Chasing a Dream

By Michael Arunga, Africa HEA Communications Advisor

Niamey (14/06/2012) The sun is hot, blowing a strong windy heat. The scorching rays have raised temperatures of the sandy ground, which is littered with sharp thorns from shrubs and twigs that have survived the drought. But these challenging conditions are no deterrent for the barefooted 11-year-old Omar Musa. He practices soccer with his friends, determined to become an international star.

Omar juggles the deflated white and black ball with artistry. He trains together with his five-year-old brother, Moumar Musa and their ten-year-old friend, Risa. While he has a plain t-shirt, it is interesting that Risa is wearing a branded Arsenal t-shirt. Meanwhile his younger brother is wearing an orange one similar to what is won by the Niger national team. Arsenal is a team based in the UK which features in the English premier league where the London Olympics will be held.

“Lionel Messi is my best player and Barcelona, the team that I support,” Omar says with excitement.

“We know of Kaka and Samuel Etoo who are skillful players that have brought glory to the continent of Africa,” his brother chips in.

For these young boys, unlike many of their privileged contemporaries, there is no playing field, no academies that drill skills, nor coaches to monitor progress. They play on hungry stomachs as the monthly 15 kilograms of relief food received per household is inadequate and quickly gets exhausted by their families within a couple of days. Their houses are derelict structures made from tarpaulin that topples over when it is windy, which is quite often.

It is not just these facilities that are lacking, making these potential Olympic medalists disadvantaged. Omar and his friends are refugees from Mali, whose families fled vicious violent conflicts in their home country, Mali to Mingaize in Niger.

After arriving to Mingaize, Omar and his friends initially lacked all the basics of life such as food, water and shelter. Many of their siblings and other Mali child refugees walk around stark naked. 

Thanks to World Vision who are distributing life-saving non food items such as mosquito nets, buckets to fetch clean water, tablets of soap to enhance hygiene and availed numerous tanks of clean water, many of these children are able to survive rampant diseases.

It is ironical that unlike some privileged children who whine over the quality of what they have, lack of these essentials and the hard living conditions has not dampened the young Mali refugees’ determination to excel. They, like many other children across Africa are crazy about football.

“We do not know what the London Olympic games are. But I have heard of a team in Mali called Olympic,” Omar tells me, a bit confused when he is asked if he knows of the global games that will soon take place in London. He vigorously shakes his head to emphasise that he does not know.

Omar and his friends’ ignorance of the Olympics is not far fetched. Their shelter structures have no mass media facilities like radios and televisions. Internet facilities and newspapers are also not part of their priorities. This coupled with the fact that no Niger sportsman has qualified to take part in the forthcoming Olympic games, makes them live in news ‘darkness’. 

Omar proudly takes us to their ‘home’ where we find his 41-year old father, Haruna Kimba lying on a mat on the ground. He peers at us with lots of suspicion when we walk in, but relaxes on seeing us with his sons and learning that we are from World Vision.

“I am unwell today that is why I am lying here hoping that I will feel better. Please feel welcome to ask me any questions you desire,” he tells us.

Sitting next to Haruna is his 30-year-old wife, Rabi Bubakar, with whom they have three children. He tells us that they used to live happily at a place called Menaka, until rebels advanced while soldiers who were supposed to protect them fled.

“The rebels came and destroyed everything within their way, plundering and stealing. They put pressure on people. With my own eyes, I saw people being killed,” 10-year-old Risa says.

Omar’s father says he decided to flee to Mingaize which is more peaceful, although he is quick to add that their biggest challenge is lack of food.
“We are most grateful to World Vision who have provided us with a lot of non food items that are essential. Food is our main challenge and shelter is bad,” he adds.

He says that he regrets his children cannot attend school. He says he is happy for them to play within the camp but does not allow them to venture further because of the experience of the conflict that left him fearful of consequences. 

This fear is real. Omar and his friends will continue to play football at the Mingaize refugee camp, while the London Olympics kick off. Niger may not feature in any sport in London but taking a cue from its neighbours such as Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast who have produced soccer luminaries on the world stage, Omar’s ambitions are not far fetched. Niger’s and Mali’s national teams may not have made it on the international soccer stage, but this is no deterrent for the boys who know many European professional players by name.

It is therefore gratifying that amidst the hopelessness within the Mingaize refugee camp, there is a glimmer of hope that is raised by humanitarian organisations such as World Vision that are distributing relief rations. While the London Olympics venue will soon erupt into cheers and jeers, there is need to pay some attention to youth in difficult environments such as Omar and his friends. That is if we want to fully enjoy future Olympics.