‎Soy United fan walks 350km to Nairobi to raise funds, fight match fixing

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‎Ayange’s bold initiative comes at a crucial time for Soy United, who are preparing for two challenging away fixtures along the Coast against Mwatate and Mombasa United. The club has been grappling with financial constraints, particularly in meeting transportation costs for long-distance matches.

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‎Speaking to Citizen Digital about his mission, Ayange expressed determination to support his beloved club during a difficult period while also using the walk to raise awareness among Kenyans about the dangers of match fixing. 

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‎His journey is expected to draw attention from football fans and stakeholders across the country, highlighting both the financial struggles faced by lower-tier teams and the importance of protecting the integrity of the game.

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‎"The team needs to honour two league matches against Mwatate on April 4 and Mombasa United on April 18. Honouring these fixtures is expensive and the team is not doing well financially at the moment. As passionate fans, we decided to embark on this initiative of walking 350 kilometers from Soy to Nairobi to raise funds for the team,'' he said.

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‎Soy United Chief Executive Officer Edwin Ayiro commended the fan’s dedication, describing the gesture as inspiring and timely. He acknowledged that although the club has a sponsor, the financial support available is still not enough to sustain all operational needs, particularly travel expenses for away matches.

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‎Ayange began the long trek on Wednesday with optimism that his effort will help ease the club’s financial burden ahead of the coastal fixtures. Beyond fundraising, he also hopes to inspire unity among supporters and motivate the team to improve their performance on the pitch.

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‎"As a club, we are solidly behind him because running an NSL team is even more expensive than a Football Kenya Federation Premier League club. Apart from trying to raise funds for the team, he is doing sensitisation against match fixing, which is very important," Ayiro noted.

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‎Currently, Soy United sits in 11th position on the NSL standings with 36 points. However, Ayange remains hopeful that with improved support and determination, the team can push for a strong finish and secure a place among the top three teams by the end of the season.