When the girls of the Canadian team Semiahmoo found out that they were to play their very first Gothia Cup, they wanted to do something extra for a less fortunate team. They decided to put together a football-kit, and then give it to an African team who wasn’t as fortunate. The idea of putting together a football-kit came from a Californian team, who did the same thing in an earlier tournament. In order to get the material needed, the team turned to Soccer Canada, the official national football organisation. They liked the idea and supplied the girls of Semiahmoo with a kit containing shin pads, a track suit and a couple of jerseys and shorts. Then all the girls had to do was to find a suitable team to supply with the goods. 

- We were out on a walk when we spotted this African team, tells 16-years old midfielder Emelie Holmes. They were warming up, and didn’t even have any shin pads. So we simply decided to give the football-kit to them.

The team Emelie and her teammates saw warming up was KYOC, a team from Kisumu, Kenya. KYOC are a part of Meet The World, a project run by Gothia Cup and SKF. The girls of KYOC all grew up under harsh and poor conditions, now they live on the same orphanage as a part of the Meet The World project. KYOC qualified for Gothia Cup by winning an tournament in Kenya, SKF sponsored the team with plane tickets to Gothenburg.

The ceremony itself was conducted at Hvitfeldtska Gymnasiet on Tuesday. Semiahmoo and KYOC, two teams from opposite part of the world sat down together on the stairs. Then Bruno Hoffman, head coach for Semiahmoo proudly told the story about how the girls worked to be able to hand over these gifts. Then he ordered his players to match up with the Kenyans and hand over the kit. 

- Our goal is that you wear this gear when we come and play you in Africa, said Hoffman.

- We didn’t know anything about this, said KYOC:s 15-years old striker Pauline as she was looking through the bag containing her new football-kit. Gothia Cup is fantastic, I have learnt so much, and met so many new friends. And I would really like to thank the Canadian team for this gift!

Then the KYOC thanked Semiamhoo by teaching them some traditional African dancing and singing. The Canadians were a bit shy at first, but after a few minutes they got caught in the spirit.

Text: Gustav Jakobsson

Pictures: Karl Sandin