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Nganya culture spreads the cheer to football

Shabana and Gor Mahia players during their game at Gusii Stadium, on April 4, 2025. The match ended 1:0 in favor of Gor Mahia. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

It is 7 am on a Sunday morning in Kisii town. The crowds are already gathering. A matatu, no, a nganya, zooms past the residents, painted in customized flashy themes, with murals of football legends and slogans that scream identity.

Hyped for weeks, the pandemonium hit fever pitch as the anticipated football match dubbed the Nyanza derby, saw hundreds of football fans travel overnight from Nairobi to Kisii town to cheer their beloved teams.

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