Human Rights Day
We had a public holiday for Human Rights Day last Friday, December 10. It was the perfect excuse for a one day football tournament! There were 8 Under 17s teams and 6 Under 13s teams.
Riding down to the fields at around 6:30am I saw some of the first Under 13s players walking barefoot to the fields. They recognised me and broke into an excited run. I slowed down to check they were heading for the games? They were. I continued and the boys kept running behind me, yelling and laughing as they sprinted down the dusty lane.
A short-term volunteer commented on the enthusiasm of the players. In the midday heat while we were resting in the shade and enjoying a short lunch break, a couple of dozen teenagers were still out on the field practicing kicking goals. The same volunteer also noted the way that all the players showed respect for the referees and encouraged each other. There was no arguing, no fighting and no injuries! : )
One of the new teams to play in this tournament was the Bridge of Life team. This Under 13s formed just after the stampede on the bridge to Diamond Island in Phnom Penh over the Water Festival weekend. Their national ability and determination took them to the finals, at which point they conceded to the aptly named Strong Boy FC.
There were some interesting team names. Two chose Spider and there was one Spiderman team. Victory sounds like an appropriate name for the winning Under 17s team. However, it also seems to be a challenging name for Cambodians to pronounce in English. When Victory were engaged in penalty shoot-out battles in both their semi-final and grand final games, a hundred or so kids shouted what sounded like, "Victoria, Victoria, Victoria!". Yeah...suddenly not so manly!
Four referees from our partner organisation, SALT, came to assist. Den, Yan, Phearom and Rothanak were tireless and skilled in their service.
Our next event is a Girl's Football Festival on January 1. The following weekend we're into the 2011 league. I'm looking forward to more teams, more smiles and more great pics like these ones that Ben & Petra captured!
Riding down to the fields at around 6:30am I saw some of the first Under 13s players walking barefoot to the fields. They recognised me and broke into an excited run. I slowed down to check they were heading for the games? They were. I continued and the boys kept running behind me, yelling and laughing as they sprinted down the dusty lane.
A short-term volunteer commented on the enthusiasm of the players. In the midday heat while we were resting in the shade and enjoying a short lunch break, a couple of dozen teenagers were still out on the field practicing kicking goals. The same volunteer also noted the way that all the players showed respect for the referees and encouraged each other. There was no arguing, no fighting and no injuries! : )
One of the new teams to play in this tournament was the Bridge of Life team. This Under 13s formed just after the stampede on the bridge to Diamond Island in Phnom Penh over the Water Festival weekend. Their national ability and determination took them to the finals, at which point they conceded to the aptly named Strong Boy FC.
There were some interesting team names. Two chose Spider and there was one Spiderman team. Victory sounds like an appropriate name for the winning Under 17s team. However, it also seems to be a challenging name for Cambodians to pronounce in English. When Victory were engaged in penalty shoot-out battles in both their semi-final and grand final games, a hundred or so kids shouted what sounded like, "Victoria, Victoria, Victoria!". Yeah...suddenly not so manly!
Four referees from our partner organisation, SALT, came to assist. Den, Yan, Phearom and Rothanak were tireless and skilled in their service.
Our next event is a Girl's Football Festival on January 1. The following weekend we're into the 2011 league. I'm looking forward to more teams, more smiles and more great pics like these ones that Ben & Petra captured!
posted by pip @ 6:54 pm
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