Roars of sanguinity: Uaso Lions

After a weeks break the LUC got back on the road, heading towards Uaso Nyiro, this is the northern most unit of Laikipia and was headed by John Elias who has now stepped down as Unit Director and in his place comes Kimani Kuria from Ol Jogi to assume the position.

We headed down on the Thursday for our usual briefing with the team, BATUK, LWF, the unit directors and the volunteers. The break had obviously done some good as people were excited and rearing to go for another successful event.

The LUC has been raising quite a buzz with the Laikipian community and the crowds get bigger with every competition we attend.

Day 1

The day started with all the teams arriving on time and registration going smoothly..The opening ceremony started with all the teams marching along to Shakira’s Waka Waka which has become not only the World Cup theme song, but the LUC’s theme song.

The head master of Kimanju Primay School welcomed us to his school and then introduced Dr. Anthony King the Exec Director of LWF who explained the reasons behind the competition and then welcomed the teams to sign the Green Pledge as each received a vuvuzela.

Other people who gave speeches included the Chief of the area, Dr. Liz Rihoy from the Zeitz Foundation, and Col Rex from BATUK.

The football got off to a good start, however the home favourites Kimanju Lions lost their opening match.

That evening on the big screen we watched the World Cup match between Germany and Brazil and then later on we watched Ghana come out of the World Cup after their loss to Uruguay. We were all in mourning.

Day 2

After being woken up to the sounds of vuvuzelas the teams were sat down to a discussion led by Dr Anthony King from LWF about the environment and in particular water management. Each team captain had to answer a few questions on behalf of their team about water conservation. After this, the teams then met with Steve…. From the Laikipia Predator Project a.k.a Living with Lions who gave them some information about predator proof bomas and how to construct them. The teams then each created their own boma, which was then placed in the neighbouring communities.

After lunch the teams went on to play the rest of their group stage matches and the semi finals which saw Ol Jogi facing Il Polei and Mpala meeting Ngimastae. After this match the composite team, the Uaso Lions were picked. This is the composite tea made out of the best players from the Uaso Nyiro Unit

As is the norm, MYSA players were treated to a game drive in the Ol-Jogi ranch located about 70 Km from Nanyuki town on the Nanyuki –Doldol road. The ranch has a game reserve called the pyramid whose seemingly endless rolling undulating landscape boasts a variety of roaming game and bird species. Ol-jogi game reverve also has a mini-zoo that exhibits a black leopard and a Russian brown bear (most probable the only brown bear in Africa).

That evening we watched Spain cruise to victory and into the semi finals of the World Cup.

Day 3

Day 3 is the busiest day of the tournament weekend but this weekend we managed to hold a mini match between the ‘Environmentalists’ and the ‘Medics’. The Environmentalists comprised the Zeitz Foundation team, MYSA officials, Andrew from YTPR and Colour Sergeant Smyth from BATUK. Even though the Environmentalist only had 12 players versus the medics 17 players they managed to outshine the competition with impressive goals from Andrew from MYSA, Andrew of YTPR and the Colour Sergeant. The re match is planned for the Eastern Unit competition.

While this was going on the other team participated in a rubbish collection from around the camp and the school ground.

After that match the Uaso Lions played against the team from MYSA Dandora, previously the MYSA teams have had very convincing wins over the Composite teams but this weekend they had to fight to come back from a goal down to eventually end the match at 1 all.

And for the final match of the day, Mpala took on Ol Jogi to see who would become champions of the Uaso Unit. Both teams fought hard but in the end there could only be one winner and it was Mpala with 3 goals to Ol’jogi’s one.

To bring the weekend to a close we had the prize giving ceremony which, Francis Ole Kaparo the ex Speaker of the House gave a few words as did Regina Hess from the German Embassy about the power of sport to create unity and promote awareness on issues of health and the environment.

Yet again the medical team outdid themselves by treating approximately 2900 people with services ranging from dental clinic, mental health, HIV/AIDS counselling and testing, nutrition to general consultation; all free of charge. Dental problems are really high in this area due to high Floride content in the water.

Once again it was a very successful tournament, all the teams and the organisers having a wonderful time. Next stop Eastern Unit for the last of the regional tournaments.

By the ZF team.