Tanzania boys win 2014 Street Child World Cup

 

 

7th April 2014

Source: Street child world cup

Tanzania boys won the 2014 Street Child World Cup producing a powerful performance to beat their neighbours Burundi 3-1. After the game both teams joined together to stress that the Street Child World Cup was more than just a game, and to congratulate the players from all teams at the tournament.

Tanzania and Burundi had already faced each other in the 2014 Street Child World Cup in the opening fixture of the group stages. Tanzania had looked on course for an impressive opening victory, taking a two-goal lead, only for Burundi to demonstrate their remarkable resilience to mount a second half comeback and get a draw.
So when Tanzania were 2-0 up at half time in the final they were very aware that the game was far from over. But instead of letting Burundi back into the game, this time Tanzania scored the first goal of the second half, completing a hat-trick for Frank, to put the game out of Burundi’s reach. Although Burundi got a consolation goal, it was too late to change the outcome of the game.
In the first half despite having the better of the opening exchanges Burundi failed to get a shot on target. Burundi moved the ball around with familiarly impressive passing, but failed to test the Tanzania keeper. Then after seven minutes a clever sidestep by Frank left him in space and he fired home into the top corner. The goal against the run of play began a passage of end-to-end action, which only ended when Frank bagged his second goal from a tight angle.

After the game the Tanzania team were quick to congratulate the Burundi team for their performance, and Tanzania captain Deograutis said it was a demonstration of the bonds developed between squads throughout the Street Child World Cup: “We are friends and neighbours with the Burundi team, and know what it is like to lose the final, so we wanted to show them our support.
“We’re happy because in 2010 we were in the final but didn’t win the cup. We’re representing all the children in Tanzania, and we hope we’ve made them proud.”
Team Tanzania is organised by Tanzania Street Children Sports Academy which works with around 300 street children. TSCSA works in three areas; outreach through street-based work, using sport as an educational tool through work in schools and running a football academy.
TSCSA President Altaf Hirani thinks all the Street Champions have demonstrated their talents and exuberance throughout the tournament: “These children have shown what they can do if they are given opportunities and the chance to flourish. The Street Child World Cup has been a great way to raise awareness of the global campaign to protect children. We would like to thank the organisers and the volunteers, who have been fantastic right from the start.”
Tanzania coach Suleiman Jabir added that TSCSA hope winning the Street Child World Cup will be a vehicle to increasing their deliver of support to children: “We hope we can use this as a stepping stone, to help more children in Tanzania and to campaign to the government to pass policies to support children. But this isn’t just about Tanzania, this is about children everywhere.”
Team Burundi is organised by New Generation, which is fostering relations between boys from different ethnic backgrounds in a country scarred by civil war. The players are former street children, who New Generation are working to get back into the community and education.
Burundi coach Teddy Bright thinks his team demonstrated the values New Generation tries to foster in its players: “It’s important to play together, to know each other as friends and trust each other. We’re really happy to be at this event to raise awareness for street children, not just in Burundi but all over the world.”