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First football game in Africa features local graduates
BY Brian Reitz, Special to the Star Courier
Last summer, South Africa hosted the continent’s first World Cup.
This summer, Tanzania hosted Africa’s first American football game.
On hand to mark the momentous occasion were five Metroplex representatives, including defensive back Justin Agnew (a Southlake Carroll alumnus), defensive back Joshua Matthews (a McKinney North graduate) and left tackle Kyle Hammond (a Plano Senior alum).
The Des Moines, Iowa-based university recently began recruiting players out of North Texas. Six players on the Bulldogs roster hail from the Metroplex and five travelled to partake in the Kili Bowl.
The trip was a successful one.
After key defensive stops by both teams, a 27-yard field goal by Billy Janssen put Drake up, 3-0, late in the first. CONADEIP had a chance to tie at the end of the quarter, but snapped the ball over the head of the holder.
Just before halftime, Drake quarterback Tyler Castro was injured. The starter, Mike Piatowski, had already been sidelined due to injury.
Down 3-0 late in the third quarter, CONADEIP connected on a 49-yard pass play and completed the drive by opening the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown by Jose Reyes, who rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. Drake would get the lead back when receiver Joey Orlando caught a touchdown pass from third-string quarterback Nick Ens on the next possession to vault the Bulldogs to a 10-7 lead.
Midway through the fourth, CONADEIP fumbled on its own 19-yard line. Drake’s Patrick Cashmore cashed in on the crucial mistake by running for a touchdown with 2:03 remaining to make it 17-7.
That would also be the final score following an interception brought of CONADEIP quarterback Matt Buckley.
Due to an inaccessible wi-fi connection, the game was not broadcasted live. However, many people managed to keep up with the game by following Global Football’s and Drake University’s Twitter and Facebook coverage. Social media played another part in the trip as many players have blogged about their experiences thus far.
Although the bowl game was the main focus of the expedition, both teams’ trips contained more than just football.
In the two days prior to the game, the teams collaborated to host and lead clinics to more than 1,000 kids. They promised free footballs to kids who showed up to watch the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl. In the three days following the game, the teams revitalized an orphanage. Working all day, they scraped paint off one of the buildings and then repainted it. They also played Ultimate Frisbee and soccer with the local children.
On May 25, the two football teams began their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. Africa’s highest peak tops out at 19,341 feet above sea level.
“It’s interesting to see the boys and how it’s already changing them,” said Wendy Hammond, Kyle’s mother. “The first day they were really upbeat and loud, but when they got further into the city and saw the poverty you could tell it really affected them.”
The teams’ endeavors affected the Tanzanian locals as well and President of Global Football Patrick Steenberge thought the efforts were successful.
“The people of Tanzania heartily embraced the event in many ways,” he said. “At every level people are thrilled to watch and learn the sport, to interact with our players and to share their culture.”
Global Football plans to continue its groundbreaking work in Africa in the future. Current plans dictate conducting coaching clinics for local sports coaches in 2012 and an annual game starting in 2013.
“I have been invited by Tanzanian leaders to develop sustainable efforts,” Steenberge said. “The key is finding a U.S. and international school each year to get excited about traveling and playing here.”
And not all football coaches emphasize community service as much as Drake head coach Chris Creighton, who makes his players volunteer every Friday night, including during the spring semester.
“I think it is amazing that a football coach and university such as Drake would make this kind of commitment for the sport of football and to give these boys this experience,” Mrs. Hammond said.
The two teams were expected to return stateside Wednesday.
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