It is difficult to foresee where your efforts will converge somewhere in the future, but one continues in blind faith, as it were, in the belief that good will come of your actions. The game of soccer has long been a source of joy and a positive focal point for the young people of Kandale. Soccer is the most popular sport across DRC and It is enjoyed by everyone-- men, women, and most of all, young people. Back in the 90’s students in Kandale began to organize soccer teams and regularly competed against other local teams.
In many of the communities it is not uncommon to find young people playing with a ball that is little more than errant pieces of clothing, paper, and plastic compressed under the tension of twine or strips of raffia palm. Often, it was made of grass meticulously woven together. Every village has a designated field to play on. The desire to play is very strong. In 2012, Colette coordinated with three UK organizations, Kits4Cause, Boots4Africa, and The Great Football Giveaway and received boxes of jerseys, professional balls and soccer shoes. While there were challenges finding feet that would fit the shoes, the balls raised the game to a whole other level.
Many years passed and the youth of Kandale remained passionate for the game. Colette tirelessly researched other charities and found Kick for Nick and Dwight Short. In 2017 Dwight Short donated 100 professional soccer balls to the community and Kick for Nick contributed many soccer kits filled with a variety of gear including, jerseys, shorts, nets, whistles and flags. Kick for Nick was making these donations in memory of their son who was killed in combat in Iraq, (featured in the photos above, left and middle). He loved the sport and actively collected soccer balls in the USA to take with him to Iraq. Dwight Short made his donations in memory of his aunt, Lodema Short or Mama Kanemu, as she was fondly called by the community members when she served as a Mennonite missionary in the Congo, (featured in the photo above on the right). These contributions further captured the imaginations of the youth and the community.
Opening ceremonies features the Head Pastor for the 27th Congo Mennonite Community in Kandale, The Rev. Ernest Kimbondja Mputu, giving his blessing. Chef de Secteur Khenda and Head of the Organizing Committee, Me Galunga Gago, and Mangala Muhipo Christophe, the Vice-President of REVE Kandale, perform the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The community of Kandale began to dream of a regional match that would attract the youth from the surrounding Kandale prefecture, some 95 villages. As Colette describes it, the groundwork for this idea had been growing for many years, with people were coming to the REVE Kandale office in Kandale on a regular basis in the hopes of securing a soccer ball for their community. In January, as there are no telephones or radio broadcasts, Newton began to spread the word on his motorcycle. As he ventured out, the news reached neighboring prefectures and before too long there were 32 teams from three prefectures, representing over 250 villages that were interested in participating. An event such as this had never happened before in Kandale.
In recent years, the Kandale youth have participated in many soccer competitions, including the Inter-Africa Mennonite Mission (AIMM) Leadership Coaching Forum in Mukedi two years ago. The team walked 55 miles to the distant village of Mukedi to compete in the tournament. It was a long journey that required them to sleep ‘en brousse’ with all the unknowns of the road. Yet despite the difficulties of the trip, they were victorious. The long journey home was filled with joyous singing.
For all its development, Kandale is a remote community and there are no ‘modern’ distractions such as the internet, a movie theater, a coffee shop or parks. The three big features in Kandale are the church, the school, and the hospital. Events like the Mukedi match was of significant importance to the pride of the people of Kandale.
The tournament was scheduled for June 6th. Members of the Kandale community spent a great deal of time preparing the field, building bamboo fences to encircle the field, fabricating shaded enclosures for judges and dignitaries, as well as the digging of several new latrines. Dwight Short, Kick for Nick, Hope for Congo and AIMM together provided a lot of the material and financial support for the purchase of banners, medals, prizes and the training of 10 local referees who were chosen from 15 applicants. All the referees were educated according to FIFA rules and regulations. 20 teams from the 32 applicants were selected and each team was required to contribute $30 to REVE Kandale to supplement external contributions.
On the 6th, opening ceremonies began with much pomp and circumstance, Congolese style, of course. There were many speeches, including one from Mangala Muhipo Christophe, the Vice-President of REVE Kandale. He had not visited Kandale in five years and was overwhelmed with all the changes. As the days are always hot in Kandale, the games are being played in the afternoons while sufficient daylight remains. Many local entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the opportunity to provide fish, beignets, luku, (a cassava bread), and water for the many visitors which number in the thousands. Even patients from the hospital have ventured out to watch. There are several police on hand to maintain order, but as of now it has remained a joyous and peaceful event, not requiring their services.
Distances are different in rural areas, especially when there are no vehicles and often only footpaths exist to cross these distances. Traveling to visit remote family members and neighbors becomes an undertaking, and reserved largely for weddings, funerals, and State visits. Phones are very uncommon, let alone finding service, so inter-community communication is limited. There is no Radio Kandale…yet, nor radios in many of the villages to receive the broadcasts…yet. The tournament created an unexpected cause for celebration. As a result of this unusual gathering, people from way outside of the community have traveled long distances to support their team and began to discover friends that they hadn’t seen for many years. It was a pivotal opportunity that reunited the community at large, where many old friendships were rekindled, and new ones made.
As of last week, the many teams were still completing the first round of eliminations. Kandale has made it through the first round and the players will be taking to the field in their bare feet, (the shoes of 2012 have long since disintegrated from constant wear), and tie-breaking rounds are to be played shortly. If you want to follow the progress of the games, Colette has been doing regular updates on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/colette.ramm
All the hard work that has gone into making Kandale a thriving center is coming to fruition and this tournament reflects the commitment and hard work of many individuals and organizations working together. In Kandale, as with many other rural communities, there are very few opportunities and young people can lose their way.
This tournament serves as a source of inspiration for both the youth and the greater community. It has generated so much enthusiasm that former members who are now living in Kinshasa and Angola are eager to return for the next event and maybe even play for their home team again.
