Kenya's fan
Stephen Mudiari/Twenty Ten
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Isaac Juma is not an ordinary soccer fan. Otherwise known as AFC (after his local tean AFC Leopards), or Ingwe (the leopard), Juma has come to be associated with football over the years in Kenya.
The expressive 42-year-old father of ten, features on television and radio stations whenever there is a match. Every so often, he travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch football. He loves to entertain the crowds at the stadium with his dancing and singing, and his body is a work of art, painted from head to toe in the colours and slogans of his team.
To meet Ingwe in the run up to a game means understanding his silence as he prepares mentally for the task ahead. For the 160 km that we travelled to the game, he rarely spoke. He was a different person from the man I met a few days previously for a photo shoot.
“I don’t know what is wrong with me and football,” he said. “It’s something in me that I don’t understand at all. I once asked the doctors if they can drain my blood and replace it. It’s like witchcraft, I am crazy. I just love football.”
Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2 in the World Cup qualifier match in Nairobi, qualifying them to take part in the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
A crestfallen Juma left the stadium after the match. His face was pale and the paint on his cheeks was beginning to crack.
“Kenya was just...
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Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, has his head shaved by his 'official' barber, Ezekiel Napari, at his barber shop in Nakuru town, November 13, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. He was a supporter at the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2; and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, has his head shaved by his 'official' barber, Ezekiel Napari, at his barber shop in Nakuru town, November 13, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. He was a supporter at the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2; and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe (centre), catches up on football news in the papers and chats with friends in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. Juma has been a soccer fan since he was a child. The 42-year-old father of ten often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. He was a supporter at the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2; and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, takes a look at second-hand football merchandise on sale in Nakuru town, November 13, 2009. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, takes an afternoon off in Nakuru town, November 13, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe (centre), has his body painted by Jackson Owino and Paul Akwala in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. Juma has had his body painted by the same artists for the last nine years. He was preparing to travel 160 kilometers to Nairobi to watch a match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2, and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, gets his face painted in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. Juma has had his body painted by the same artists for the last nine years. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, has his face painted by Paul Akwala in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. Juma has had his body painted by the same artists for the last nine years. He was preparing to travel 160km to Nairobi, to watch a match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2, and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe (centre), has his body painted by Jackson Owino (left) and Paul Akwala in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. Juma has had his body painted by the same artists for the last nine years. He was preparing to travel 160 kilometers to Nairobi to watch a match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex. Nigeria won the match 3-2, and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, holds a flag outside his house in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. The 42-year-old father of ten has had his body painted by the same artists for the past nine years, and his hair shaved by one 'official' barber. . Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex, 3-2; and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan nick-named Ingwe, walks to catch a bus in Nakuru town, November 14, 2009. The 42-year-old fan is a celebrity in his home-town, known to all as AFC or Ingwe. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan known as Ingwe, had a rare chance to pose for a photograph with the World-Cup trophy which arrived at the Nyayo Stadium. He then went to watch Kenya playing Nigeria, at the Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan also known as Ingwe, arrives with a flag at the Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma holds a whistle in his mouth at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan nick-named Ingwe, entertains the crowds before the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan known as Ingwe, carries his magic pot on his head as he joins other soccer enthusiasts to cheer during the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14th, 2009. Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2 and qualified for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010. . Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game.
Isaac Juma, a soccer-fan known as Ingwe, entertains the crowds during the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma watching the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
A pensive Isaac Juma, also known as Ingwe, follows the football match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14th, 2009. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
A disappointed Isaac Juma, also known as Ingwe, watches the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Kenya was beaten 2-3 by Nigeria, and Nigeria qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
A pensive Isaac Juma, better known as Ingwe, watches the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. He often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game. Nigeria won the match 3-2 against Kenya and qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
A crest-fallen Isaac Juma picks up his clothes after watching the match between Kenya and Nigeria at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. He was heart-broken after Kenya lost 2-3 to Nigeria, and Nigeria qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Isaac Juma, also known as Ingwe, in the middle of the Nairobi waiting for transport home after watching Nigeria play Kenya at Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi, November 14, 2009. The 42-year-old father of ten was heart-broken after Kenya lost 2-3 to Nigeria, allowing Nigeria to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Ingwe often travels the 160km to Nairobi to watch a game.
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