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Uganda: Survival Football
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The Monitor (Kampala)
11 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Edward Aikobua
Kampala
Every civilization has found a way to pass time; At St. Mary's College Kisubi (1997-2000), my classmates invented another. Arguably my hottest sport during school,"'Survival Football" (also known as "Bonna Bazanye" - Let everyone play) had no major guidelines.
There were simply two teams - the West Side near SMACK Road and the East End. Changing sides and walking in or out of the game was allowed during the fast-paced match. As if that was not funny enough, one side was allowed to have as few as 13 players while the other over 22. Some final scores were as outrageous as 9 - 11.
Everyone was a referee but the south side of the pitch had no throw-in line. If the ball crossed to the other two identical fields (where other classes were playing), it was the duty of some of the players to just chase it and kick it back.
The Northern touchline near the teachers' garden did not require neat restarts, one handed throw-ins were allowed. Otherwise the only exceptional rules were corner kicks, handballs, plus maybe off-sides which were sometimes violated. Up to today, I still cannot understand how Ivan Mutebi (nicknamed Mutex) scored a hat-trick with only three touches, from neither penalties nor free kicks. His once-in-a-lifetime success was so unbelievable that no 'survivor' ever achieved it again.
"Survival Football" somehow bound our three streams with cords that could not be broken. While fundraising in 1999 for an unprecedented class jersey, students willingly contributed the minimum amount requested from each individual.
We also rallied feverishly behind our boys "The Block Owners", Machuki, Lugemwa, Kitaka (3A); Haule [Steady Defender], Kiyingi [amazingingly talented], Jacques (not real name) (3B), Ddungu [my Personal Favourite, a true striking daredevil], Atuhura (3C); just to mention a few, who beat strong opposition including their seniors on their way to the finals of the Headmaster's Cup, which they lost unfairly to HSC (Higher School Certificate). A number of our classmates were regulars in the SMACK team and it was the first time Senior 3s almost won the annual inter-class tournament.
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My childhood ambition (around 1992) was to become a soccer professional like the recently retired Brazilian ace Romario. However, due to injury worries and the nagging pressure to succeed in academics, I moderated my involvement in sport. Nevertheless at SMACK, "Survival Football" loosened my inhibitions.
I modelled my game for the West Side on Patrick Vieira's majestic role for the Gunners and only managed a couple of goals in my final two years at SMACK. I had just fallen for Arsenal's traditional "Retreating Defense" technique in 1998 and therefore wanted to play like my heart.
Overall, Communal Soccer at SMACK was so enticing that it brought together non-soccer fans, school team regulars, European football enthusiasts and those not so talented but who knew how to have fun. It was just a time to kick the ball around, show off any tricks you could summon and let off steam.
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