Former Kenyan football star Bonface Ambani emphasizes the importance of Aldrine Kibet's lost boots ahead of the CECAFA U18 final.
On Wednesday, news spread like wildfire within the football community as Junior Stars striker Aldrine Kibet allegedly made a plea for assistance in locating his missing boots.
These were not just any ordinary boots; they were the talismanic footwear that had propelled him to become the leading scorer at the CECAFA U18 Championships, with three crucial goals under his belt.
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The mystery surrounding the disappearance of these boots unfolded during the jubilant post-victory celebrations that followed Kenya's thrilling triumph over Tanzania in the semifinals.
Kibet's rise to prominence had been nothing short of spectacular, and his hope of clinching more goals in the upcoming final against Uganda was at risk due to the unexpected loss.
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Former Kenyan international Bonface Ambani, renowned for his footballing wisdom and experience, has stepped into the spotlight to shed light on the significance of Kibet's missing footwear.
"The young man lost his boots on Tuesday. Somebody might be somewhere thinking, it's just boots we can buy other boots. No. In football we have two things," Ambani expressed his concern.
"Witchcraft and being superstitious. Adrian Kibet falls on the latter. It's always a belief we players have. These are my scoring boots... It has a Midas touch, and that's it. During my playing time, I had boots that I believed in," he added.
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Ambani's revelations opened a window into the often enigmatic world of football superstitions.
"The whole week I could train with different pairs of boots, but come the weekend, or on any other day we have a match, I could pull them from my lockers... I once changed boots on a material day, ooh my goodness, it was chaotic, miss pass, first touch, finishing, ooh no. It was chaotic. Ask players, and they'll confirm this... Each player has what he believes in... but those who go for witchcraft, taaaawe," he added.
Superstitions in football extend beyond just boots, as Ambani pointed out.
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It can encompass the jersey number, the choice of undergarments, and various other elements.
Ambani revealed his personal attachment to numbers, stating, "18 and 24 were my all-time preferred numbers. So whoever picked this young man's boots, tafadhali, do the necessary. Buying boots for him Sio shida. The whole nation can buy him 100 boots in a second."
Aldrine Kibet's journey from Kenya's national secondary school games to catching the attention of scouts from Spanish giants Real Madrid has been nothing short of remarkable.
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As Kibet prepares to take the field in the highly anticipated final against Uganda, the search for his missing boots continues.
The football fans across the region are now not only eager to witness his prowess on the pitch but also to see if his cherished boots can be recovered in time to help him achieve glory once more.
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