Mysa wins world cup title during the FIFA World Cup

The FIFA Football for Hope Trophy

MYSA can now proudly put their second world cup trophy on a shelf of honour as they for the second time just won the FIFA Football for Hope championship title. This time during the recent FIFA World Cup in South Africa. MYSA also won the first tournament held during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and will be representing Kenya at the FIFA World Cup in 1014 in Brazil thanks to this year’s achievement.

Overall, the MYSA team played 13 matches, won 12 and drew one. They scored 53 goals, the highest total of any team, and, thanks to often brilliant goalkeeping by Peter Kyalo, conceded only five goals.

The festival featured thrilling Fair Play Football matches and high class entertainment at the Alex Stadium. The 32 delegations got to know South Africa during field trips in and around Johannesburg and in the Team Village the young players made new friends; gaining new experiences and insights in to people’s lives from all over the world.

This year, there were 32 teams from over 50 organizations in 35 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

MYSA team

At the tournament the MYSA team sailed through their first round of matches wit 7 straight victories over teams from Ecuador (4-0), Chile (5-0), France (2-0), India (8-0), Paraguay (4-1), Tahiti (9-0) and Uganda (2-0). In the second round, MYSA beat a team from Columbia (3-1) and a national select team from Argentina (7-0) and drew with the Zambian team (1-1).

In the quarterfinals on July 10, MYSA again beat the team from France (4-0) and, in the semifinals, beat the combined team from Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia (1-0).

MYSA then faced the other semifinal winner from Nigeria. With only three minutes remaining in the championship final, MYSA finally scored – but the Nigerian goalkeeper then claimed the ball had not fully crossed the goal line. As the matches were played without referees and instead the players all received special training beforehand on how to resolve any disputes together, in the spirit of fair play, which prevailed throughout the tournament, the MYSA players agreed to play on.

The championship match ended in a 0-0 draw. But, after stunning saves by both goalkeepers, MYSA then earned the title by winning the penalty shootout by 3-2 goals.

Counter attack from Daniel and Mercy

MYSA Championship team

Each team consisted of 4 boys and 4 girls between 15-18 years old. As a 5-a-side tournament, each team had to field at least two girls at all times. That became a key factor in MYSA’s performance. While the MYSA boys were as good or better than the boys on other teams, the MYSA girls were distinctly better than most of the other girls.

The MYSA championship team was coached by Stanley Okumbi and consisted of Mercy Achieng (Assistant Captain), Lydia Akoth, Peter Kyalo, Daniel Mwaura, Mohammed Noor (Captain), Richard Onyango, Bilha Osong and Susan Wairimu. The delegation was led by MYSA deputy Executive Director Henry Majale and MYSA zonal sports head Maqualate Atieno.

At the closing ceremony, Street Football World (organizer of the tournament and a global network of sport for development organizations) Managing Director Jurgen Griesbeck told the young leaders and players that “I hope all of you will remember this moment. All of you will go home now and carry this experience back with you and will have the responsibility to help change lives in your communities”

The 2010 FIFA Football for Hope Championship was organized by Street Football World, a global network of sport for development organizations, and came to an end on July 10.

Champions!

No tags