Supporting Peace One Day, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), promote peace through sports, BSA held a football tournament under the “One Day One Goal” slogan promoting fair play rather than competitive entertainment for the boys and girls attending the academy.

Twelve teams, from under 10s to an amateurs and coaches team, kicked –off festivities with a march-past sung to the tune of over 120 children and youths.

The media was also present, conducting interviews with various players, the Director of BSA and volunteers. The feature was broadcast the same evening during the children’s news at 17 hours and again during peak-time news broadcast at 20 hours.

It was a day where rivalries became a mere formality for the conduct of the tournament, but on the plush grass pitches, kindly provided to BSA by Rhodes Park School in Northmead, boys and girls, young and old came together in a colourful display of skill, sporting chants and goals galor. No yellow or red cards were handed out, but rather hand shakes, pats on the back and hugs.

Played under a blistering summer sunshine, players supported their team mates and cheered on the comical antics of the coaches team as they ran after their younger counterparts up and down the length of the field.

There was a truly vibrating atmosphere that was accentuated with the tranquillity of the surroundings and the continuous chattering, and laughter of all present.

The girls demonstrated that they were up to the challenge and proved that football is a sport that has become increasingly attractive to women all around the world. In between school, taking care of younger siblings, and housework, they train hard on a daily basis and put the boys through their paces, making them sweat hard with their precise passing, tactical play and skills repertoire.

On the other side of the pitch, it was a gruelling task for the coaches who had to maintain their poise to deal with the persistent attacks of the same boys they coach during the week. Nonetheless the More experienced bunch made it first in their group to reach the semi-finals with a fine display of experienced counter-attacking football and … a good dose of luck.

After a brief lunch-break of bread and juice, the final phase of the tournament took off under the added force of the afternoon African sun. The coaches had to finally surrender to the Under 17s as they lost a stalwart of their midfield in a fluke injury caused by the undulating surface of the field and fatigue.

The first series of penalty shoot-outs were contested amidst the fervour and watchful eyes of fellow team-mates and anxious onlookers.

The two finals kicked-off simultaneously at 15:30 with the Under 17 team from Northmead clinching the first title of Peace Day Tournament winners as, BSA Northmead Under 14 battled it out against BSA Garden Under 14 in a very tight and nail-biting affair that ended in penalties going the way of the Northmead team.

Due to the events thematic emphasis no winners’ trophies were distributed to the victorious outfit. Instead Fair Play / Peace Award’s were presented to the two teams that played tribute to the conduct of sportsmanship throughout their games. One the one side BSA’s girls team narrowly outshone Garden Under 10, whilst in the senior category Garden Under 17 took the coveted prize from Northmead Under 17.

The closing / award ceremony was concluded by an overwhelming roar of “Peace! Peace!” accompanied by congratulatory embraces and hand shakes.

It was a delightful scene and the perfect ending to a very successful day. The ripples of the tournament still scene at the next training session attended as the players greeted me with a “peace” welcome.

Even though the fixtures, team participants and schedule had to be re-written time and time again during the course of the day due to, wrong teams playing randomly against those in other groups and the usual time delay for late arrivals, the efforts put into the organisation by all at BSA (including the children them selves), made the sunburns and dehydration a worthwhile price to pay. After all, anything for PEACE!