Local Fans Go Wild

By Geoffrey Kamali and Kalungi KabuyeKAMPALA City yesterday exploded into a great wave of joy as Brazil beat Germany to become the undisputed soccer World Cup champions.Most bars in the city were packed to capacity with regular patrons, most of who were Brazil supporters.After the thrilling match, Brazil fans at Just Kicking sports bar and Wagadugu in Kamwokya, a city suburb, took to the streets in Brizilian T-shirts and waving flags in a dancing frenzy.But the situation was different at a World Cup luncheon held at Blue Mango, where a sizeable community of Germans resident in Uganda, were watching the match.Supporters, wearing masks and painted faces in the German national flag, hurried away as tears flowed when their team succumbed to Ronaldo. The luncheon was sponsored by Multi-Choice and had guests who included the German Ambassador, Klaus Holderbaum.“My friend, we have bought the German supporters here crates of beer to keep them running,” said one of the Brazil fans called Simon.The New Vision newsroom was packed to capacity, with Brazilian fans bursting into a frenzy with each goal scored.In Kabalagala, another busy city suburb, a New Vision photographer, Arthur Kintu, was roughed up by German supporters and his film exposed as he tried to capture their mood.Many supporters, including journalists, who had put a lot of money into bets, walked away dejected after they failed to win.The winners threw the money into mini parties to celebrate the win.To cup it all, a New Vision journalist, Matthias Mugisha, named his newly-born son Ronaldo Rukaama.Ends