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| Rooney mania grips Tanzania as Everton play Gor Mahia | Rooney mania grips Tanzania as Everton play Gor Mahia |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Wayne Rooney mania has gripped East Africa as England's record goal-scorer makes his first appearance for Everton since his return to the side at a historic match later in Tanzania. | |
| Rooney has been the centre of attention since Everton flew into Tanzania on Wednesday for a friendly. | |
| "Rooney, Rooney, Rooney," fans chanted as the team bus arrived at their hotel. | "Rooney, Rooney, Rooney," fans chanted as the team bus arrived at their hotel. |
| Tanzania's vice-president said she was not sure whether to switch allegiance from his old club, Manchester United. | |
| Everton's Mo Besic, Tom Davies and newly-signed Michael Keane joined Albino United in a training session in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, soon after they landed. | |
| The visit was aimed at helping to break the stigma against people with albinism who risk being killed in Tanzania. | |
| "From spending time with them today, I have learnt that the players go through some tough times. It's not easy for them over here," Keane was quoted by the Everton website as saying. | |
| "It's good that they can enjoy football and look forward to playing together. You can see their coach is really good with them," he added. | |
| Everton are due to play a friendly against Kenya's reigning Premier League champions Gor Mahia. | |
| It will be the English Premier League side's first ever game in the East African state. | |
| 'Royal treatment' | 'Royal treatment' |
| Local fans and those who have travelled from Kenya are expected to fill the 60,000-seat stadium in Dar es Salaam. | |
| The Kenyan side earned the right to play Everton after winning the regional SportPesa Super Cup, which pitted teams from Tanzania against those from Kenya. | |
| Kenyan betting firm SportPesa sponsors both Kenya's and Tanzania's top-flight leagues. | |
| In May, Everton confirmed SportPesa as the club's new shirt sponsor. | In May, Everton confirmed SportPesa as the club's new shirt sponsor. |
| Everton have been given royal treatment since they arrived in the East African state. | Everton have been given royal treatment since they arrived in the East African state. |
| The wild chants for Rooney, along with stomping performances by Maasai cultural dancers, created a spectacle to behold. | The wild chants for Rooney, along with stomping performances by Maasai cultural dancers, created a spectacle to behold. |
| Everton's Democratic Republic of Congo winger Yannick Bolasie rivalled Rooney, England's former captain, in the popularity stakes with a band of Congolese fans welcoming him to Tanzania. | |
| They were draped in T-shirts emblazoned with his face. | |
| However, Rooney, who has rejoined Everton after 13 years at Manchester United, was the fan's favourite. | However, Rooney, who has rejoined Everton after 13 years at Manchester United, was the fan's favourite. |
| Even Tanzania's Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan attested to this. | Even Tanzania's Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan attested to this. |
| "Wayne Rooney made me support Manchester United and now I don't know what to do because he has gone back to Everton," she said. | "Wayne Rooney made me support Manchester United and now I don't know what to do because he has gone back to Everton," she said. |
| Rooney replied: "Being here, it has been a new experience for me and I hope the vice-president will now be able to support Everton. It's great to be back at Everton and I hope for more success." | Rooney replied: "Being here, it has been a new experience for me and I hope the vice-president will now be able to support Everton. It's great to be back at Everton and I hope for more success." |
| Fans are buoyed by the prospect of seeing Rooney in action. | Fans are buoyed by the prospect of seeing Rooney in action. |
| "Everyone in East Africa heard Everton is coming to Tanzania and they all want to see Wayne Rooney because he is a famous player, he is a good player," said Kassim Nyagogo, a fan who captured the public sentiment. | "Everyone in East Africa heard Everton is coming to Tanzania and they all want to see Wayne Rooney because he is a famous player, he is a good player," said Kassim Nyagogo, a fan who captured the public sentiment. |
| "Everyone has been asking: 'Is Wayne Rooney coming?' And you see the security here, it's all because of Wayne Rooney. I am going to make history by seeing Wayne Rooney today," he added. | "Everyone has been asking: 'Is Wayne Rooney coming?' And you see the security here, it's all because of Wayne Rooney. I am going to make history by seeing Wayne Rooney today," he added. |
| He is not alone in the excitement. | He is not alone in the excitement. |
| Another fan, Eleneza Nhlanganzero, said: "A lot of people are excited by seeing Wayne Rooney. He's a big player and he will inspire a lot of people to come to the stadium and watch the game." | Another fan, Eleneza Nhlanganzero, said: "A lot of people are excited by seeing Wayne Rooney. He's a big player and he will inspire a lot of people to come to the stadium and watch the game." |
| Whatever happens in the match, Rooney has been the biggest winner from this trip, with taxi drivers, dancers, businessmen and government officials all gripped by Rooney mania. | Whatever happens in the match, Rooney has been the biggest winner from this trip, with taxi drivers, dancers, businessmen and government officials all gripped by Rooney mania. |