Walcott Assures Kenyans Everton Have Brought Their A-Game For Sharks

NAIROBI, Kenya- Everton FC winger and star Theo Walcott assured local football fans they are in for a spectacle on Sunday when the visiting Blues take on SportPesa Premier League (SPL) side Kariobangi Sharks FC at the MISC Kasarani Stadium in an international friendly.

The England international arrived in the country on Saturday morning with his teammates and manager Marco Silva on their first visit to Kenya for the landmark match against the 2019 SportPesa Cup champions.

It will mark the official start of the 2019/20 pre-season for the English Premier League (SPL) heavyweights. 

Walcott, who has a huge fan base in Kenya from his exploits with the England national team and his 12 years at Arsenal FC, was speaking to SportPesa News on Saturday afternoon after taking part in a short skills and drills session with Miracle Baby of the Sailors urban music pop group that is riding high with their hit single Wamlambez.

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The amicable midfielder expressed his delight to be in the country for such a historic occasion and underscored the importance of the game, not only to Kenyan football fans but to Everton as a whole. 

“It’s great to be here for the first time. Such a beautiful place from the little I’ve seen and the welcome has been great to say the least. 

“I’m very excited for the game and we have to give it our all seeing that it’s our first pre-season match. We expect a challenge but we are a very competitive side and it’s definitely going to be a great game of football,” Walcott declared. 

The winger has scored eight goals in 51 appearances for the Toffees since joining the club in 2018 and is keen to bounce back from the minor injury setbacks that have kept him out of the game including the entire pre-season last year as he seeks to establish himself as one of football's hottest talents. 

Bouncy Kasarani

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“All that is important now is the upcoming game tomorrow (Sunday) and the focus of being prepared for the new Premier League season. 

“I’m working extra hard to be fit so I can help my team whenever they need me and the first real test will be tomorrow. It’s great to see the stadium empty like this because I know it will be really bouncy and I can’t wait,” the 30-year old stated. 

Everton were scheduled to have a light training session on Saturday evening at the venue but due to some unforeseen circumstances, it was called off. 

This is the first time that an EPL side has come to Kenya and Sharks will make history as they become the second Kenyan side to play against a British team on home soil, after Gor Mahia FC hosted second-tier Championship outfit Hull City FC last year. 

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Silva, who took charge of Everton last season, echoed Walcott's sentiments proclaiming the international friendly dubbed SportPesa Cup is a wonderful opportunity for the Blues to be in Kenya and stated his team was ready to give their best despite having been together for a week after reporting back from the post-season summer break.

“We are very happy to be here for this great opportunity and all of us are really looking forward to the game tomorrow (Sunday). I’m confident it will be a great game of football,” Silva reiterated.

Meticulous preparations

Opposite number, William 'Kanu' Muluya once again promised Everton they would feel the full effects of a Shark attack having been in training for what stands out as the biggest game since the Kariobangi-based side was established in 2000.

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The SPL side who finished the previous season in ninth are seeking to lay a marker for the next season having surrendered their SportPesa Shield domestic cup title to rivals Bandari FC whom they beat 1-0 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in January to lift the 2019 SportPesa Cup.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Muluya who led his team to the top flight for the 2017 season where they finished third also agreed facing Everton is the kind of game his men need to test their talent against the best in international football.

The game will kick-off at 4pm local time (+3GMT) following the arrival of Silva and his players who departed Manchester airport on Friday evening, arriving in the Kenyan capital early on Saturday morning aboard a chartered private jet.

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It will be the culmination of months of meticulous preparations and growing excitement since the Blues confirmed in May they would travel to East Africa for the second time in May, having beaten Gor 2-1 in Dar in July 2017.

Everton FC players join local music stars, Kevin 'Love Child' Wyre and the Kansoul in a matatu ride around Nairobi as they got a feel of the Kenyan culture on Saturday, July 6, 2018. PHOTO/SPN