A GOAL IN LIFE

On a cold night of December 2013, John Macharia lost all hopes in life. In a desperate urge to end his excruciating sadness, the 28 year old Kenyan throws himself off the seventh floor balcony. At heaven’s gates: “I couldn't cope with seeing my team, Manchester United, lose to Newcastle United again” sobbed the young man to St Peter at Heaven's gates. The following day on Earth, newspaper titled the tragedy “Another Kenyan suicides over English Premier League”.

Kenya’s world reputation for its wildlife is legendary. Yearly, over 100,000 british tourists fly to the country to see the big five: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros. What wazungus don't know is that millions of Kenyans dream of seeing the English big fours in person; namely: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Indeed, any Englishman visiting will be asked at least a dozen times who they support, and will witness how engrained the English Premier League in local Kenyan culture.

One could describe John’s dramatic reaction to Man.United’s loss as, er… extreme. Maybe he gambled all he had on this game; maybe this bad news added to  more personal issues; may be he was too drunk to realise he wouldn't get up from that jump; may be he was simply stupid. Truth is, that night, hundreds of thousands of Kenyan supporters of Manchester United wept.

There is a sort of irrational emotional connection people have with foreign soccer championships here. It baffles me. Could it be that Kenyans have no local leaders worth following as passionately? Could it be that a bunch of millionaires in shorts running after a ball are more interesting than the collective building of one’s nation? What is it? I want to understand. So that John’s death seems less pathetic. So that I can look at soccer fanatics worldwide with more compassion. So that I may watch a game with a bit of excitement. So that I don't lose faith in my fellow humans…

John, there was a life beyond soccer. There were many other goals for you to score. Rest in peace.