Uganda Shines While Other African Teams Are Bundled Out
    
Ugandan marauding stikers move away from the scene after they damaged the portuguese defense to bury a goal deep into the net during a preliminary match at the recently concluded One Lowell World Cup .H.Maina/AjabuImages

AjabuAfrica.com
Lowell, MA
08/07/2008

Kenya and Somalia soccer teams were badly routed out of the just concluded One Lowell World Cup that was held on the weekend of August 2nd and 3rd, 2008. They walked out of the tournament with their heads bowed after they failed to secure even a single tear-wiping win.

On the other hand, Uganda proudly carried the African flag high when they walloped Colombia 8-0 and sent the Portugal goalkeeper four times to the back of the net when they easily won 4 goals to 1.

Uganda narrowly missed the semi finals when tournament rules were modified to allow only one team from each group to qualify due to time constraint caused by pouring rain during the exciting rain-soaked tournament.

The Ugandan lads, who regularly train in Waltham, Massachusetts, started by knocking down Portugal 4-1on the first day of the tournament. They honorably lost 1-2 to fancied Brazil Team 1. The East Africans bounced back on Sunday with a vengeance and walloped pitiful Cambodia 8-0. Unfortunately, Uganda’s sterling performance was not enough to see them to the semi finals since Brazil Team 2 had topped the group with 3 wins.

Kenya dismally lost all 3 matches. It went down 1-2 to Guatemala, the defending champions. The second match against USA was postponed to Sunday due to a heavy downpour. Incidentally the extra God-given 24 hours that would have allowed for strategy review did not help. Kenya drew 0-0 to USA and bowed out of the contest when they lost their last preliminary match to Vietnam 1-2.

 “We did not do all the things we were supposed to do out there. We got outplayed,” admitted Timoo, a Kenyan team striker. “We shall come back next year with a vengeance,” he warned.

The Guatemaln goalkeeper chases the ball into the net after Kenyan midfielder, Robert Wangai ( blue) hit a shot that deflected on a Guatemalan defender for the only Kenyan goal during the match that Kenyan lost 1-2. Pic by Sam Njubi/Ajabu

Fans having quality time at Sadium field during the One Lowell World Cup soccer tournament last week in Lowell, MA Pic by H.Maina/Ajabu

The Somalia team did not fare any better despite putting up a spirited fight. They went down 3-4 to a combined Germany-Switzerland team before losing their next two matches to Honduras and a combined West African team.
 
“We wish they were taking two teams from each group for the semi finals,” said Sekabira Hassan, the Ugandan reserve goalkeeper. Sekabira is also the co-owner of the popular Karibu Restaurant, an African cuisine joint on moody Street in Waltham.

“We had a very good game and even managed two wins. If our first squad had arrived in the field by 8 a.m., in time for the Brazilian game, we could have easily won Brazil,” lamented Uganda Team Manager, Charles Ssenkaayi.

Uganda played against Brazil for their opening match of the tournament but most of their first 11 players did not show up on time for the game, forcing the team manager to field new young players against Brazil. Most of the players were reportedly stuck at their overnight jobs and started strolling into the field after 9 a.m. when the match was already over. Despite that hiccup, the young players challenged Brazil tooth for tooth and only went down 2-1 after a late game penalty kick.

Richard Awa, lethal Ugandan striker, scored most of Uganda’s goals in the tournament, followed by compatriots Benjamin Kiwanuka and Denis Allen.

The final match of the tournament was an interesting see-saw clash between defending champions Guatemala and fancied Brazil’s second team. The Brazilians jumped to an early lead in the first half when they executed a text-book passing move which placed the ball on a curved trajectory to the feet of their well-positioned striker who dutifully slammed home a cracking grass-cutter of a shot that left the Guatemalan goalkeeper clutching at the wind.

Ugandan soccer players and fans watch the final match of the One Lowell World cup between Brazil Team 2 and Guatemala from the terraces.Guatemala retained the cup on 4-3 post match penalties. H.Maina/Ajabu

A Brazilian player prepares to blast a foul kick at the Guatemalan goalmouth as Guatemalan defenders nervously mount a wall to thwart the effort.Guatemala eventually prevailed on a 4-3 post match penalties after a 1-1 regular time draw and a barren overtime. H.Maina/Ajabu

Guatemala hang on to their defensive game despite being outplayed by Brazil. Their resilience paid off in the final fourth minute of the game when their striker was fouled in the box. Guatemala did not waste their golden chance at the spot penalty kick. They easily scored and brought the game to a 1-1 draw at the final whistle. The match proceeded into an extra ten minute overtime play but it was scoreless. This forced the winner of the tournament to be decided by a penalty shoot out.

Guatemala went on to win the resultant penalty shootout 4-3. Brazilian goalkeeper saved one shot while Guatemalan goal keeper saved two, sending their fans into a frenzied celebration for the second year running.

This event was the second annual soccer event organized by One Lowell, a charitable organization whose main goal is to facilitate building of bridges among immigrant communities of Lowell and the wider American community.

“This was a wonderful weekend for me. I enjoyed coming out and watching the games,” said Peter Mutura, a Kenyan from Lowell.  

“More of our people should be coming out of work to relax at such community events,” said Francis Muniu, a Kenyan who had traveled all the way from Worcester, Massachusetts, after seeing the upcoming event on AjabuAfrica.com. “Too much work without play makes Kenyans a dull community,” had advised jokingly.

            Spectators thanked AjabuAfrica.com for advertising the One Lowell World Cup. “If it was not for Ajabu, we would never have known about this tournament. We look forward to next year,” said Peter, the  father of one.

A Gutatemalan player (red) fights for ball possesion aganist two Honduran players during the pleriminary rounds of the one Lowell World Cup. Guatemala won 3-1 to advance to the finals. H.Maina/Ajabu

Dr. Victoria Fahlberg, the CEO of One Lowell watches as Guatemalan Captain lifts the One Lowell World Cup trophy that they successfully defended aganist Brazil team 2 in the final match of the 2008 tournament .H.Maina/Ajabu

Story by Harrison Maina
Edited by George Chege
for AjabuAfrica.com

Other Top Stories
Blind Musician Stuns Faithful with Insightful Life's Advice
Boston Churches to Hold First Ever Music Extravaganza
Thinkers Annonymous

Return to Home Page