Ksh5000 for Bungoma man who fasted for Bukembe High

First, it was a man cycling almost half the country to watch them play. Now it has emerged another fanatical supporter fasted for a week, praying for them to return home victorious.

Welcome to the surreal world of Nzoia Region Airtel Rising Stars football champions Bukembe Boys who have hogged headlines in the past week for anything but the game.

After setting the Internet ablaze when news broke that crazed supporter Ken Wafula Makokha cycled almost 400km to watch his favourite team playing in far-flung Lodwar, another fan Jack Welikhe, 75, is out to trump that in expressing devotion to the team.

The septuagenarian left everyone in Bukembe village, Bungoma County shocked and dumbfounded when he decided to go without food for seven days fasting and praying for his beloved team at his home and at the school’s playing pitch.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Welikhe who hails from Kanduyi constituency declared he could not feed on anything until results of his favourite side filtered through.

“I’m a footballer, I used to play for Sharp Shooters FC in the village, I decided to pray for my home team because I wanted them to achieve the dream I always wanted to achieve but failed due to financial constraints.

“I began my fasting immediately the team left the school until that time when they returned back as champions,” the soft-spoken man narrated.

According to the old man, he is ready to travel and support the team in neighbouring Kisumu County but that can only happen if he fasts and prays for another week.

His devotion did not go unnoticed by the County Government of Bungoma that jumped on the opportunity to lap the attention Bukembe have brought to them by giving him Ksh5000 to replace ‘some of the energy he lost’ in his fast.

Welikhe has appealed to well wishers to held ferry as many Bukembe supporters as possible to give the boys the lift they need to return as national champions.

This is half what the administration gave Wafula who received Ksh10,000 and a motorcycle after his amazing tale of pedalling for 385km to watch the team from Kanduyi to Lodwar captured the imagination of the entire country.

Besides that, the latest Bungoma ‘Super Man’ was flown back to Eldoret as he tasted the skies for the first time in his life since Citizen Digital broke his story last week.

Bukembe boys won the Regional finals after trouncing East and Central Africa Champions St Anthony boys 2-1 after drawing with former national champions Kakamega High also known as the Green Commandos 0-0 en route to the crown.

Victor Omondi who also pays for the second tier side in the National Super League Nzoia United was credited with the success alongside his Head Coach who also doubles as the School’s senior teacher Mr David Kalamu.

The team will however leave for the Nationals in Kisumu with a smile on their faces after the County Government gave them, Ksh500,000 to help them prepare for the finals.

Neighbours Lugulu Girls also received a similar amount after holding on to their regional women’s volleyball crown as they seek to defend the national trophy.