In music, Reggae is known as relaxing music to help calm you down a little. But do you realize that there is something different about football? Football unites everyone, it also causes all sorts of emotional mood swings.
The atmosphere of a football game is the crowds cheering for their favorite team and players doing the needful to see their sides win. Kibirige Bobkins, the man behind Kibo Media Limited, the organizers of Uganda Cranes home games especially at Namboole stadium was ‘live’ in Cameroon to physically witness the continent’s most prestigious event, 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Senegal emerged champions after defeating Egypt on penalties.
Matooke Republic sat down with Bobkins and he narrated his ‘unforgettable experience’.
How was 2021 AFCON from the perspective of an event’s organizer?
I expected it to be epic and indeed it was. Most of the continent giants made it to the tournament and their players have been doing so well at club level. All I can say is it is a great event to remember.
What was special about AFCON 2021 in terms of organization?
There was new technology when it came to ticketing. Fans did not have to line up in long queues to buy tickets. Tickets were coded and scanned. The stadiums were state-of-the-art facilities with modern equipment. Security-wise they were very organized.
Rate the tournament out of 10?
I give it 8 because it was entertaining as they blended well music performances and football. On the pitch, guys showcased good football.
What new learnings did you pick?
I picked many things. Firstly, I liked their ticketing method. It prevents unnecessary crowding. Also, I liked their security arrangements, access control among other things.
What does Uganda need to reach such organizational standards?
First, we need infrastructure as in stadiums that are at modern standards constructed by professionals.
Does Kibo media only organize sports events?
By the way, we are not known for sports, Kibo media is a big and strong stakeholder in the music business. I can say we’re the godfathers of Ugandan music. Unlike others, when it comes to album launches for artistes, we used to participate in all steps of making the songs like writing, recording, and promotion. We do brand promotions.
What should we expect from Kibo media after your AFCON adventure?
We are going to champion the campaign to fully ‘unite’ football and the music business. Football enjoys a bigger space when it comes to attendance and viewership. We must blend the two because they perfectly complement each other.
I also plan to bounce back bigger in the music industry. We have the resources to take the industry to a global scale.
Which other sports events of a global scale have you attended and what are the learnings?
So many of them. I was at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. It was big learning in terms of security, access control, ticketing, and the fans’ experience.
In 2018, I attended the World Cup in Russia. The organization was superb. The fan zone experience was on point as there was too much ‘soccer-tainment’.
How can we bridge sports with entertainment to increase fans’ numbers?
Artsites command a good number of the fanbase and so they should be regularly involved when organizing sports events.
‘Soccer-tainment’ brings a vibe before the game as fans do not get bored while waiting for the game to kick off. Football consumes music and music consumes football.
