A lost Bet Over Barcelona Leaves Rwandan Football Agent Walking 173 Km

Even after Divock Origi had pulled one back for Liverpool early on in the Tuesday night UEFA Champions League semi-final, Barcelona FC still looked set to advance as they went 3-1 on aggregate at half time.

In Rwanda and elsewhere, some things, a little more strange, were in store that broke thousands of Catalans’ hearts.

One of them is local Barca fanatic who is still shocked. It is renowned football agent Patrick Gakumba nicked-name ‘Super Manager’ for his success in making lucrative player transfers in the local transfer widow.

When Barcelona won the first UEFA Champions League 3-0 away in Nou Camp, Gakumba was a hundred percent sure Barcelona is through to the final. To his surprise, just like millions of Barcelona fans, Liverpool FC overturned the deficit by 4-3 on aggregate to qualify to the finals in Madrid.

The 34-year-old who has been a football agent for the last ten years had committed himself that, if Liverpool overturned the deficit to send Barca packing, he would walk 173km from Kigali City, specifically from the Kigali Convention Center, to his hometown in Matimba, Nyagatare district.

His bet was made on several local media and it has been the talk in the local football circles.

The distance from Kigali-Nyagatare takes about 3hours by public transport, but the agent renown for making outspoken football comments, vowed to begin his trek on Wednesday at 7:00pm night.

“I will walk at night since that is when it is favorable to walk long distances. During day one, it is hot and have to grapple with hunger. I have promised to do so,” he told The Chronicles via his mobile phone.

On social media, some fans have been doubting the chatty agent, some suspecting he could board a car or use other means of transport at some point.

He has however promised not to use any other means apart from his two legs. He estimates it could take him three-days, and hopes to reach his destination by Friday evening.

Born on April 1, 1984 in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, Gakumba the third child in a family of five is a bachelor’s degree holder in Education, from the University of Dar es Salaam.

He sealed the status to become popular in local and regional football circles when he orchestrated Meddie Kagere’s transfer from Kenyan giants Gor Mahia to Tanzania champions Simba SC last June.

It remains to be seen if indeed Gakundi has scheduled to walk the talk this Wednesday evening.