3000 players & 500,000 spectators in Kenya
Posted on 02/07/2008
A street soccer tournament sponsored by UNICEF under the provincial
director of sports Nairobi in conjunction with Kenya Homeless Street
Soccer Association successfully came to an end in a big style on
14/06/08 in Makongeni sports ground. The tournament was played in four
zones which were the slums of Babadogo, Makongeni, Kibera and Huruma,
256 teams participated in the tournament attracting around 3000
players from all over Nairobi in front of 500,000 spectators.
On grand final day everything was in place by 8.00 am, the tents, Public Address System, marking of the ground etc that shows a good work by the coordinators and officials of the street soccer. Transportation was very much available as the buses bring the teams to Makongeni sports ground from different zones. The matches started as planned as 16 teams take part in the grand final, 8 senior teams and 8 junior teams, 4 best teams from each zone. There were a lot of prizes which were presented to the teams and players individually. There were prizes like boots, uniforms, medals, trophies, shin guards.
In the senior category Makongeni Youth were crowned champions after beating Waliokuepo by 4-2, in junior category Ranges were crowned champions after beating Boca Junior by same margin as seniors 4-2.
Zangalewa Troupe, Levity Dancers, Triple Jambo Acrobats, Amref, Yoga Ball Jugglers entertained a very large crowd and many guests who attended the grand final including Provincial Director of sports Nairobi Madam Alice Gekonde, Roselyn Mutemi from UNICEF, Vincent Shimoli CDF Chairman Makadara constituency among others including early 80s soccer stars who played a curtain raiser.
The VCT services free of charge was also in place and a lot of people visited the VCT to know their status, majority of people who visited the VCT were youths.
During the tournament Kenya homeless street Soccer Association
officials we were able to identify responsible people to attend the
forth coming workshop sponsored by UNICEF whereby they are going to
learn more about street Soccer, life skills, HIV/AIDS, peace,
entrepreneurship among other things. And we also managed to pick good
players for this years selection to homeless world cup, the tournament
which will be held in Melbourne Australia in November.
Street Soccer can be used to promote peace in our country easily and faster as it involves all kinds of people like people from different ethnic backgrounds, young and old male and female. Street Soccer is a real weapon to reconciliation after the post election violence which rocked the country late last year to early this year. Kenya homeless street Soccer Association appreciates so much to UNICEF and Provincial Director of Sports Nairobi for sponsoring such an event. We are looking forward for more such tournaments in future.
If you would like to support Team Kenya and the development of street soccer for people who are homeless and excluded pledge a donation here. The dream is to build street soccer pitches like that built by the community shown in this photograph. Thank you.
