The 2016 African Nations Championships (CHAN) event will go down in history as one of the most attended CAF tournaments.
This is greatly attributed to the relatively fair match day ticket prices that the local organizing committee (LOC) levied.
For starters, the cheapest tick price went for as low as 500 Rwandan Francs (about Ug.shs 2200).
All the twenty four group stage games in Rubavu, Huye, Nyamirambo and at Amavubi were well attended with fans flocking the stadia as early as 9 a.m in the morning on a given match day to book their seats.
I have been particularly impressed by the Rwandese, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Cote D’ivoire, Nigerian and Mali fans.
The liveliest lot has been the Congolese with painted fans in all colours, loudly singing, drumming and dancing throughout the matches.
The home fans, too, did not disappoint often thronging Amahoro where Rwanda has played all its matches thus far in large numbers.
Not only the numbers mattered, but the passionate cheering of every move has been another great bonus.
The few West African fans from Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Mali played the band from start to finish and their presence was easily recognized.
Such has been the trend for each and every game at the CHAN 2016 finals.
With the matches heading to the thrilling group stages, a lot more action is expected in the terraces, more like on the playing turf.
I will particularly be keen to witness how DR Congo and Rwandese fans compete each other when the two countries face off at Amahoro on Saturday.
One sure deal is that a member of the Rwandan first family, the soccer passionate president Paul Kagame or the wife Jeanette Kagame will grace the match.
The other battle in the terraces will be evidenced in the West African derby as Mali faces Ivory Coast.
Football spectators spice up matches and they are one of the million basic reasons football has remained the number one sporting event on planet earth.
Little wonder therefore, Football has over the years deservedly earned the tag of the ‘Beautiful Game’