Fans are important in sports for several reasons, as they add revenue to teams through gate collections and purchase of merchandise, not to mention buying match day tickets.
However, the turnup of fans in stadiums for games in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League games has always been lacking.
But, on Saturday, October 22, the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo was full to capacity as KCCA FC edged Vipers SC 1-0 courtesy of Rogers Mato’s goal in the fifth minute.
Fans started flocking the stadium as early as midday and among these, quite a number of them were going to watch their first UPL game.
“I have been preparing for this game from the beginning of the season and I remember asking a friend when is KCCA playing with Vipers,” Arnold Mukisa, a Vipers fan told Football256.
“I wanted so much to watch this game because I have come to realize that these are the two biggest clubs in Uganda currently.”
“This was my first time watching a UPL game and I enjoyed it although the player I came to watch ‘Siraje Ssentamu’ didn’t play.”
Mukisa thinks that one of the reasons people are limited in stadiums for UPL games, is the lack of awareness.
“I think most people don’t know about these games because they have not been publicized enough by the clubs themselves and the league organizers.”
“We are competing with the likes of the English Premier League and people have fallen so much for European games.”
“So the people concerned have to move out of their way and look for means of convincing the public to come for local games,” he noted.
Even at kick-off, fans were still entering although they had nowhere to seat, just stepping a foot in the stadium was enough.
“This is the first time for me to watch a UPL but what I can say is that the experience has been amazing,” Gift Nasasira told this reporter before adding.
“I am a KCCA fan but I had never watched any of their games and I am happy that we won the first time I watched the team play.”
“Allan Okello is my favorite player on the team and it was exciting to watch him and I am looking forward to watching my team many more times and the UPL as a whole,” she added.
The atmosphere was fascinating and it left many impressed and hoping for the same turn-up even for other games.
Sultan Uthman Mukiibi was overwhelmed by the atmosphere after he fidgeted to find where to seat having come half an hour to kick off
“I am a staunch fan of Ugandan football but I have never been to Lugogo and it’s full like this,” Mukiibi said.
“Because people don’t watch the local games that’s why maybe it seems like I came late but generally coming 30 minutes before kick-off has always been too early until today.”
“I am impressed and I believe people are beginning to pick interest in the local teams and I hope this continues,” he concluded.
Part of the stadium is under construction but thousands of fans put the two available stands and the VIP wing to good use.
