Let the Games Begin!

After a successful first week of Festival activites, it is now time for week two - the Football for Hope Tournament.  With the acclimatizion to the winter climate nearly complete, the jet lag licked and the cultural barriers overcome, the teams are ready to play ball.  The 32 teams are divided into four groups of eight.  Each team will play every team in the their bracket and then the top four from each bracket move onto the Festival for Hope Cup and the bottom four from each bracket move on to the Alexandra Cup.  We were pretty certain going into day one that the Cambodian team would be competing in the Alexandra Cup; they just can't compete against the size and experience of the African and South American teams.

Opening day began with excitement at the team village as 32 teams, kitted out in their new, specially designed adidas team uniforms and warm up suits, loaded up on cereal and eggs for the big day.  The teams were bussed to Alexandra Township, the site of the Football for Hope brand new stadium, which seats 2500.  Alexandra Township is one of the poorest townships in South Africa and is rife with HIV/Aids. 

As the teams unloaded from the buses, about a mile from the stadium, they were met wtih drummers, singers, dancers and hundreds of curious township residents.  The Cambodian team was overwhelmed by the scene while disembarking from the bus, but they quickly got into the action by joining the masses of kids clapping and dancing with the the local dance troupe.  The teams marched to the stadium, carrying team signs and country flags, while spectators lined the streets clapping, blowing vuvuzelas and giving high fives.  The excitement in the air was electric and it was as if the World Cup teams had just arrived.

Each team marched into the packed stadium as their name was called, waving to the adoring fans, with the proceedings being shown on the jumbotron simultaneously.  FIFA President Sepp Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma were in attendance and both dignitaries welcomed the teams with uplifting speeches about the power of soccer for social good.  The opening ceremonies also included dancers and soccer jugglers/break dancers.  The experience of being treated like international soccer stars is something all of the teams will never forget.  The Cambodian team was excited, proud and thrilled to be part of the ceremony.  Their beaming faces made all the challenges to get them to South Africa melt away.

The facilities include the main field with stands on three sides and the jumbotron on the fourth, a smaller field, pitch 2, several courts, a skate park and an interactive area for soccer games.  The Cambodian team had their first game on pitch 2 later in the afternoon against Team Brazil.  All games are played under the "FIFA Fair Play" guidelines whereby there are no referees, players call all fouls and teams determine rules in a group discussion with the other team prior to each game. 

Team Brazil, need we say more?  The smallest Brazilian player, girl or boy, was a good head above the tallest Cambodian player (See example picture to the Left).  Let's not forget that soccer and Brazil go hand in hand like rice and beans or fish and chips or burgers and fries.  They are born with the ability to play soccer and can probably dribble a ball before they can even walk.  Despite being intimidated by the Brazilians, the Cambodian team was excited to play the first game and relieved it was on the smaller pitch 2, without the 2500 screaming and vuvuzela booming fans.  To get pysched up for the game, the captain,Sengvy, gave each player a handful of Cambodian soil he carried from his village.  They rubbed the dirt in their hands and hair while chanting "Kampuchea".

Team Cambodia held their own against a tough Brazilian team and lost 2-0 in  game which could have been 2-1.  Both teams were the epitome of Fair Play, and they hugged and laughed while leaving the pitch.  We ended the incredible day with pride and are excited for the rest of the tournament!