Are you wondering why 2024?

Come sit here with me. We’re in this together. Let me tell you why — and take you back to what happened just yesterday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, as Morocco faced off with Angola in one of the Group A matches. Yes, the same group where my beloved Kenya is. It’s truly the group of death.

I’m beyond excited, and you know why? It’s been a long time since I last shared a post here. The last time I typed anything on this page, I was taking you through my trip to Amboseli, talking about elephants and all the wild magic that comes with being out there.

But life has been happening. Fast and hard. And finding time to journal here has been nearly impossible.

Now? The world has aligned. And here we go. I’ll be doing this more often, so brace yourself for a good time.

Now, back to the game…

The first time I set foot in Nyayo Stadium was way back in 1997, thanks to my uncle Ogeta – a man who loved President Moi with deep loyalty. One day, he made sure I was there for the Independence Day celebrations (Dec 12th)

I had a good time. I’d never seen anything so massive in the name of a stadium. The crowds, the colour, the occasion – it was overwhelming in the best way.

Later on, I “upgraded.” I began visiting Nyayo for games as a young lad. Growing up just nearby, it became part of my weekend rhythm. It was so easy to walk down there – and sometimes, when we couldn’t afford the entrance fee, we did what many street-smart kids did – we jumped the fence. Football was calling, and we weren’t going to miss it.

My stories at Nyayo could fill a book. The long and the short of it is this -every time I walk into that stadium now, and I see these kids – the ones they call Ball Kids – I get excited. I see a possibility. I see the future.

Some of them will play football.
Some will become referees.
Some will rise as football administrators and leaders.

But one thing is constant: they will contribute something to football, just like I’m doing my thing, 27 years later.

Talking of the Ball Kids, these are included too.

Most of them come in as volunteers – no pay, just pure love for the game and a hunger to be part of something bigger than themselves. They’ll do everything to make sure the tournament runs smoothly. From fetching balls, setting up equipment, to running last-minute errands that no one else notices.

They are the unsung heroes of football events like this.

No spotlight. No interviews. But their presence keeps the game moving.

And maybe that’s what makes them special -they show up, they give their all, and they quietly go home with a story to tell.

One day, one of them will remember CHAN 2025 as the moment they fell deeper in love with football, and maybe that spark will lead them to their path.

Just like mine started at Nyayo in ‘97.

Just like that, I missed out on the lineup shot of Angola. These games need one to act super fast. We keep learning, guys!

The pace of the game was high, as it was expected. It was tightly contested, with both teams making saves here and there.

And that was how I managed to squeeze in this shot, which is my best from the evening.

The second half was all Morocco.

Angola pushed hard for the equaliser

Do you know why CHAN 2024 is being played in 2025?

It’s due to a postponement caused by delays in stadium construction and infrastructure development in the host countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Ideally, this event happens in Jan/Feb(2025).

I must commend the federations and host countries for taking their time to prepare; things look good. This is also a very good preparation towards AFCON 2027, which will be bigger and mightier.

Both team play their next games against my team, Kenya. Angola on 7th August, while Morocco on 10th August.