Patron Samuel Eto’o visits Kenya to preside over finals of the Laikipia and beyond Unity Cup

20 July 2010, Nanyuki, Kenya… The Zeitz Foundation today welcomed Samuel Eto’o, international football star and Captain of Cameroon, who arrived in Kenya to preside over the Laikipa Unity Cup (LUC) finals at the Nanyuki Municipal Stadium, 20/21 July 2010. As Patron of the LUC, Eto’o watched all the matches at the stadium, including the semi-finals, and the Finals.

Organised by the Zeitz Foundation, in partnership with the Laikipia Wildlife Forum and collaboration with UNEP, the South African High Commission and BATUK – and sponsored by the Zeitz Foundation and Safaricom - the tournament saw scenes of excitement rivaling those of the World Cup.

The finals were the culmination of a month of matches that have drawn upon the power of sport to bring together thousands from every corner of Laikipia and beyond in a spirit of peace and unity.

Jochen Zeitz, founder of the Zeitz Foundation “This first edition of the LUC has scored goals on and outside the pitch. By bringing communities together, promoting environmental wellbeing and giving people access to medical help, I believe this first edition of the LUC has truly made a difference. With not a single red card shown either on or outside the pitches, I hope the LUC will set an example to be followed for years

to come.”

Eto’o said: “I am very happy to have accepted Mr Jochen Zeitz’s invitation to travel to Kenya to participate in the finals of LUC. As the tournament’s Patron, it is very rewarding to see the efforts made in Laikipia to keep peace and harmony through Football. I would like to return with my friends to beautiful Laikipia and hope to be here for next year’s event.”

President Nelson Mandela once noted that ‘Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can’. The aim of the LUC has been to harness this power and score goals for unity, peace and environmental awareness in the often troubled district of Laikipia.

Throughout the tournament, thousands of people were drawn together from all over the district andrepresenting every ethnic group and most major institutions in Laikipia – including commercial farms and wildlife conservancies, the provincial administration, government Ministries, British Army and Kenyan Airforce.

The best players in each region got a place on the regional teams: Central Rhinos, Northern Elephants, Uaso Lions and Eastern Grevys, that competed in the just concluded semi-finals and finals. The finals were followed by a thrilling exhibition match between Laikipia United - made up of the best players from all the competing teams – and Mathare United.

Joining Eto’o in the stadium were a host of other enthusiastic supporters, including Jochen Zeitz, Founder of the Zeitz Foundation; Assistant Ministers Hon. Muriithi and Kiunjuri, in whose constituencies events took place; Mr Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP; Mr Tony Msimanga – South African High Commissioner; Mr Rob Macaire, British High Commissioner; and Safaricom’s Joseph Ogutu.

During the closing ceremony, supporters tempered their enthusiasm with a serious note of concern: Laikipia is one of Kenya’s most beautiful and valued wildlife conservation areas, yet current environmental degradation is undermining people’s livelihoods, threatening their futures and destroying Kenya’s natural heritage. Only by working together can the people of Laikipia sustainably manage their natural resources for the benefit of their future and that of the nation.

As well as football, the LUC weekend gatherings also held a wide range of environmental activities such as local ‘clean ups’; discussions on conservation, agriculture and sustainable water management; and the construction of predator-proof bomas and hundreds of trees planted.

In addition, the LUC saw people throughout the district receive free medical treatment. The medical camps held during the LUC weekends delivered desperately needed free medical care in the most remote areas of Laikipia. Doctors from dentists to physicians and VCT (voluntary counseling and testing for HIV) counselors treated over 12,000 people, mainly women and children. The most common illness they dealt with was upper respiratory infection.

Meanwhile coaches and teams from the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) held football camps and environmental education sessions for thousands of children, whilst selecting players for the regional representative teams that met today. In Laikipia, all members of the MYSA teams were treated to a safari drive in some of the premier wildlife and tourism destinations in Kenya. The LUC also enabled thousands of people to join in the excitement and spirit of the World Cup through live match screenings at every event.

In leaving, players and supporters alike were reminded of the LUC pledge:

‘The Earth is our home and together we must conserve our precious water, land, forests and wildlife. I am proud to pledge that I will unite with others throughout Laikipia and that I will give a red card to environmental destruction and defend our natural heritage'

Ends

For further information please contact

Liz Rihoy, Programme Director,

Zeitz Foundation, Nairobi Office Tel: +254 73 650 3249

or

Andrew Mudibo, Yolanda Tavares Public Relations,

Tel: 020 272 4383/5/7, Email: andrew@ytpr.co.ke Cell: +254 725 346 936

EDITORS NOTE:

The Zeitz Foundation

The Zeitz Foundation promotes an innovative approach to sustainable ecosystem management which aims to achieve sustainability through a balance of conservation, community, culture and commerce (the 4Cs). Our aim is to encourage actions today for a better tomorrow. Our vision is of an ecosphere – our planet and all of its lifesustaining regions – maintained in the healthiest possible state, with the major contribution to that health coming from people making sustainable choices. Founded in 2008 by business entrepreneur Jochen Zeitz Chairman and CEO of PUMA AG, a leading global sportlifestyle company, the Zeitz Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Germany, headquartered in Kenya, and with representation in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Find out more: www.zeitzfoundation.org and www.thelongrun.com.

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF)

LWF is a member driven organisation that brings together land owners and resource users of all kinds including large-scale ranchers, small scale farmers and pastoralists to tackle the challenges in the Laikipia ecosystem. They work together to achieve a common goal: To conserve Laikipia’s wildlife and ecosystem integrity and improve the lives of its people by bringing its societies together to conserve and sustainably use the natural resources on which they depend. Laikipia Wildlife Forum has been the first institution of its kind to develop a significant capacity to foster development and conservation goals on a district-wide level in Kenya.