Arsenal Broke My Heart, But Aquadel Gave Me Free Meat: A Tale of Football, Grief and Good Vibes
There comes a time in every Arsenal fan's life when reality arrives, sits you down, pours itself a cup of tea and says, "My friend, it is time we talk."
That moment arrived for me three days ago.
The pain was so severe, so emotionally expensive, that it took me exactly seventy-two hours to recover enough strength to write this article.
Three days.
Three complete days.
Jesus resurrected in three days.
I resurrected from Arsenal's latest Champions League heartbreak in exactly the same period.
Coincidence?
I think not.
The banter has been merciless.
WhatsApp groups became crime scenes.
Facebook turned into a public court where Arsenal fans were prosecuted without legal representation.
Even people who spent the entire season asking whether offside is a type of transport suddenly became football experts.
Manchester United fans, whose biggest achievement this season was surviving their own season, somehow found the energy to troll us.
Chelsea fans emerged from wherever they had been hiding.
Tottenham fans were laughing too.
Imagine being laughed at by Tottenham fans.
Life can humble a person.
But before this emotional disaster unfolded, I had made a promise to attend the UEFA Champions League watch party hosted by Aquadel Carwash and Auto Spa.
And my people...
If there is one thing Aquadel understands, it is how to throw a party.
Aquadel Turned a Football Match Into a National Holiday
The event was officially scheduled to start at 7PM.
Kenyans, however, interpreted that information the same way they interpret political promises.
People started arriving at 5PM.
By 6PM, the venue was already filling up.
By 7PM, the place looked like a political rally where free fertilizer was being distributed.
Cars filled every available space.
The carwash was packed.
The parking lot surrendered.
Management was forced to order additional seats because the event had sold out completely.
At that point, I realized two things.
First, Aquadel was not playing around.
Second, if Arsenal lost, there would at least be enough witnesses to confirm my suffering.
Free Meat. Unlimited Temptation.
Now let's discuss the true star of the evening.
The food.
My brothers and sisters.
The food.
Free meat was available in quantities that would have made a village elder emotional.
Nyama choma.
Chemsha.
Kaanga.
Supu.
Every possible meat preparation method was represented.
If Noah's Ark had passed by Aquadel that evening, some animals would have voluntarily stayed behind after seeing the menu.
People were eating like they had received confidential information about an impending famine.
Plates were moving.
Smoke was rising.
Conversations were flowing.
The meat was disappearing faster than Arsenal's title hopes in April.
At one point, I forgot there was even a football match.
Which, looking back, was probably the healthiest decision I made all evening.
The Screens Were Bigger Than Arsenal's Trophy Cabinet Dreams
Aquadel had mounted massive state-of-the-art televisions across the venue.
And when I say massive, I mean massive.
Every seat had a perfect view.
Nobody was struggling to see.
Nobody was standing on chairs.
Nobody was asking, "Who has scored?"
Everything was crystal clear.
Unfortunately for Arsenal supporters, that meant we watched every painful moment in high definition.
There was nowhere to hide.
No buffering.
No network problems.
No excuses.
Pure premium suffering.
Different Fans, Different Missions
One thing I love about football watch parties is that not everybody attends for the same reason.
Some people came to support their team.
Some came for the atmosphere.
Some came for the food.
And then there were the hate-watchers.
These people deserve academic research.
Their team is not playing.
They have no emotional investment in the match.
Yet somehow they celebrate opposition mistakes more passionately than the actual supporters.
The moment Arsenal stumbled, these people transformed into motivational speakers.
Suddenly they had analysis.
Statistics.
Historical references.
PowerPoint presentations.
Some were smiling so hard I feared they would require medical attention.
Meanwhile Arsenal fans sat quietly, staring into the distance and reconsidering life choices made since childhood.
Being an Arsenal fan is not a hobby.
It is a character-building exercise.
Aquadel's Secret Formula
As the celebrations and banter continued deep into the night, one thing became obvious.
Aquadel has figured something out.
People are not just coming for football.
They are coming for the experience.
The hospitality.
The service.
The atmosphere.
The feeling that for a few hours, everyone can forget their problems and simply enjoy themselves.
Speaking after the event, Aquadel CEO Patrick Rungu, popularly known as Bloko, expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone who attended.
According to him, the increasing attendance at Aquadel events reflects the quality service and hospitality the establishment continues to offer.
Having witnessed the event firsthand, I can confidently say the man has a point.
You cannot fake that kind of turnout.
You cannot fake that kind of energy.
And you definitely cannot fake that amount of nyama choma.
Final Whistle
Watu wangu, if Aquadel is hosting an event, make sure it finds its way onto your to-do list.
These guys don't do ordinary.
They do things differently.
They do things in style.
To everyone who attended, thank you for making the evening memorable.
To Aquadel management and staff, congratulations on organizing an event that delivered entertainment, food, hospitality and unforgettable memories.
And to my fellow Arsenal supporters...
Pole sana.
I know the pain.
I know the suffering.
I know the annual tradition of explaining to people that "next season will be different."
This year, however, I refuse to make predictions.
I will not jinx anything.
I will not say next season is ours.
I will not tempt fate.
All I will say is this:
May we not wait another twenty-two years to reach that stage again.
Until then, we remain loyal.
We remain hopeful.
And most importantly...
We remain available for further disappointment.
COYG.
About the Author
Felix Kinyua is a Meru-based freelance journalist, storyteller and community affairs writer with a passion for human-interest stories, local events, business features and football culture. When he is not covering impactful stories from the ground, he can usually be found passionately defending Arsenal Football Club—a task that grows increasingly difficult after every season.
Aquadel never disappoint
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