‘Wasp whisperer’ darts star David Munyua hopes Ally Pally ‘dream’ will ‘unite Africa’
EXCLUSIVE: Kenyan vet David Munyua, who was beaten by Kevin Doets at Ally Pally, admitted the experience had been ‘life-changing’ and hoped it’ll inspire a generation of new players
Daily Star wasp whisperer David Munyua bowed out of the world darts championship after his ‘lucky’ stinging sidekick stayed away – but still earned his stripes as a sporting superstar.
The Kenyan vet – who plays part-time with pals over a beer – was beaten by Dutch destroyer Kevin Doets in the second round. But David told the Daily Star his Ally Pally experience had been ‘life-changing’ for him and he hoped wannabe darts stars across Africa may be inspired by his giant-killing antics.
Doets hailed him ‘The People’s Champion’. Munyua, 30, who fits in practice sessions between cow treatments in his homeland, was the first Kenyan ever to qualify for the tournament.
We stepped in to sponsor his shirt after the new oche hero pulled off one of the biggest shocks in darts history when he KO’d world No18 Mike De Decker in the first round. During the match he won over fans worldwide – including our army of readers – by snatching the Ally Pally wasp out of the air and putting it in his pocket as a good luck charm.
Afterwards he released the bemused bug telling it to ‘go, go, go, go spread the good news’ of his against-all-odds victory.
David hoped his buzzing buddy would be back for his second round encounter with Doets. But for once the stinger – which has plagued the world championships since the start – did not show up. And David’s good fortune ran out as fell to a 3-0 defeat to the world No40.
But Munyua told the Daily Star his experience of playing at the Ally Pally had been a ‘dream come true’. He had made his first ever trip out of Kenya and won £25,000 in prize money.
And he said he hoped the impact of his adventure would run far deeper in Africa – inspiring a new generation of darts superstars.
“This is a life-changing moment for myself and for my friends and for darts players across Africa,” he said.
“As much as I’ve done it this far they feel like there’s no reason why they cannot do it for themselves. So I think this is the moment where I need to appreciate the fact that Africa needs to embrace darts as a sport, where they need to put their funds into it, support and talent into it.
“And it will be a life-changing moment and I’m happy about it.”
His first-round triumph earned him the personal congratulations of Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and the country’s deputy high commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Joseph Warui was in the crowd leading the cheers yesterday. During his walk-on to Brazilian DJ Zerb’s hit Mwaki – aka ‘fire’ – so many fans wanted high-fives and hugs Munyua struggled to make the stage.
Proudly sporting a shirt bearing a Daily Star logo David sent the 3,500-strong Ally Pally crowd wild when he scored 125 with his first three darts. The roof nearly came off when he won the second leg to level the match at 1-1.
But Doets – whose every dart was greeted by a chorus of boos – slowly took control and despite firing five maximum 180s David could not repeat his first-round heroics.
He said afterwards: “I’m so encouraged with that and I’m sure that sport in Kenya is going to be different. We are going to get the support that we have always wanted.
“There will be a different perspective. The sport can be a professional sport, can be embraced. Darts should be a professional sport.
“We need to teach our generation that darts is for anyone. Darts in Africa has not been recognised like a sport.
“I think if we grow the sport to a level that everybody wants to be part of it, it doesn’t matter the professions they are – they’re doctors, they’re lawyers – we don’t feel ashamed to be part of that. That’s what I believe would really matter to me.
“We have done a lot. We have sacrificed a lot. Myself with my professionalism has sacrificed a lot.”
The sole African at the tournament urged organisers to increase the number of future qualifiers from the continent and stage more competitions there. He said: “We have so many countries, Africa.
“I’ve always believed that sport is embraced. We don’t have much that can help Africa like sport can. There’s nothing that can unite Africa better than sport. Sport is the only activity that can join us.
“I’m sure everybody is celebrating ‘David Munyua’ across Africa. Just guess if we had like 10 slots I guess the energy that we brought to Ally Pally would be different.
“Let the PDC bring the sport to Africa and then everybody can see that this game is for everyone and can create life for any kids there outside. Because for me David Munayua will just disappear from here and then he’ll go back to his veterinarian work.”
