The Kenyan Soccer Project: Uniting Two Communities a World Apart Through Soccer

theworldcupshop,com

Lexi and I have been friends for just over a year, but it feels like a lifetime. Sometimes we feel like we are even the same person, saying something in unison or discovering yet another totally random thing we both love from music and food to clothing and interior decorating. In our long commutes (but never long enough!) from Olympic College campus to Bainbridge Island, between listening to music, we brainstorm and share ideas. Some of them are good ideas, many of them are just plain crazy but the idea for the Kenyan Soccer Project was born out of the combinations of our two main passions, soccer and Kenya, and our shared passion for helping others and making the world a better place. Lexi came to me about a month ago and told me about a friend of hers who was working in Kenya at a village near the one she had lived in while she was there with her family. He said that the men there were hardworking, young and passionate but lacked someplace to direct their passion and spare time. This was confirmed when we spoke with John, a man from the village, over Skype. John told us that the men there would come in from working in the sugar cane fields and want something to do with their time. They resorted to gambling, drinking or creating mischief. John and Shebby, a representative from the farm where Lexi had lived and our primary Kenyan contact, both wanted to unite the young men and women in the villages surrounding the farm over soccer; hoping that through the beautiful game, they would experience community, responsibility, enjoyment and religious enrichment . Lexi and I hope for those things as well, but in addition we are hoping that our communities over here in Washington will be able to get involved and experience the same thing, thus uniting not only the communities in Kenya, but also the communities here and creating a relationship between the two.
This is the first chapter in the story of the Kenyan Soccer Project. I do not yet have much information, but I hope that by reading this, you will feel just as much excitement and hope as Lexi, John, Shebby and I do. We look forward to taking this journey with you!

Italy 0-1 USA

cnn.com

The United States made history in Genoa as they defeated Italy 1-0 for the first time in 78 years. Despite a nervy last few minutes, including four minutes of stoppage time, the American side held on for the big victory in front of a few travelling USA fans.

Switzerland 1-3 Argentina

Xherdan Shaqiri proved he was worth the money paid
by Bayern Munich but played in Messi's shadowblick.ch

It was an unfortunate match for François Affolter, who was called up to the Swiss National Team to replace an injured Joan Djourou who suffered from a muscle tear in Arsenal’s weekend fixture with Tottenham. Affolter gifted Argentina’s Sergio Aguero with a pass right to his feet and the Manchester City striker was able to convert it into an assist for the undeniably talented Lionel Messi. Affolter conceded a penalty in stoppage time when he fouled Gonzalo Higuain and Messi was able to slot the ball past substitute keeper Wolfli and secure Argentina a 3-1 win.

This Week in the EPL...

guardian.co.uk

Manchester City continue to roll through at the top of the table while the veterans secured the victory for neighbors Manchester United. The Arsenal-Tottenham London derby will go down as one of the comeback stories of the season while the Merseyside derby was put on hold as Liverpool defeated Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. 

Liverpool win Carling Cup 2012 and Reds Fans Hope this will be the First of Many

lfcfootball.com

Liverpool fans, players and especially coach Kenny Dalglish are surely relieved and excited over Liverpool's dramatic Carling Cup victory today at Wembley against a strong Cardiff City side.