machine, told Standard Sports.

"Watching the game here was like being in Qatar itself, the experience was out of this world," she added.
Eric Majan, a gospel rapper was happy that the debate on who is the Greatest Of All Time between Ronaldo and Messi is finally over after the latter lifted the World Cup.

Caption: Kenyans watch World Cup finals pitting Argentina Against France at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa on Sunday December 18, http://2022.PHOTO/COURTESY

Majan was among a bunch of fans who shouted themselves hoarse supporting Argentina during the thrilling show that ended 4-2 to their favour on post match penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation and a further 1-1 stalemate in extra time.

Just like Majan, Arrum Hafidh, 16, was happy that Messi finally lifted the glittering cup even though he had wanted him to bag the Golden Boot too.

Despite France eliminating his favourite England in the Quarterfinals, Abdul Aziz, a visiting student from the United Kingdom was still passionately supporting the French men in the crunch finals.

"France is a strong team, I feel the referee overlooked some crucial decisions that could have seen them retain the cup in a row," Aziz lamented after the game.

Kaura Karisa, a beach boy was purely supporting France for economic reasons.

"Every year, I see a ship load full of French tourists dock at the Mombasa Port, I always make a kill acting as a guide for the tourists across Mombasa town and the beaches, but i have never seen Argentines come to Kenya for a visit," Karisa said.

Coca Cola Coastal Bottlers Marketing Manager, Barry Otieno was happy that they brought the whole of Qatar experience to the hundreds of football fans that thronged the Mama Ngina Drive.

"I think we did justice to football lovers who could not attend the finals in Doha.

"We have bigger, better and more exciting campaigns for football fans in 2023," Otieno underlined.