Of Leicester's fairy-tale and Old Trafford experience

Last Sunday, the eyes of all football fans worldwide were fixed on Old Trafford to see if Leicester’s fairy-tale would reach its climax at the Theatre of Dreams.

A win for Leicester and the 5000-1 underdogs at the start of the season would be crowned EPL champions at the home of the twenty time champions.

I had a front row seat to witness this unlikely spectacle. I was living a fairy-tale.

Walking in Manchester on match day was akin to Nairobi on Mashemeji derby day. Fans decked in their club’s colours, singing and chanting. The visiting Leicester fans, for obvious reasons, were noisier and livelier. Just like us, they had come to witness the impossible happen.

In the tram to Old Trafford, I struck a conversation with the 50-year-old Steve. For 43 years, he has been going to Old Trafford. It started with his dad and never stopped. Tradition inculcated. Steve bleeds Red for Manchester United and his passion is life and death.

Outside the Old Trafford tram station, I met Denise. A Leicester City season ticket holder who, despite living in Dubai, had attended all but two home games. She is the embodiment of the Leicester roots that have sprouted the fairy-tale that has captured the world’s imagination.

Walking towards Old Trafford with the thousands of fans was like making a pilgrimage. Stalls selling merchandise, open trucks offering fast food and beer on the go, hawkers calling out for their wares, fans singing all made one forget the freezing weather.

Several searches and into the stadium I went. “This is it! This is it!" was the mantra I chanted as I searched for my seat.

BITING COLD

I could not stop shaking. Perhaps due to the biting cold but mostly due to the overwhelming sense of occasion.

Seeing the teams warm up, seeing at close range the players I had only ever seen on TV, was exhilarating.

A few minutes before 4pm, with 75,275 fans attending match, the noise levels had hit a crescendo.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to the Theatre of Dreams, Manchester United and Leicester City,” said the stadium announcer as the players were led out by their respective captains.

I have never heard so much noise in a stadium. Words cannot describe the atmosphere at Old Trafford. You have to experience it to understand.

Antony Martial’s early goal got me flying off my seat. Wes Morgan’s headed equaliser and the unbridled joy of the 3,000 travelling Leicester fans was a sight to behold. The first 45 minutes flew past breathlessly. In the second half, the pace was less frantic but the drama was still intense. The match ended 1-1.

Leicester players walked across the pitch to acknowledge their travelling fans. United fans gave Claudio Ranieri’s charges a standing ovation. I marvelled at the delightful touching moment of sporting camaraderie.

Outside the stadium, Leicester fans were in great cheer. They may not have bagged the three points to win the title, but they were optimistic Spurs would falter the following day at Chelsea. They were right.

“We are going on a European tour! European tour! European tour!” chanted Leicester fans.

Amidst the boisterous travelling Leicester fans were Kenyans and Burundians. One of the Kenyan gentlemen from Mombasa proudly informed me that he was Riyad Mahrez's barber and showed me pictures to prove it.

This is a story about fairy-tales. Watching the game in person was the last thing on my mind when I sat watching Leicester’s 4-0 win over Swansea on April 24.

From that moment, I knew my decade’s long passion for Manchester United would be tested by my new found love for Leicester.

That United are still in contention for a top four finish in the English Premier League and a chance to play in Europe still baffles many.

However, Leicester’s story is hard to believe. A collection of castaways and journeymen, who had only survived the chop last May, were on the brink of being crowned Kings of England.

The Old Trafford experience was one of a kind. One of my travelling companions, Citizen TV Sports Editor Mike Okinyi, streamed the Chelsea-Spurs game on the plane.

Eden Hazard’s beautiful equaliser was met by loud cheers. Leicester were champions of England!

A fitting end to an incredible UK tour that was full of fairy-tales.

This trip was part of a promotion by gaming platform mCHEZA to reward its customers with fully paid VIP trips to watch live European matches.

Warothe Kiru is a NTV sports reporter