Ugandan musician and passionate Arsenal supporter Ykee Benda has acquired particular recognition from Emirates and Arsenal for his longstanding help of the North London membership.
Ykee was among the many Arsenal followers in Uganda just lately recognised by an Emirates-Arsenal initiative celebrating the membership’s supporters throughout Africa. As a part of the popularity, he acquired an authentic Gabriel Magalhães jersey from final season’s Champions League last, amongst different particular presents. Arsenal’s official web site confirms the defender’s identify is spelled Gabriel Magalhães.
The recognition comes after Arsenal’s Premier League triumph sparked large celebrations throughout Uganda and the broader East African area. Ugandan Arsenal supporters took to the streets, social media platforms and fan gatherings to rejoice the membership’s long-awaited league title.
For Ykee, nevertheless, his reference to Arsenal has prolonged far past his music profession.
The singer has constructed a powerful soccer neighborhood by Fan Bench, a soccer fan platform he based about two years in the past. The initiative brings collectively supporters to banter, talk about matches and expertise Premier League soccer collectively, making a neighborhood that has more and more turn into a hub for football-related leisure earlier than, throughout and after matchdays.
Ykee’s ardour for Arsenal has additionally been effectively documented. Local sports activities and leisure publications have beforehand highlighted him as one in every of Uganda’s most distinguished Arsenal supporters.
His journey from the music business into soccer fan tradition by Fan Bench continues to indicate how soccer fandom can create communities and platforms that stretch far past the 90 minutes on the pitch.