We Went To a Soccer Game. Oh… you mean a Football Match.

In my first four weeks in Morogoro I have twice been to a football match (I once asked about any soccer games and people were very very confused). The first was a local game. There was a local under-17 team playing a team made up of some policemen. There were hundreds of fans at the game, lining the sidelines (which were not really defined). The U17 team was very skilled and was doing well considering the police had a size and age advantage. Whenever the U17 team scored, the fans went crazy, running onto the field to celebrate and dancing on the sidelines. Near the end, the police team thought they tied the game but the ref called back the goal. Some pushing of the ref ensued and the crowd rushed onto the field. The game was called and we left very quickly so as to not be involved in the growing soccer riot (sorry, football riot).

The second game was at Jamhuri Stadium and was less well attended – probably because admission was charged. The game was more formal with sidelines and three refs (the first did not have linesmen). The game was interesting, but lacked the appeal of the crowds going crazy for every goal. I got to try some sugar cane at the game (see the picture). You chew on it to get the liquid out and then you spit out the solid bits when it doesn’t taste so sweet. I didn’t see if this game ended in a brawl as we left before it ended.

Obviously soccer is a big sport here in Tanzania, but that’s another post for another day. Here are some pictures of the two games: 1) The first game. The police team is in yellow. Notice the crowds. 2) Some children sitting near me at the game. 3) Fans running onto the field after a goal. 4) Sugar cane. 5) The second game (notice the lack of crowds). 6) The view of the mountains from the stadium.