President William Ruto has offered a light-hearted response to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks questioning African enthusiasm for European football clubs over local ones, saying he supports both Arsenal and local football, Harambee Stars.
Ruto said he had learned that Museveni was “a bit unhappy” about the celebrations following Arsenal’s English Premier League triumph, and had questioned why African leaders were not more focused on local teams.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, the President added that Museveni had reportedly been surprised to learn that he was a supporter of Arsenal, asking why he did not instead support Harambee Stars.
“I saw President Museveni was a bit unhappy about our behaviour here. But please tell him I am a fan of both. And somebody is telling me they play at different times, and they win differently. So please explain to Mzee about this Arsenal incident. It was just excitement,” the President said.
Ruto joked about a message he received suggesting that he was considering taxing Arsenal fans due to their widespread celebrations.
“I saw somebody send me a poster of me thinking, and the thinking that was going on in my head was, ‘Is there any way of taxing these Arsenal fans?’ But I want to tell that good man, I am also a fan of Arsenal, so we are not going to go that direction,” he said.
The remarks came after Museveni publicly dismissed suggestions that he should celebrate Arsenal’s victory, arguing that African leaders should prioritise development issues such as jobs and poverty eradication.
“I said, ‘What is Arsenal?’ It is a European football club… and I should go to celebrate? Celebrate for what?” Museveni said in earlier remarks.
He added that while he had once played football, he abandoned the sport decades ago to focus on national priorities.
Museveni also questioned why Africans should be heavily invested in foreign football culture while many communities continue to face economic challenges.
Arsenal fans across East Africa had earlier celebrated the club’s Premier League title win, triggering widespread public excitement, including gatherings in Nairobi’s Central Business District, Umoja, Roysambu and Kasarani.
In Kenya, President Ruto and several leaders across different professions congratulated Arsenal FC and praised the team’s resilience and consistency.
“Our dreams may be deferred, but never extinguished. Congratulations to Arsenal, and thank you for exemplifying resilience and consistency. Let’s do it again soon,” Ruto said.
Supporters dressed in the club’s red and white colours sang, danced and waved flags late into the night, while others climbed onto vehicles and motorcycles, blowing vuvuzelas as motorists hooted in support.
