The Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup (LUC) football tournament, held in Kenya and organised primarily by the Zeitz Foundation on behalf of Segera Long Run Destination, was an overwhealming success, both on the pitch and outside it. Communities came together to watch and play matches, but also to receive free medical care and environmental education, and take part in a number of activities from planting trees to cleaning up neighbourhoods and watching the FIFA World Cup. Here are some facts about this amazing month-long event.
People really have come together in a spirit of peace and unity, showing a willingness to collectively build a better future for Laikipia. There is now enormous enthusiasm for the Laikipia Unity Cup and a desire to see it become an annual event from every corner of the District and beyond.
Facts about the 2010 Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup (LUC)
LUC aim: to build unity, peace and environmental awareness throughout Kenya’s district of Laikipia
2010 winning team: Central Rhinos
Finals: Central Rhinos beat the Northern Elephants in post-match penalties 7-6, at Nanyuki Stadium, on 22 July 2010.
Man of the tournament: William Muhinja captain of Nanyuki Combined and the Central Rhinos’ (picked out by LUC Patron, Samuel Eto’o).
LUC Patron: Samuel Eto'o, international football star and captain of the Cameroon national team.
Organisers: the Zeitz Foundation - whose Headquarters are located in Segera Long Run Destination, at the heart of Laikipia; the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF); and BATUK (British Army Training Unit Kenya), in collaboration with Laurie Sessions and Segera/Zeitz Foundation in Central Unit; Anne and Gilfrid Powys in Western Unit; John Elias in Uaso Nyiro Unit; and Micheal Dyer in Eastern Unit in their capacity as the respective LWF Unit Directors.
Sponsor: Safaricom was the main sponsor.
Donors: most of the conservancy and ranch owners in Laikipia donated meat and Highlands Water donated over 1000 litres of water. Medicines were donated by the Diplomatic Spouses Association, MACs pharmacy, Gertrude’s Gardens Hospital and GSK. UNEP provided environmental material and prizes for both the LUC and the MYSA run schoolchildren environmental and football clinics. There was also support and involvement from Nairobi based Embassies – including South Africa, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil.
Attendance: thousands of people from all corners of Laikipia followed the LUC, including thousands from rural communities and towns and the local MPs (Hons, Kiunjuri, Muriithi, Ole Kaparo and Muriuki attended opening or closing ceremonies at events in their respective constituencies), chiefs, members of the provincial administration, KWS, BATUK, LWF and the Kenyan Air force, Nairobi based Embassies – South Africa, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil - and UNEP.
Structure: the tournament was held in the four regions of Laikipia and the finals saw the best teams compete. Each regional segment was held over three days.
Teams: overall, 32 football teams took part over the 4 regional events, each regional having 8 teams taking part. The winning regional teams were:
Central Unit - Nanyuki Combined.
(North) Western Unit - Sosian.
Uaso Nyiro Unit - Mpala.
Eastern Unit - Kisima.
The regional ‘composite’ teams were selected from the 8 teams and included the 20 best players from each region. These teams were:
Central Rhinos,
Northern Elephants
Uaso Lions
Eastern Grevys
The regional teams met in the semi-finals/finals on 20-21 July 2010.
At the finals the best players from the 4 regional teams were chosen, by the MYSA coaches and Samuel Eto’o, to form Laikipia United and they played an exhibition match against Mathare United (Kenya Premier League Champions). Samuel Eto’o played in this match which saw the teams finish with a draw.
Coaching: MYSA (Mathare Youth Sports Association), from Nairobi whilst also selecting players for the regional representative teams also coached these teams before the finals and then played the regional teams in an exhibition match each weekend.
The MYSA teams, held football clinics and environmental education sessions for thousands of school children, and were then treated to a game drive in the neighbouring conservancies at each of the regional competitions
Free medical care: over 12,000 people, mainly women and children, received free medical attention from the 20-strong medical team present at each camp. Players participated in HIV/aids and STD awareness sessions, and HIV testing and deworming was available to all. The medical teams were from Nanyuki District Hospital and the Kenyan Air force, led by Dr George Mochama.
Trees & environmental activities: some 500 trees were planted and thousands of people took part in many different environmental activities, ranging from local clean ups, to lectures on conservation agriculture and sustainable water management, through to the construction of predator proof bomas, by the Laikipia Predator Project.
FIFA World Cup: thousands of people in Laikipia were able to join in the excitement and spirit of the World Cup through the match screenings on giant screens at every event.
Discipline: throughout the whole event there was not a single unpleasant or disruptive incident either on or off the field despite almost a thousand young men and women being brought together and living in close proximity, with thousands of their supporters attending. The behaviour and spirit shown by all teams was exemplary and a credit to the communities and institutions they represent.
Guest penalty shoot out: Jochen Zeitz took to the goal to face 25 invited guests and organisers, including Samuel Eto'o; UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner; British High Commissioner, Rob McCaire; the South African High Commissioner, Tony Msimanga; Lt Col Rex Sartain of the British Army, MP for Laikipia East, Hon Ndiritu Muriithi; MP Laikipia West, Hon Kiunjuri, Joseph Ogutu Safaricom CHRO and the Charge d'Affaires from the Brazilian Embassy, Antonio Ricarte.
Awards: At the regional competitions the winning teams received medals a set of goal posts and nets and the regional Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup made out of recycled glass. At the finals each winning team member received a medal, plus a bag of gifts from the South African High Commission and a shirt from Safaricom. The man of the match, William Muhinja also received a solar lamp. The winning team were presented the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup made out of recycled glass. All the players received a certificate for their participation.
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.' This was signed by Samuel Eto’o and each of the captains of the teams that took part in the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup.
Congratulations to the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup regional winners:
Central Unit - Nanyuki Combined.
Western Unit - Sosian
Uaso Nyiro Unit - Mpala.
Eastern Unit - Kisima.
And to the winners of the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup List: Central Rhino's
Thank you to all who made the first event such a success!
Our Patron: Samuel Eto'o
Our main sponsors: Safaricom
Our co-organisers: Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) in collaboration with, and hosted by Laurie Sessions and Segera/Zeitz Foundation in Central Unit; Anne and Gilfrid Powys in Western Unit; John Elias in Uaso Nyiro Unit; and Micheal Dyer in Eastern Unit in their capacity as the respective LWF Unit Directors.
British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) The South African High Commission, Nanyuki District Hospital, Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) and Mathare United
Thanks also to the Diplomatic missions based in Nairobi- British High Commission, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Brazilian Embassy, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Mexican Embassy. Diplomatic Wives Association, Gertrudes Hopsital, MAC Pharmacy, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Kenya Air force. As well as, Highlands Water, DSTV, Laikipia Predator Project and all those who participated and made this event such a great success.
