CHAN2024: Alphonce Omija on why he gifted young fan his boots after Harambee Stars match
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 13.08.25. | 09:37
The fan, seated beyond the pitch boundary, required some effort to access, but that did not stop the Gor Mahia star from performing that act of service
After a stellar performance against Angola in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Harambee Stars defender Alphonce Omija handed a young fan a moment to remember on Thursday, 7 August.
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The final whistle in Kenya's clash against Angola had just sounded when Omija, still catching his breath, noticed a persistent voice bellowing his name from the stands.
The fan, seated beyond the pitch boundary, required some effort to access, but that did not stop the Gor Mahia star from performing that act of service.
He slipped off his white Ksh30,000 boots and tossed them over the barrier, one at a time, until they landed in the boy’s hands as the crowd erupted in cheers.
“It was a special moment for me to appreciate that young boy. He had been calling my name from the moment the match ended, and I thought, why not?” Omija told Mozzart Sport.
While the boy walked away with a rare memento, Omija downplayed the gesture. With Ksh2.5 million recently added to his earnings, replacing the boots is hardly a challenge.
“Giving him that pair of boots was not a big deal. It was my way of saying thank you for the way he supported and cheered me throughout. I don’t even know him personally,” he offered.
The fan might have reached out to thank him for the kind gesture, but Omija might never know because he hardly checks messages on social media.
“Maybe he has reached out to thank me, but I don’t check my Facebook messages, so to this day I still don’t know his identity,” he revealed.
Omija’s energy on the pitch is nothing short of contagious.
Each time he wins a tackle or shuts down an opponent’s attack, he instinctively turns to the stands, lifting his hands in applause.
The fans respond instantly, mirroring his gesture and filling the stadium with reverberating noise. That creates an electric atmosphere that fuels both player and crowd.
