This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
July 7, 2019, marked a somber day in the football world with the passing of legendary player Joe Kadenge.
Over a year prior, Kadenge had shared a poignant premonition of his own mortality during a press conference at the Serena Hotel gardens.
As he walked into the gathering, Kadenge stunned the sports journalists in attendance with a candid admission of his mortality.
“Nitaenda kucheza mpira huko juu, mbinguni kuna uwanja mkubwa sana,” Kadenge said, pointing at the sky as he walked towards the designated spot in front of TV cameras.
His words brought tears to some journalists, who did not think it was a joke.
During the press conference, Kadenge also shared his struggles with illness, saying, “I have been sick for a year now. I was telling myself, ‘I’m going. I don’t have days in this world.’ Maybe, I will play more soccer in heaven. I thought I was well on my way to heaven but God has taken care of me. And I’m still here.”
The press conference was initially meant to announce Kadenge's visit to Manchester United at Old Trafford for the Manchester United vs Huddersfield match in February 2018.
“Manchester United is the football team I support from way back in 1958, when I was playing in Harambee Stars. And now that I have a chance to watch them play at Old Trafford, I just hope I will get the chance to meet the team manager Alex Ferguson and other older players that I used to watch back then,” Kadenge said.
Black Arrow cofounder Felix Orwa added, “Joe is arguably the oldest Manchester United fan in Kenya. He became a fan as a show of support for the lives lost in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster; an incident that helped shape Manchester United into the team we know today. We are honoured to represent him and help fulfill his lifelong dream of visiting Old Trafford.”
