FOOTBALL!!!!! (and some racism)

On Saturday, I went to a football tournament that the local guys (Living, Amani and Kileo) were playing in. I was there from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening. It was hosted at the International School in Moshi where the ambassadors kids and Presidents kids go. My friends weren't on a team but they are "well known" as they modestly put it and were quickly absorbed into teams. Their street team from last year won this tournament and so they were excited to be back playing. All three are excellent players, Amani actually getting sponsored on a competitive team in the region but having to quit to go to school. They played with 7 players on a side, in 15 min games, and with no offsides. It was so great to be watching great soccer with such talented players. There were a couple teams of mzungus from some of the local international schools but they were quickly eliminated. The team Amani and Kileo were on won two golden goal games--Amani actually scoring both of the golden goals. The team that Amani and Kileo were on made it all the way to the final match which was against a team from a local secondary school. It was cool because the team my friends were on is team of kids from a local neighborhood with no formal coaching or practicing, just a bunch of talented kids. The game went to PKs (which I HATE) and they lost after 7 shots each. It was a bummer but I was really happy to be able to watch them play. The other team was crazy excited about winning and they had all these dances and songs which were really fun to watch. I love being in a country where football is so big.

We also experienced some blatant discrimination while we were at the game. There was just four spectator mzungus in the whole place, three friends and I. This lady (also a mzungu) came up to me while I was sitting with Amani and his team and asked "Are you in charge of these kids?" and kept asking who was in charge of the players, a ridiculous question for so many reasons the least of which that all of the people around me were my age. I kept saying that no, I was here to support my friends, and she would only communicate with me, being the only white person around. Amani knows English well but she wouldn't speak to him. She explained that some of the kids on her team (of mzungus) had their stuff, mostly cell phones and iPods, stolen and that she would need to see all of our pockets and all of our cell phones immediately. Without hesitation, all of the players and the coaches stood and emptied their pockets and the few that had phones showed them to her. I attempted to show her my bag but she just rolled her eyes at me and pushed me aside. Later on, on the way out of the game every single person was patted down for the missing items. When it was our turn, the woman refused to search my mzungu friends and I.

The whole situation made me angry. It is frustrating how this woman felt validated by her own status and circumstance to search all of the Africans present. It was also upsetting how easily they gave into her demands. Without question, they submitted to being searched, both on the field and at the gate. The power of the mzungu still reigns heavy here. It was an embarrassing and aggravating situation.