The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
After a 13-year absence, the UEFA Champions League trophy has returned to Kenya for a three-day showcase.
The last time the trophy was in the country was in March 2012, when it was presented to then-President Mwai Kibaki at Harambee House in Nairobi.
This year, German football legend Bastian Schweinsteiger is accompanying the trophy on its Kenyan leg, which kicked off on Thursday and will wrap up on Saturday evening.
Schweinsteiger, who clinched the Champions League title with Bayern Munich in 2013, enjoyed a 17-year stint with the club, securing eight Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. He also played a pivotal role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory.
Kenya is the latest stop on the final leg of the Heineken UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, which has already visited Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, and Zambia. The tour is a collaboration between UEFA and Dutch brewer Heineken, aimed at bringing fans closer to European football’s most coveted club prize.
Former Kenyan international McDonald Mariga, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, adds a local connection to the trophy’s legacy.
The trophy will be officially presented to President William Ruto on Friday afternoon. Prior to that, Schweinsteiger, alongside officials from UEFA and Heineken, addressed the media at Serena Hotel in Nairobi. The trophy will be displayed for public viewing on Saturday afternoon at a location yet to be disclosed.
Additionally, on Saturday morning, Schweinsteiger will meet with former Kenyan football stars during an event organized by Heineken, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, and the Football Kenya Federation at Serena Hotel.
