SportPesa Rewards Fans As Champions League Drama Grips Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya- The tension, drama and suspense around the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League has heightened as the competition entered its quarterfinal stage this week and SportPesa has not been left out of the fanfare.

On Wednesday night, revellers at the popular entertainment Nairobi nightspot, Tamasha in Hurlingham along Argwings Kodhek hosted the latest football viewing experience brought by the technology and entertainment business.

The series of bar activations is aimed at enhancing the football viewing experience by giving devoted fans as chance to win instant prizes for playing on SportPesa Short Message Service, online and SportPesa App platforms.

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Tamasha treated fans to a double viewing experience where they got to enjoy Champions League quarterfinal first leg ties featuring Ajax Amsterdam FC at home to Juventus FC as well as the big clash at Old Trafford where three-time winners Manchester United FC hosted five-time champions Barcelona.

Set in a serene ambience, it took only 13 minutes for the first roar to resonate around the famous venue when Barcelona were awarded the first goal credited as an own-goal by United defender, Luke Shaw.

Argentina super star, Lionel Messi, who was heavily tipped to make it a night of pain for the Old Trafford faithful and United fans worldwide, fed his strike partner Luis Suarez whose header went in via Shaw.

Another United defender, Chris Smalling, then clattered into Messi that left the forward with a bloody nose, in what led to a lengthy stoppage before the Barca superstar was allowed to continue.

With the Old Trafford clash of European titans beaming on the club’s ultra big screen, other fans cheered when Cristiano Ronaldo, a former United darling put Juventus ahead in the final minute of the first half.

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Rising sensation

That led to a section of United fans that had seen their team dominate the latter stages of the opening stanza without forcing an equaliser to claim their former favourite son who led them to the 2008 title will always be a Red Devil. 

The darkened Tamasha Restaurant in Nairobi provided the perfect backdrop for football fans who thronged the venue to watch UEFA Champions League action featuring Ajax vs Juventus and Manchester United vs Barcelona on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

Ajax Brazilian rising sensation, David Neres, hushed the scene when he uncorked an equaliser for the Dutch giants a minute into the second half of unbelievable quality but there was to be no further scoring as the games ended 1-1 and 1-0 to Barcelona in that order.

“Today, I cannot feel bad over the defeat because people expected United to be slaughtered by Messi and company but we lacked the quality to match our effort.

“I believe we can turn around the game at Camp Nou but we need to work on our finishing,” retired Harambee Stars and SportPesa Premier League side Mathare United FC midfield lynch pin, Simeone Mulama, remarked after the game.

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He was one of the many supporters who went home with assorted SportPesa branded merchandise for playing on the leading platform.        

“Watch out for this Ajax team. They are young and have no superstars in the side and play as a cohesive unit unlike our team did tonight.

“They hammered Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and I believe they can beat Juventus in Turin. That kid Neres is something else; they disallowed another of his goals for offside. This VAR is messing the game,” Anthony Olandi quipped.

After the riveting games, renowned reggae deejay, Cris Darlin' of the Dohty Family fame who is a regular at the club soon got revelers up on their feet, swaying, shuffling and dancing to evergreen hits as the party continued deep into the night.

For United supporters present, Darlin's performance on the 'ones and twos' soon washed away the heartbreak of losing as sport, gaming and entertainment combined to provide a rich cocktail of fun in what is rapidly becoming a fashionable way to unwind.

Fans will get the next chance to sample SportPesa viewing experience Tuesday week at Club Hornbill in Nairobi’s Umoja estate. Be there.

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