Newsletter – Kafunta football frenzy

Welcome to newsletter number 4.

As usual we have been extremely busy as we are now in the middle of our peak season. However, this does not mean that we do not get time to have a break and do something fun.

When Brian & I joined Kafunta in March this year, we thought it would be a good idea to start a football team, so that staff could do something a lot more fun than just working and to create a sense of team spirit. Ron, on one of his trips abroad provided the team with their football jerseys and Kafunta is now seen in Yellow & Green. Since March, we have had 7 football matches against other Safari lodges or teams in the local area. It seems that Kafunta has a number of very good football players and we are doing really well so far and have yet to actually lose a match.

Football matches in Africa are very different compared to games played in Europe. Firstly, the football pitch is somewhat rustic and is mainly dust or dirt. The goal posts on this particular pitch were not in line with each other and I believe that one goal post was actually bigger than the other. So the game is often dusty, dirty and hot. Most of the games start at 4pm and it can still be a little warm whilst we wait for the sun to start setting. Of course, no football match would be without it’s supporters and the Mfuwe supporters should bear a mention. Matches often take place on a Sunday afternoon and it seems that the whole of the village arrive at the grounds to watch. There are of course, always a vast number of children who take a great interest in the match and run about chanting and singing.

Our last match was held on the Sunday 26th August. This was also the first game I was able to go and support and of course, take a few photographs.

It all started slowly with the ball being held by both sides, it was only in the second half that things got really exciting. It was a fast and furious game Greyford Kukumbi and Mario Voss saw a lot of action. Greyford passed Mario the ball and he dribbled the ball through the opposing team and scored our first goal of the day, much to the excitement of the crowd. Greyford also had his chance of glory when he scored our second goal, which won us the match. The supporters by this stage were being whipped into a frenzy of excitement, being lead in song and dance by Lydia Zulu.

The end result was that Kafunta won the match 2-1 and all had a lot of fun.

Warm regards
Tracy May

Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta@luangwa.com
Phone 00260 6 246046
After hours 0026 6 246132
www.luangwa.com