This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
On October 13, 2019, AS Roma's co-owner and president, Jim Pallotta, made a bold promise to East African fans on Twitter. He vowed to create a Swahili account for the club, following a dare by a Kenyan fan after the club's English account congratulated Eliud Kipchoge on his achievement.
Just six days later, on October 17, 2019, the club delivered on its promise, launching the Swahili account. The first tweet was a cheeky video captioned: 'Roma Swahili Admin is here!!!'
AS Roma's decision to open a Swahili account marks a significant milestone in the club's efforts to engage with East African fans. The club has been showing support to Kenya and East Africa in general, frequently tweeting in Swahili and even playing a part in helping two Kenyan kids reunite with their families.
With this move, AS Roma becomes the first European football club to have a Swahili account, paving the way for other clubs to follow suit.
