The G-D-M-irates Cup

This weekend was potentially one of the most important in the history of GDM and it's players, members and fans. We were fortunate enough to be visited by representatives of 'streetfootballworld' and FIFA, in relation to their Football for Hope campaign. The aim of the project, spawn from the World Cup in South Africa 2010, is to achieve positive social change through football by building 20 Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa. I won't go into too much detail about the centre, if we are lucky enough to be chosen, I will write a piece on what it can and hopefully will do for everyone here...until then let's just keep our fingers crossed!

So instead of the usual detailed reports on the tournaments that we run here in Manica, this post will focus more on the way in which the players, staff and everyone else involved here, at what is so much more than just a football club, pulled together for such a momentous occasion.

Earlier in the week Adam and I, along with the head of youth football, 26 year old Felipe Castigo (Pingi as he is better known), sat down with the first team squad to devise their roles for the weekend, and split the team in to three groups. One led by Adam and I, and assisted by Mussa, to set up the pitches and oversee the tournament as a whole, one group of referees, and one group organising the food for each kid who took part. Each group was assigned a captain who would delegate the responsibilities accordingly.

The group of referees was led my Mabass, the first team striker and vice-captain, and contained Felex, Simaozinho, Ribeiro (Jet Li) and recent product of the youth team Morane. Kitted out in various Arsenal kits, the refs were instrumental in keeping the tournament running smoothly and making sure the games were played in good spirits.

The group which probably had the toughest task was the group in charge of the food, as it meant they could not stay at the ground and watch the action unfold. Led by first team GK and resident chef when Mama is away- Gabriel, the group of Xadreque, Mariano, Paiva, Manuel, Esquerdinha and Maninho provided each player who took part with bread, bananas, biscuits, and drinks, something that to us in the UK would seem trivial but here is a very big deal.

Other notable mentions must go to the coaches, as not only throughout the weekend's games, but during the weeks leading up to our tournaments the work and commitment they put it is great to see.

• GDM's coaches, Lloyd 'The Complainer', always asking for his next fixture, checking the ages of his opponents players, despite having an unconventional 6ft tall U'11 goalkeeper, and Ruben leading the Ladies team in his first tournament in charge.
• Academicas' Chibanga. Looking like he would qualify to play for the U'11s, Chibanga's efforts leading up to the tournaments are arguably setting the standard for the other coaches.
• Giantkillers' quiet but confident pairing of Abu and Alex, their success in the tournaments so far put them as the team to beat going into the big weekend of football.
• Murroco's eccentric pairing of Paulinho and Teshera, who so far have been unlucky not to have done better.
• Feroviario's Geraldo and Chico Chinhimo, another recent product of the youth team, who were making their debut atthe big event.
• Chico's Costa Do Sol, who train on a pitch far less luxurious than the hotel after which they are named, one of our favourite teams to coach, also entering their first tournament.
• Finally Vivaldo whose team were aptly named...Vivaldo, a late admission in Sundays U'14s tournament.
• 2 teams were also entered into Sundays tournament from the local orphanage.

Special mentions must also go out to the club's directors for all the effort they put in, from organising money for the food, Short Chikwandingwa organising transport for the various teams to get to the ground, and Junior Director and boy genius Zambo 'El Magnifique' Felipe Zambo for taking some great actions shots of the day (the picture below is not Zambo, it is Panache, a regular at every first team training session and a member of GDM's huge squad).

Now...it wouldn't be fair for all this effort to go in, and for you not to find out about the football, so...a brief recap of the events...

In the ladies tournament, after a few 0-0 draws left us thinking we would never see a goal, GDM's Edna and Sonia stepped up to the plate, both scoring doubles in consecutive victories. Being the only team not to lose to GDM, Giantkillers took them on in the final, but Melhor Jogador Del Campeonado (MJDC), Edna, again drove her team to a comfortable victory.

The U'11s tournament was won by Academicas, and a well deserved first victory for Chibanga, whose team were uncompromising in winning every game. MJDC Paulo was the leading goalscorer, although we were treated to an array of screamers, in particular from Giantkillers' Joshua whose stunning volley secure them 3rd place in the 3rd vs 4th playoff against Feroviario.

Giantkillers claimed their 3rd title in the U'14s with a win on penalties over surprise package Feroviario, who had comfortably brushed aside some of the favourites in the group stages, Miguel picking up the MJDC. Vivaldo claimed a last gasp victory over Academicas to take 3rd place.

In the U'17s, Chibanga took his tally to two for the weekend and in doing so, won the right to coach the club's representative U'14s team who will play in the national league. They scored a last minute goal in the final to defeat GDM, with Giantkillers beating Murroco to 3rd place.

MJDC was won by, you guessed it...or did you...Nello Jeque, at just 10 years old, not only was he the youngest player in the tournament, but he had also taken part in all 3 age groups over the weekend. I hope you aren't getting sick of hearing his name as it could be one you are hearing a lot about in the future!

I hope this goes some way to showing how big a deal this occasion was for everyone, and although at first it seemed like a priority to impress our visitors, the most important thing here is the people who will be here for years to come, whether we get the centre or not, and luckily I think they enjoyed it as much as we did!