Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, was buzzing on Sunday, August 9, and it certainly delivered when Manchester United’s local fans clinched a double over their rivals Arsenal in one of the country’s most talked about derbies.
Now, you might assume I’m referring to English based fans who actually played this match, but honestly, it was an all Kenyan fan encounter, featuring mostly the country’s entertainment personalities.
Africa’s top comedian and activist Eric Omondi spearheaded the United supporters, while the loquacious Useful Idioty the stage name of Stephen Otieno, captained Arsenal.
The event was proudly backed by leading gaming firm SportPesa under the SportPesa Experience.
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United had already taken the bragging rights in the first leg at the same venue in June, winning 3-2. On Sunday, they made sure the story ended the same way, although this time they had to work a little harder.
After a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time, United held their nerve in the penalty shootout to win 5-4.
United stunned Arsenal by seizing the lead through comedians Jian and Yaseen, who combined to punish the Gunners with a slick move in the first half.
Arsenal, though enjoying the upper hand for much of the game, squandered several chances from open play but refused to back down.
Machwani and Telvin Paul struck after the break as the Gunners fought back to level the contest and force a shootout.
With the pressure mounting, United kept their composure. Captain Eric Omondi stepped up to bury the decisive penalty, sending the United camp into rapturous celebrations.
Arsenal were arguably the better side for long spells, but United were ruthless when it counted most.
The day was action packed inside the 22,000 capacity venue, with over 10,000 fans in attendance.
The main event was ushered in by two curtain raisers: United Grannies beat Arsenal Grannies 1-0 through Cynthia Achieng’s solo strike, while United Baddies fell 1-0 to dominant Arsenal Baddies.
How award-winning TV Director Swazi Daniel brought Africa’s biggest EPL Fan Derby to life on SportPesa TV
What truly captured fans’ attention, however, was not just United completing the double.
This second leg thriller had over 18,000 viewers glued to their screens, whether on phones, smart TVs, laptops, or tablets, watching one of Africa’s biggest masterclasses being played in Kenya.
The production quality was top notch, leaving many fans impressed, and all credit goes to SportPesa, who backed SportPesa TV to deliver all the action live and direct from the pitch, complete with pre and post match interviews.
SportPesa News had the chance to sit down with the brain behind SportPesa TV’s production, Kenya’s director Swazi Daniel, who expressed his gratitude at seeing such a massive broadcast come to life.
“It is an absolute honor to be recognized as the Best TV Director in Kenya this year, but the real reward was seeing the magic we created on Sunday.
“Filling Nyayo Stadium to capacity for an EPL Fan Match is a testament to how deeply Kenyans love football. For me, it wasn’t just about directing a game; it was about delivering a world-class broadcast that captured the raw passion, energy, and sheer scale of Africa’s biggest fan derby.”
But making a fan derby of that magnitude look seamless on television was no small task.
According to Swazi, the production team went all out.
They deployed a 10-camera setup to capture everything from the action on the pitch to the reactions in the stands.
Two live drones provided aerial views of Nyayo Stadium, while two wireless roaming cameras took viewers closer to the action.
With two presenters guiding the broadcast and high-speed internet keeping everything connected, the aim was simple: make the viewer feel as though they were right there inside the stadium.
“To match the energy of a sold-out stadium, we deployed state-of-the-art broadcast equipment. We ran a massive 10-camera production to catch every angle of the action and the crowd’s reactions.
“We also integrated two live drones for breathtaking aerial views of Nyayo Stadium, alongside two wireless roaming cameras to bring viewers right onto the pitch and into the stands.
“Driven by our two brilliant presenters and backed by ultra-high-speed internet connectivity, our stream was seamless, crisp, and instantaneous.”
Judging by the reaction afterwards, the production hit the mark.
Swazi says the feedback from viewers has been one of the biggest highlights for the entire crew, with some fans even calling for SportPesa TV to be available on DStv.
For him, those comments mean more than simply praise.
“Knowing our audience feels they are watching an international-standard broadcast makes every hour of hard work worth it. It proves that SportPesa TV is genuinely delivering what the fans deserve.”
And there is no sign of the cameras going quiet anytime soon.
The SportPesa National 7s Circuit is already underway, with the SportPesa League also on the horizon.
“We are not slowing down! Right now, the thrilling SportPesa National 7s Circuit is actively in progress, and we are bringing it to you live with the same elite production quality.
“Looking ahead, the highly anticipated SportPesa League is also right around the corner. My message to our viewers is simple: keep your eyes glued to SportPesa TV. We are redefining sports broadcasting in Kenya, and we have so much more action lined up for you!”
Beyond the successful production, the SportPesa Experience was also graced by Kenyan legends Francis Onyiso and Dennis Oliech, who were honored during the event for their contributions to the game.
Former Harambee Stars defender Lawrence Olum was also recognized for his achievement as the only Kenyan to have won the Major League Soccer (MLS) title in the United States.
This was just part of what the leading gaming firm, SportPesa has been doing to promote sports in Kenya.
They are one of the major corporates channeling their energy into raising the bar across multiple sports, including rugby through the SportPesa League, boxing, motorsports, golfing, rallying, and more.
But last Sunday, it was all about bringing fans together and enjoying the spectacle of seeing their iconic celebrities take to the pitch.