FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
Sport is a common language that brings people together that can foster relationships and cement bounds between schools and communities. Creating a network of students from 11 primary schools, through a football tournament, our goal was to promote the spirit of respect and fair play and to strengthen the personality of the children by meeting other players from other villages. It was also a way to provide to the teams a chance to visit DAPP TTC and to develop grassroots competition in Mzimba. We never heard before about any football tournament in the region, it was something new for everyone.
Our last project in Mzimba was, nothing more nothing less, than a football tournament. Really, from the beginning to the end, it was an epic journey. In any other project we mobilized so many people as this one, since players to families, to teachers, to supporters, to chiefs and much more. Everyone was in tune for this event. Once we start to announce the tournament, the students start to jump with joy. Questions came: where the game it will be, who can participate, just the students or outsiders as well, where it will be the finals, who will be the referee and so on.
First step – let the people know about the competition. By bicycle we went to the schools to announce the matches, the rules and the code conduct. It took us about one week to visit all the schools.
Second step – Qualification games. The schools were divided into groups for the first round. Each team played against each other in a neutral pitch. We organized the games, sometimes João was the referee other times we could count with the help of some students from DAPP, when the schools were near. For the learners, it was not just a game but a battle. The competition was strong, of two teams one might win to go to the finals. From 11 teams just 5 were qualified – Bawa, Mbwiriwiza, Chatonda, Lupuha and Ulida.
Third Step – The Finals in DAPP TTC MZIMBA. It was beautiful to see the magic happening, but before we had a lot of work to prepare the event and to make sure that everything was settled. Without the help of DAPP students, administration, kitchen and security staff this tournament couldn’t had happen. Everyone joined forces to create a wonderful football experience. We discussed the individual steps of the event. A clear structure was needed so we defined fields of responsibilities, creating teams.
Referee Team
First Aid Team
To facilitate and ensure a good game.
To respond to basic first aid situations
Assistance Team To take responsibility for the players, giving them instructions, guide them and assist them in different tasks.
Snack Team To allocate the students for the breakfast and lunch.
Transport Team To assure that teams that came far away arrive safely. Lupuha and Chatonda got transport on their way back.
Accommodation Team To prepare the venue, coach and fans zones, signs, etc.
Security Team To maintain the safe and secure environment for participants and fans.
Media Team To promote the event, to display music and to comment the football matches.
Food Team To prepare and serve the food in time.
So, on 29th April everything was ready for the blow of the whistle. At 6 in the morning the teams started arriving to the school. They had a long journey through the mountains, some of the teams needed to walk during 2 or 3 hours. We were aware of it, so we made sure that they could rest and get a consistent breakfast – bread with butter, tea plenty of sugar and moringa powder. We tried to emphasize the importance of moringa and how this herb can boost our immune system. After breakfast and in the main building we had a short presentation about the tournament – the rules, the code of conduct and fair play, the role of the coaches, information about DAPP and timetable of the games which was also exposed in the hall.
The games started with 1 hour delay, at 8 o’clock. The tournament system was knock-out stage. However Bawa, Mbwiriwiza and Ulida needed to play against each other since the number of the teams in the finals was impair. Before lunch, we already knew one of the finalists – Lupuha. They won in penalty shootout.
The lunch was served by the food team. More than 150 guests, counting with teachers, enjoyed the meal. Each team got their own lunch by the time that their games finished. Everybody ate the same – Nzima with radish of beans and cabbage. DAPP provided the beans and the bread, what helped us to minimize the budget.
After eating and chilling, Ulida team played against Mbwiriwza team. Ulida emerged victorious. They scored a goal in the end of second halve, setting the result for 1-0.
THE FINAL
If we can describe in one word the moment before the finals we would say Anxiety. More than 700 people were waiting for the match. The fans were not a mere spectator, they were living the experience, singing, jumping and dancing. The game was intense. Both teams were focus just on the victory and nothing more. Attacks and counter-attacks. Brilliant plays and decisive defenses. The game was draw until the very ending, but in the last minutes Lupuha scored. They celebrated as if there was no tomorrow. They got the victory. They were winners of Chasato zone.
The prizes were announce in the end of the games. Lupuha team, the winner of the tournament, not only received 2 balls for the victory but also his goalkeeper awardee as the best goalkeeper of the tournament, receiving a t-shirt from Manchester City. The prize for the best football player was attributed to one player from Bawa with one t-shirt from Chelsea and the prize for the best sticker ended up to a player from Ulida, one t-shirt from Manchester United. Ulida getting the second place also received one ball as a prize.
The whole tournament was a healthy competition, where numerous students found passion in playing and living this unique experience. Everyone, from fans to players shared the same enthusiasm. Through Respect and fair play we achieved a pleasant event worth to be remembered.