It was one of those rare cases when “everybody was there”. Indeed, those who still weren’t would not have been able to fit into a Juba Stadium filled to capacity to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the United Nations.
“I suspect that most of you are really here for a football match,” said David Shearer, head of the UN in South Sudan, demonstrating the former politician’s uncanny knack for picking up the vibes of an expectant audience.
And right he was. Impressive as they were, the efforts of the UN family to showcase its contributions to peace, livelihoods and the wellbeing of the people of South Sudan paled in comparison with the astonishing spectacle to be delivered by South Sudanese football players and their adoring fans.
They produced scenes to behold, cherish and possibly tell grandchildren about.
But protocols first. This was the UN, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and a multitude of UN agencies, funds and programmes alike, at its best. Here they were, united for peace, yet showing strength in numbers as well as diversity.
A walk around the perimeter of the dilapidated stadium’s football pitch was proof that there was something for everyone being offered.
There was UNMAS, the United Nations Mine Action Service, displaying a prodigious array of unexploded ordnances.
Alas, there was no sign of explosives-detecting canines. The UNMAS staffer manning the stand explained that the day was too hot for the furry ones. Thus, the usage of the phrase “a dog’s life” in a derogatory manner is no longer applicable.
Those with a sweet tooth may, however, apply the advice given by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, when it comes to constructing somewhat coffin-like beehives. More into marine life? Fear not: instructions on how to chill, salt, dry and smoke fish were also readily available, as were tips for farmers grappling with marauding fall armyworms.
The World Health Organization, WHO, proved that taking can be as benign as giving, as its staff, joined by the International Committee of the Red Cross, were asking for lifesaving blood donations. Hopefully, the precision-demanding needle-pricking was not detrimentally affected by the continuously ongoing soundtrack of hooting vuvuzelas, omnipresent already an hour before the highly anticipated game.
Some of the incessant outbursts of positive emotions were probably linked with the performance of South Sudanese singer/rapper Irene Toss, and with a completely different game taking place on the field. Young girls, aged 12 and above, were engaged in a rousing match of boruboru, a traditional South Sudanese, dodgeball-like game experiencing a massive revival after years of being dormant.
There was much to be applauded, as girls trying to dodge fast-approaching balls from left, right and center used all sorts of agile acrobatics to prove their prowess. Aiming for the mid-riff, however, seemed to be an effective tactic, which was quite likely relayed during the huddles formed for intense pre-game team talks.
“Boruboru is good. Girls like it because they feel united, and the game keeps them fit,” explained Leya Onesimo, who has been coaching her team, called “Peace” or “Bright” depending on whom one talked to.
“I like the UN very much,” Leya added. “They support us by giving us dignity kits and other things that we girls need, at home and at school.”
Peace/Bright were up against the toughest possible of opponents, as Paul Samuel, coaching the girls in red declared his team to be “the national team of boruboru”, yet to be defeated in any of the international battles they hope will be on their future fixture list.
“Free HIV [by the UN Population Fund, UNFPA] and malaria [by the UN Children Fund, Unicef] testing are the best things I have seen here today. Handing out free condoms [UNFPA] is another great initiative,” Paul said.
Numerous men and women seemed to agree, as the lines of test-keen attendees kept growing longer.
“The rapid malaria test takes just two minutes, and for those who have the disease we offer free medications for treatment,” a Unicef nurse said. At that point of the afternoon, some ten persons had been found to carry the infection.
Some were positively giggling as, upon approaching a combined UNFPA and Juba Teaching Hospital tent, they discerned the unmistakable shapes of male and female genitalia, indispensable for realistic training on how to correctly use the male and female condoms distributed en masse.
The fruits, or at least the seedlings, of nature’s non-condomized couplings, were generously given away visitors in the tent of the UN Environmental Programme, UNEP.
“Normally they cost a bit of money, but here you can pick them up for free,” UNEP staffers Susan William and Peter Chol said, pointing to what was left of a total of 500 seedlings of mango, avocado, guava, lemon and other goodies brought to the event.
As the scorching afternoon progressed and the interactive warm-up to the Game drew to a close, Juba Stadium kept filling up, with curious latecomers having to settle for the few remaining free spots on the perimeter wall.
After three weeks of five university teams grinding out results against each other, the time had come for the climactic main course: the final of the Inter University Football Peace Tournament, to be played between the University of Juba and the Starford International University.
Expressing his appreciation of the “huge and diverse crowd” present at the stadium, David Shearer, in his pre-final remarks, stressed unity as the way forward.
“We are strongest when we are unified by our common values, regardless of whether we are women or men, or where in the world we are from, or what race, religion, tribe, sexual orientation, or age we are. That is, in the UN we recognize that our diversity is our strength.”
Paul Mayom Akech, Minister of Trade, Commerce and East African Development, the government’s guest of honour, also recognized the importance of joining hands and efforts.
“We are united for peace, and for making peace a reality for all. The government has been working hand in hand with the UN to achieve this in South Sudan, the region and in the whole world,” the minister said.
Now, there is a time for harmony and friendliness and there is a time for fierce competition, accompanied by Arabic, high-speed, constantly on-the-verge-of-ecstasy commentary, and at this juncture the latter took over.
Players of the University of Juba and the Starford International University went at each other, with gusto, from the get-go in a high-intensity, thrilling game.
Goal-scoring opportunities came fast and thick, as did the medical team on hand, to treat footballers having been flattened by opponents.
On one side of the pitch, the team of referees heeded heat-related (WHO?) advice and used two linesmen. Listening to their inner voices of common sense, for the most part the pair stayed glued to the half line as the fast-paced game flowed across the field. If, that is, they could hear anything at all as hyper enthusiastic, jumping, flag-waving, vuvuzela-hooting spectators produced an almightily loud soundtrack.
There was, however, no preventing the University of Juba from scoring one match-clinching goal against a Starford team which, for no lack of fighting spirit or trying, failed to deliver the net-rattling goods.
At the final whistle, the expected rejoicing did not happen. Instead, positive mayhem ensued, as hundreds of euphoric fans climbed a fence and invaded the pitch to celebrate with their footballing heroes.
There was jumping. There was dancing, grass-diving, cart-wheeling, singing, laughing, intense embracing of whoever happened to be nearest, and mad running about in all directions.
These were not your typical scenes of a university team winning against another. These were, without exaggeration, the kind of scenes that break out after winning the Champions League, or when a small country unexpectedly qualifies for the World Cup.
Therefore, these were also the poignant scenes of the release of long pent-up joy in a people sadly, unjustly, routinely and persistently starved of happiness.
“I have seen the devastation that war, hatred and cruelty can bring,” Mr. Shearer said before the game.
So, too, have the players and the multi-thousand-strong crowd at Juba Stadium. Not only that. They live it.