KSFC Update One: The Beginning

Welcome to Kenyan Streets Football Club's weekly update. The club is a project of a new non-governmental organization based here in Kenya called Philanthropists and Friends of East Africa and is currently in its first weeks of growth. We are starting our first teams with kids who live in a small 'slum' called Mathare in N'gong Town, which is just outside of Nairobi, and so far enthusiasm for the club has grown with each meeting.

While Kenyan Streets Football Club's goals are many there are a few core ones that I'd like to mention briefly now. One of these is an aim of Philanthropists and Friends, which is to help those affected by the violence that occurred after the 2007 election and play roles to help prevent the same thing from happening in a couple years. As some of the kids will be entering angry mob age during the time of the next election the team will be a small but practical way to help through the influence they'll be getting at the club. We also try and accomplish this by accepting and welcoming all ethnicities. As well as others Kikuyu, Luhya, Maasai and North Carolinians are so far represented in the club. Another goal is to give kids who don't have the chance to play organized sports the opportunity to do so. One more I'll mention now is a personal one as the current manager of Kenyan Streets FC.

That goal is to let the kids know that if they show up and do their best, in life and for the club, then that, in mine and Gene Hackman's (in Hoosiers) book at least, makes them winners. And really it even goes beyond Hoosiers. The greatest thing a person can do in life is love God with ALL their heart, ALL their SOUL and ALL their mind. Sports, and particular football, showed me that a person can do alright at anything if they show up and work hard, but if they do those two things in an attempt to develop the gifts God has made them with then they will not only do well in God's eyes they will be one of the best, if not the best, at what they do here on earth. To give them the encouragement, to follow their gifts when they've realized them, through the good results they've seen hard work and consistency alone will produce, is my goal. And if we find the next Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry that would be great too.

As well as updates on the clubs going-ons, ways you can be a part of and support the club will also be given here. The first and always way of support we need is prayer. A part of being a player for Kenyan Streets Football Club is showing up to every practice and game, and on time, kids who can't manage this will soon begin to be disciplined. This may seem unfair but all those who have come to the meetings so far have agreed they should be able to make it at least Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6, which is when we practice, and on Saturdays for when we start having competitive games. On time and all the time has been the main problem so far. I don't think punctuality is a big part of the kids lives or the culture around them, so keep that challenge for them in mind this week as that rule is cracked down on.

Become a fan of Kenyan Streets and check in again next week, thanks.