Legend Kadenge set for Old Trafford thrill

In life, they say one must never give up a dream. And no one has perhaps learned this better than the legendary Joe Kadenge who will this week fulfil a life-long dream of visiting Manchester United and the fabled Old Trafford Stadium.

You see, at 82, Kadenge is at the twilight of his life. But throughout the eight decades he’s lived, he’s always nursed a dream of visiting the UK, and the Old Trafford based outfit in particular.

After all, this is a club he dearly loves. He has supported the club for over four decades and has seen the club morph; from coaches to players.

Since 1958, February 6 to be precise when United lost 20 of their players in a horrific air crash in Munich, a city in southern Germany, good old Joe has always had a soft spot for the club.

Fast forward, 60 years later, Kadenge, a scion of Kenyan football, will not only be at the Old Trafford but will also rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the beautiful game such as the legendary Red Devils former manager Sir Alex Fergusson.

To put the icing on the cake, Kadenge, who gave distinguished service to Kenya’s national football team Harambee Stars, and AFC Leopards, will be at the VIP box, having officially received his invitation letter on Wednesday in Nairobi from the club’s Chief Executive Officer.

The invitation was delivered to the Kenyan legend by Felix Orwa, a co-founder of Black Arrow, US football media brand firm.

Kadenge who is now old, frail, ailing but mighty in spirit, will jet out on Friday, February 2, 2018, to the UK to watch a league match between the Red Devils and Huddersfield. This match will coincide with the 60^th anniversary of the Munich Air crash Disaster.

The trip is sponsored by Black Arrow, and will be filmed and featured in an upcoming documentary dubbed KadengenaMpira which gained fame in the 1970s when the legend was at the peak of his football prowess tormenting defenders in Kenya and the region at large.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after he was officially handed his invitation letter to Manchester, the now fragile former winger said:  “I am very excited to have this opportunity to watch my team (Manchester United) live. I have been a fan since the Munich Air Disaster that claimed their players’ lives,” Kadenge said.

“Our hope as Black Arrow is that by shining the spotlight on Joe as he travels to Old Trafford, we can help in solidifying his place among football greats internationally as well as get more international attention to football in Kenya,”Felix Orwa said.

Orwa added that his media brand had embarked on this journey as a show of appreciation for Kadenge for his immense contributions to the beautiful game in Kenya.

Kadenge was recently introduced to Arsenal great and retired French ace Thierry Henry who was recently in the country as a Guinness Goodwill Ambassador.

Orwa added: “We are working on a documentary of Joe Kadenge that will not only succinctly tell his story and highlight his achievements but  also give Kenyans the opportunity to know who Joe really is and his place in Kenyan football so that the 21st-century football lovers can appreciate him as well.”

While in the UK, good Joe will visit the Munich Air Disaster Memorial as well as watch the riveting clash between United and Huddersfield.He will also grace the official celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the event on February 6.

As part of its honour to the legend, Black Arrow will stream live Kadenge’s activities at the “Theatre of Dreams” as Old Trafford is fondly known among its fans. The ‘Watch party’ will take place at K1 Club in Parklands on Saturday, February 3, 2018.