African Street Football Cup
|Teams gather on the pitch before the tournament in Cape Town. Image: HWC/Zoe Hopkins
The second African Street Football Cup was held in Cape Town from 23-25th September 2022. Our International Partnerships Manager Zoe Hopkins attended the event.
It was clear from the opening ceremony that The African Street Football Cup in Cape Town was going to be a colourful and lively weekend of football, cultural exchanges and powerful messages around xenophobia, gender-based violence and homelessness.
|Marimba music and dancing accompanied some of the matches. Images: HWC/Zoe Hopkins
The tournament was hosted by our South African partner ‘Oasis’ and teams participating were from Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and a ‘One Africa’ team made up of players from Malawi, Lesotho and Burundi. In total, five international men’s teams and two local women’s teams competed, with most players ranging between 16-25 years old. Whilst a women’s team from Motseeo women’s club in Lesotho could not travel due to elections, their founder attended to help build organisational relationships for the future.
Friday began with an opening ceremony of players parading on to the newly built – and transportable, HWC-style 4-a-side pitch at Oasis centre. They were accompanied by some fantastic traditional Marimba music and dance performances from local groups.
|Players attend workshops at the end of each day. Images: HWC/Zoe Hopkins
Before each day of play, there were short workshops to the players on xenophobia and breaking down barriers between nationalities. This helped promote friendly relations both on and off the pitch.
Throughout the weekend, there were presentations by local NGO Bold Moves and local poets on the theme of GBV awareness. The crowd were also entertained with a cookery competition, a headscarf tying contest and a colourful craft market!
A substantial number of the previously homeless residents now living at Oasis centre (approximately 90) are over 50 and have a walking football team. They also played a match, with some of the younger players from other teams helping with goalkeeper position. It was a perfect example of cross cultural and cross generational integration.
|Men and women’s teams were in action throughout the weekend. Images: HWC/Zoe Hopkins
Six rounds of football were played on day one, with all teams having won and lost a few. Namibia clinched one match after an exciting penalty shoot-out with One Africa. With fewer players on team Ghana, they welcomed journalist Jay Block from USA to help them out.
Zimbabwe and South Africa were looking strong going into the final’s day. The two women’s team had some entertaining matches, including dancing from the goalkeepers!
The finals day saw even more excitement on the pitch with all teams playing several games. More music and dancing accompanied the day, and many local supporters were cheering both the men’s and women’s local Oasis teams. South Africa triumphed over Zimbabwe in the men’s final, and the Oasis women’s team lifted the women’s cup, so it was a double win for South Africa!
|South Africa won both the men and women’s competitions. Images: HWC/Zoe Hopkins
As always with HWC-style tournaments, we see all players winning in some form even if not lifting the cup. Player friendships were formed across countries, managers and coaches exchanged working methods, and the local sponsors, authorities and supporters were treated to a sporting, cultural and social event that has created many positive memories. Congratulations to the team at Oasis for a successful event, and we look forward to the next African Nations Cup!
Find out more about Oasis and their work in South Africa here.
Words: Zoe Hopkins