South African Journey

Ke Nako. It is time.

It’s time for the final week of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Not only does this mean there are only 4 teams left, but it means that 32 teams from around the world have begun a football tournament which runs from the 4th-10th of July. This tournament is the Football for Hope Festival and it is being held in Alexandra, South Africa. This festival is the conclusion of FIFA’s Football for Hope campaign that has been running well before the 1st World Cup match.

From FIFA.com:

32 teams of young people from disadvantaged communities around the world will come to Johannesburg, South Africa for a festival of education, culture and football. The boys and girls are members of organizations which tackle social issues using football – from homelessness in the UK and landmines in Cambodia, to HIV/Aids education in South Africa and integration of refugees in Australia. This official event of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is organized by FIFA, streetfootballworld, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.

The teams are made up of players aged 15-18, each team has 8 players. Matches are held on 2 mini pitches (20x40 meters) at a place known at 3-square in Alexandra. Special stands have been built around the pitches so fans are closer to the action and to provide more seating. Each match is only 12 minutes long and there are no referees. The lack of referees is part of the Fair Play initiative; all disputes on the pitch will be settled through dialogue between players, with moderators helping out when/if needed.

The Festival began this past Sunday (4 July) and sees each team play at least 2 matches per day. The tournament will conclude on Saturday July 10th with the semifinals and finals being played.

As important as the action on the pitch will be, the teams will also be busy off the pitch. The participants will have programs and workshops where they have the chance to share and learn from each other. The hope is they will learn about other cultures and the issues each face and use this to improve each others work.

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I have had the chance to stop in and catch some of the action this week. I wasn’t sure how exciting 12 minute matches would be, but they are fast paced and competitive. Only one match I watched ended 0-0, with one match ending in a 4-1 score. The matches have live commentary and a large video screen. In between matches local DJ’s entertain the crowd and there are give-a-ways throughout the day. Following the final match local artists and DJ’s put on performance’s for the teams and crowd.

I made sure to be at Pitch #1 when Team USA played against Argentina on Tuesday. It was an exciting game with each team having numerous close calls. Sadly (for Team USA), Argentina scored an amazing goal with 5 seconds remaining to win 1-0. The Alexandra team drew with Australia and Team South Africa won 2-0 against Team Zambia.

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Lasting Legacy.

This is what the organizers of the Football for Hope Festival hope they are able to leave behind once the World Cup has finished. They hope to do this through the “20 Centres for 2010” campaign. This is the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. According to FIFA:  “Our aim is to create 20 Football for Hope Centres to promote public health, education and football in disadvantaged communities across Africa. As part of the Football for Hope movement led by FIFA and streetfootballworld, the campaign will leave a tangible social legacy for Africa.”

The first of these Centres was opened on December 5, 2009 in the Khayelitsha Township in Cape Town. There will be 5 Centres built in South Africa with the other 15 being built across the rest of the African Continent. Each Centre will consist of a 20x40m artificial turf pitch, a learning/education building, along with a health centre. With the conclusion of the tournament building will begin on the Centre at 3-Square in Alexandra.

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After spending almost a year in Alexandra I am excited that this Festival is taking place here. It is hard for me to imagine a better place for it to be held. I only hope that the small glimpse the world gets of Alexandra does justice to the friendly faces I have come to know around Alexandra. This is a great moment for the media to show Alexandra through a different lens and break away from the stories of old. Places change over time and Alex has certainly changed from the ‘dark city’ it once was; into a vibrant melting pot of South African and African culture.

I am not sure how much TV coverage the Festival will get in the US, but I encourage you try and find some information about it and the social impact they hope to have. For more information about the Football for Hope Festival (from the sponsors) please visit:

www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/worldwideprograms/footballforhope/index.html

www.streetfootballworld.com

http://www.grassrootsoccer.org/