Former Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist Mohandas Karamchand “Mahatma” Gandhi is remarkably quoted; “Where there is love, there is life”.
True love is a typical reflection of good tidings in life and humanity yearns to be served the best delicious dish of love.
On a Friday evening as the Uganda Cranes hosted South Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification football match at the Mandela National Stadium – Namboole, hundreds of passionate football spectators graced the duel for sheer love of the beautiful game.
A one Joshua Banda, a business administrator at Africa Bureau of Music in Muyenga, a suburb of Kampala was among the over 40,000 fans in the stands.
Banda was seated in the special VIP section of the gigantic stadium named after Pan Africanist, Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa.
On the evening, Banda planned to propose to longtime lover, Shadia Nakato, a business woman.
The plot was well knitted with the help of his close friends and music Pia Pounds, a friend to Nakato.
Nakato is a football fan who had taken quite some time to watch a live football match inside a stadium.
Against South Sudan, she was convinced to attend and this worked to perfection in Banda’s planning sketch.
“She (Nakato) did not know about anything and not even her close friends who knew something could tell her a thing.” Banda spilled the secrets.
As the match progressed, it was initially planned that Banda would propose to the lover at the half-time break.
“We had to change from the initial half-time break to give the moment all the due attention” Banda spoke of the change in strategy.
As the second half kicked off, the strategy changed to any break with the main stadium camera control personnel aware of the plot.
The match was destined for the climax when Uganda’s left back Abdul Azizi Kayondo was injured and this called for a lengthy medical break.
At this moment, it was a blessing for Banda. He openly proposed to Nakato with the cameras capturing the moment and relying it live on the stadium screens for more than 40,000 pairs of eyes glued.
“She (Nakato) was shocked when I proposed. The moment was captured live and left lasting impressions. I was happy because her response was in the affirmative” Banda spoke of the moment.
Joshua Banda and Shadia Nakato (holding flowers)
Love birds Joshua Banda and Shadia Nakato
“I chose to propose at the stadium before hundreds of people because the stadium is full of love. Football is one thing people love naturally, and people fund themselves to watch a game. It virtually represents love and patriotism. So, there is no better venue I would have picked to propose than in a football stadium” he adds.
Banda is a staunch born again Christian attached to Kabalagala Pentecostal Church.
Plans are already underway for a mega wedding. With cards closely kept at Banda’s chest, there are wild guesses about the choice of venue for the upcoming wedding.
Joshua Banda and girlfriend Shadia Nakato (showing off the ring) and other friends
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