Young Gunners Soccer Team to Participate in the Lusaka Tournament

By Guest Blogger Hary Mitchell

In Zambia, the YOFOSO sponsored soccer team from Garden, the Young Gunners, is about to get a chance to win it all, as the communities of Lusaka prepare for the Lusaka Tournament. This week-long sports festival and soccer tournament will be held August 22nd through 28th, with the crew at YOFOSO heading and hosting the coordinating committee.

The games will be played at a number of different schools throughout Lusaka. YOFOSO has paired up with a network of local coaches, the Lusaka Based Youth Sport Initiative, and will offer soccer tournaments for over 20 teams, each with the following age groups: boys under 10, boys under 12, boys under 14, boys under 17, and girls under 16.

The Lusaka Tournament has received abundant support from the community and other organizations. There has already been a donation of five soccer balls from the organization Alive and Kicking. These balls, along with trophies and a set of jerseys, will serve as prizes for the winning teams. In addition to the actual tournament, the staff of YOFOSO has collaborated with Grassroots Soccer to teach the participants about HIV/AIDS, and Campus Crusade to teach the Word of God.

“At the end of the day, the lesson that the teams will learn will be of great help to the kids,” YOFOSO's founder Mulenga says. “HIV/AIDS lessons have already started. Also, the kids are spending their school break learning. During this time, they could have instead chosen to get involved in the many bad vices that are found in our communities.”

In a county where the percentage of adults living with HIV/ AIDS is over 13%, health education and safe sex education is crucial for the community. It was estimated that in 2009, there were 200 new HIV infections every day. YOFOSO is eager to pair the children's excitement about sports with the important health lessons that will have lasting impact on a generation.