Ole Gunnar Solskjær were there toghether with the 11000 participants and nearly 15000 goals were scored during this year’s tournament in the 3300 scheduled matches. The matches started on Sunday the 26th of July 2009 after an attractive and including procession on Saturday, the 25th July 2009 by all teams and nations. All preliminary matches were played from the 26th to 29th July. On the Thursday, Friday and Saturday, i.e. 30th July to 1st August 2009, the knock outs and finals were played.
Kicking AIDS Out Network was represented by some of its network members, namely, Team Zambia, Mathare United (MYSA Kenya) and Score Namibia in the age categories, U13 Boys, U14 Girls and U16 Boys, EMIMA Tanzania and CHRISC East Africa represented by their staffs and leaders. Some of the network leaders who I met were: Frankson Mushindu, Leader Level 2, from Sports in Action Zambia, he was with the Zambian team, Raymond Vries, Leder Level 2, from SCORE Namibia, Elly Omondi and I, (Paul Otieno) worked together during the tournament representing CHRISC and East Africa Cup . NIF with Bjørn Omar Evju were also present and. NIF had a promotional stand.
Norway Cup has many sponsors, well wishers and supporters. At Ekeberg locality, I could see many football fields with goals, nets, and corner flags and marked ready for matches every day, there were Secretariat offices, Eating hall, the Press Centre, VIP Lounge, G-Sports shopping tent and just near the field for the finals, there were stands for different companies, organizations, and partners for promotion and marketing. Some of the promotional stands were, Experience South Africa 2010 World Cup, Norwegian Sports Antidoping, NIF, Sports and Development under NIF which also featured the Kicking AIDS Out Concept, and East Africa Cup stand. In most stands briefing were done to many people who visited and wanted to know more, brochures were dispatched, information shared through debriefs, videos, music and games. “..... It was a good coincidence that I exchanged the East Africa Cup brochure and the Kicking AIDS Out brochure at the Sports and Development stand.....”
I shared experiences with the people I met, both during more strategic meetings and also in informal meetings with players or leaders. As part of the East Africa Cup crew I was privileged to meet and have lunch with the South African Ambassador in Oslo, Norway; Ms. Beryl Rose Sisulu and the Minister of Sports in Norway. I met former Manchester United star, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who conducted some training sessions during Norway Cup, the Kenya National team no. 1 Goal Keeper, Arnold Origi, who visited us, Kenyans living, working and studying in Norway. I met Bjørn Omar Evju from NIF, of course the founder of KRIK, Mr. Kjell Markset who visited our tent, the founder of MYSA Kenya, Mr. Bob Munro, the Norway Cup Leaders, organizing committee, the Norway Cup referees and finally some Kicking AIDS Out LL 2’s and LL 1’s.
The cultural events were more educative and including, the performances took place every evening at Ekeberg.
When I met Norwegians during East Africa Cup 2009, they assured me of a great summer in Norway this year. To my surprise, I experienced an ironical Norwegian Summer; it rained and was cold and windy the 4 days of the Norway Cup week. The B Play Offs were cancelled and A Play Offs shifted to other artificial fields because of the rain on Thursday and Friday, 30th and 31st July 2009.
All in all, it was a great learning experience; Bækkelaget Sport Club knows how to arrange a mega event as Norway Cup. With 100 years experience as a sports club and 37 years experience arranging this Tournament we had a lot to learn. For me and the East Africa Cup crew we will be able to improve our regional tournament, East Africa Cup in the future and I can gladly say we have strengthened the cooperation between East Africa Cup and the Norway Cup.