First off let me apologize for being such a bad blogger. It takes me too long to get down what I want to say and publish new posts. I stink at remembering to take pictures. And it is not as engaging as the ones I’ve seen. But please continue to read as at least it is about exciting stuff.
Kenyan Streets Football Club is the new top youth team in Ngong Town.
Until now the, unofficial, holders who all the best youth in town played for was a team called Hillside. They also have been feared, by all the kids not on their team, because not only have they been around the longest but because they have the nicest equipment and play in Nairobi’s “little league”. They also have more followers than any other team around and in my opinion are very arrogant and rude as they always show up late, demand to play for inordinately long amounts of time, talk junk and try to take your stuff. For example the last time we played them they left with the whistle I’d lent to be used in the refereeing of the game.
Anyway I wanted our last game before taking a holiday break to be against them so we could end on a high note and, after the other friendlies play them when we were at our best. Proof that news of the match up, between Hillside and the new team of kids from Mathare with the mzungu coach, had been circulating through the football community of Ngong was evident in the big turn out of spectators on gameday.
Though I hadn’t expected them to miss such a big event I was still happy with the guys in the way they all showed up on time and ready to go. Before I knew it warm-ups and pregame stuff was finished and the ball was being kicked off to the starting whistle.
The first few minutes were back and forth with no shots on goal as the teams tried to get a footing in the game. Though in my opinion our mindset was better, as we were trying to connect passes and control the ball instead of just attacking blindly. They soon had the first chance with a shot at goal and began keeping the ball in our half.
At around the ten or fifteen minute mark Mkasa ran onto a bouncing clearance at about midfield. All of Hillside was forward and he had gotten about a foot ahead of the last defender. He’d stayed ahead of him in the race to goal and gotten the ball under enough control by the time they got into the box to sidefoot it comfortably past the outcoming keeper.
Hillside continued to get forward and got a couple more chances. We weren’t doing bad though and our passing was managing to give us some of the possession as well. With about ten minutes to go in the half we were going forward when a beautiful through-ball briefly put Mkasa one on one with the keeper. Just as beautiful as the pass, was how in two touches he managed to turn and rifle it past the keeper making it 2 – 0. It was a dogpile celebration as it had been a well-worked goal that gave them a goal cushion. However the linesman’s flag was up for offside. The ref went over to confirm the linesman was sure as his flag hadn’t gone up until after the goal. He said he was and the ball was called back. We remained one up as the whistle blew for halftime.
One of our guys, George, had to go for some reason at the half so we had to make a sub and formation change. I reminded them what had happened last time we were ahead at halftime. The guys went out with a determination not to let down.
In the second half Hillside’s chances would continue to get better. However, before too long on their defensive end they had a miscommunication between their goalie and a defender. The keeper had come out to the edge of his box to collect an errant pass only for his defender to take it at the last moment. Eric pounced on the mistake by stealing the ball and passing it back to Ken who was also on top of their dilemma. A neat chip over the fingertips of the backpedaling keeper put it back to 2 – 0 and made it seem like it actually could be our day.
Our defense was holding their attack to difficult angles and half chances, despite their now going forward with everything they had. Our passing was keeping it relatively comfortable for us as they started to tire. We got a direct free-kick on the edge of their box and their guys were so slow in getting back that by the time the whistle blew for it to be taken there wasn’t even a wall, making it open for Eric to have a go, which he did. His successful effort made it Streets 3 Hillside 0. After the goal a, hard to explain, almost awkward silence went over the players and crowd. I think our guys didn’t celebrate as much as they immediately thought the game was over, it was only Ken who celebrated with Eric as he jumped on him and pigyybacked back to half. I think their players, bench and fans were just in shock.
The subs were pouring in from Hillside’s half and their team started to get older and older. With about fifteen minutes to go they pulled one back. I didn’t help matters by getting a little cocky and making subs so more guys could get playing time. With about five minutes of regular time left there was another controversial call as the ref gave them a penalty. The handball had been clear but whether or not it had been in the box hadn’t. They converted and suddenly it was a game again.
Our guys had woken up and were doing everything they could to hold on to the end. The ref would add four minutes of extra time, which the other team would say wasn’t enough but I honestly don’t know how he came up with that much. It was nail-biting stuff as our guys were having to keep their heads and I could hardly handle it.
Finally the fulltime whistle blew and the 3 – 2 win was ours. It was happiness all around on our side and frustration from them, which sadistically made it happier for me as it proved they knew we’d been better though I knew they’d never admit it.
It was the best end possible we could have had to the year and the best start we could’ve made on next.
Win or lose I’d told the guys we would go out to eat, nyama choma, after the game. I’d told them to make sure they brought their parents or guardians along so we could all go and not only debrief together but meet as I’ve yet to talk to any of their folks. However all the adults disappeared after the game and the team just went. I told them they had done well and the date and time at the beginning of next month practice would start again.
Over the holidays we are going to try to raise more funds for the next year. Our goal is to start entering real tournaments and competitions. To do this we will have to travel into Nairobi as there is nothing like that in or around Ngong. So whatever we get for the next while will be going to travel and trying to do that.
I believe there are some who support the team through following this blog that would also like to help us be able to travel. Unfortunately, but probably understandably, PayPal doesn’t do biz with any banking institution in Kenya so you will have to give that through my folks who are currently in the States. Those of you who don’t know my parents can shoot me a message and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do. Big huge goal-like-celebration-thanks to everyone here that have helped us get equipment.
I read in a biography of my favorite football manager/coach Arsene Wenger a quote by him that said, and paraphrasing, how there comes a point in a persons career where to continue to progress they must have ‘that someone’ to come along and put a hand on their back to let them know they think they can do it too. So far these kids have flown to new heights with every push they’ve gotten and it is my dream that they continue to grow. I guarantee any support given will not be regretted as some of these kids are just really inspirational.
But anyway I’ll finally let you all go. Thank you for reading this post all the way to the end here and thanks for the comments of encouragement we’ve gotten. Continue to pray and think about us. And please give to the travel fund if you are able. We’ll be back next year to continue giving it our best! ☺ See ya then
Above: The trash area between Mathare and the field, which is about 20 yards behind me.
