The shouts and the cheers

It's exactly one month and three days after the East Africa Cup held in Moshi Tanzania, on 27th June 2009 was the day that most of the participants were waiting.

So many came with hope and faith to clinch the coveted titles, battle lines were drawn but only two managed to reach to finals in each age category. The most exciting, hard fought game was that of the under 16 finals, we witnessed how the players fought up to their last breath with supporters on the touchlines shouting, cheering and dancing their teams.

This was as a sign of encouragement to keep on fighting but only one team clinched the trophy.

Before the finals the finalists were very busy as participants attended various seminars, and built their skills.

The Kicking AIDS Out resource team played a vital role through out the tournament. They prepared the participants to keep on fighting, shouting and cheering in the fight against AIDS.

Literally when we see youths living a positive and healthy life, transformed communities living a HIV free generation, sports contributing to healthy lives and youths from all religions and backgrounds benefiting from the diverse sports they venture in, then we will dance forever.

We still have a lot to do, let's keep on asking ourselves this question," fter East Africa Cup, are still happy are we still cheering and are we still shouting?", if not there must be something wrong. Let's keep on kicking and definitely we will hear shouts and be cheered. Keep up the spirit.

By Alex Ngaa

Hot debates by in the seminar on WHY SPORTS

Today it was hot debates in the Kicking AIDS Out seminar when the youth groups had to argue for and against sport.

In the picture the whole resource team Judith and Imisa from Emima, Irene, Paul and Alex from CHRISC, Edvin and Jacquelean from MYSA and George Nange from the Kicking AIDS Out secretariat.


The resource team facilitated the sessions and some of the arguments for sport was:
- sport make me avoid bad company
- sport gives me friends
- sport keeps me busy and I stay away from sex

Some of the arguments against sport was
- I can get injured
- I can also fall for peerpressure from my team mates
- If I want to play for the National team I have to bribe

The debates was hot and many good arguments were shared. A comment from one of the girls was that she was happy her coach was a Kicking AIDS Out peerleader, he had supported her and her team beacuse of the discussions they had about life not only the tactics and techniques in sport. She said "I think maybe I am a better player because of that also..."

More to come...

Greeting from Kicking AIDS Out Resource team

We are hereby challenging all the journalists in East Africa Cup to discuss the role of the media in the fight against HIV and AIDS! You are also welcome to join our sessions at MTS! And dont worry YOU will hear more from US!