I went to Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1963, when the Peace Corps was in its infancy. I was assigned as a history teacher to the Schlenker School in Port Loko, Sierra Leone, in West Africa. Because of my passion for sports, the headmaster asked me to be the games master (director of the intramural program and all athletic events). Of course, I eagerly accepted. I remember the friendliness of the people, their love of life, which was exceeded only by their passion for "the people's game." My first memories of Port Loko were of little kids playing fotbol in a cloud of dust. I don't think they even had a ball. As I recall, they were using a tin cup. Port Loko was a poor village. Most of the kids' families couldn't afford a ball, let alone shoes. Other times, the "ball" consisted of a bunch of rags rolled into a ball.
Sierra Leone RPCV Charles L. Kennedy writes: World Cup evokes ‘fotbol' memories
World Cup evokes ‘fotbol' memories
Charles L. Kennedy
June 23, 2010 7:13am EDT
I coached "the beautiful game" (fotbol) in Africa from 1963-65. As I watch the World Cup unfold on the Dark Continent, my thoughts frequently return to those thrilling, enchanting and exciting days of yesteryear.
I went to Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1963, when the Peace Corps was in its infancy. I was assigned as a history teacher to the Schlenker School in Port Loko, Sierra Leone, in West Africa. Because of my passion for sports, the headmaster asked me to be the games master (director of the intramural program and all athletic events). Of course, I eagerly accepted.
I remember the friendliness of the people, their love of life, which was exceeded only by their passion for "the people's game." My first memories of Port Loko were of little kids playing fotbol in a cloud of dust. I don't think they even had a ball. As I recall, they were using a tin cup. Port Loko was a poor village. Most of the kids' families couldn't afford a ball, let alone shoes. Other times, the "ball" consisted of a bunch of rags rolled into a ball.
In addition to coaching fotbol, I introduced basketball and baseball and formed teams in these sports. However, the fotbol techniques were omnipresent as I introduced and tried to teach these "Peace Corps" sports.
In baseball, it was not uncommon for an outfielder to get under a fly ball, but he wouldn't catch it with his hands. He would adroitly trap it with his foot. Then he would pick it up and throw it - usually at the runner.
Another interesting fotbol habit involved ground balls. My shortstop would trap the grounder with his foot, do a quick pivot, and kick it to the second baseman.
Fortunately, the second baseman usually remembered to catch the ball with his hands.
As the fotbol coach, I knew my role was to be head cheerleader, manager and organizer. These kids had forgotten more about fotbol than I would ever learn. I was so fortunate to have Charles Kalawah as the team captain. He was as close to a natural leader as I have ever worked with.
The fotbol team played in the Port Loko League. We were the only school team - the rest were club teams of 20-and 30-some-things. I don't remember the African term, but there were considerable town-gown conflicts.
During both of my years we competed for the championship. Kalawah led a rock-hard physical defense. Abdul Jalloh brought speed down the left side. Salfy Bangura was the "Master of the Dribble." Abu Barkor Saccoh was our lead scorer with rockets from 20 to 25 yards.
In my second year one of the local teams, led by Alpha Beta Omega, was determined to deprive us of the championship. He imported a bunch of top players from Freetown, the capital city, for our game. We were so overmatched. We packed in our defense. I was so proud of our players. We hung tough and were only down 1-0 with about three minutes to play.
The other team had been showboating to the extreme and really hot-dogging us. But Kalawah stole the ball, dribbled past midfield and boomed a long shot. The goalie easily caught it about 5 yards from the goal. I think that was our only shot. The goalie started showboating - doing a handstand with the ball, shuffling it behind his back, balancing it on his head, when suddenly he lost control of the ball and it rolled into the goal. What an ending!
The game ended in a 1-1 tie, giving us the championship.
In addition to Alpha's town-gown problems, he was quite anti-American. Remember, 1963-65 was the height of the Cold War. The People's Republic of China was trying to stir communist revolutions throughout the continent. The Soviet Union had the Patrice Lumumba Academy in Moscow where students were trained to return to Africa and promote discontent. In contrast, the Peace Corps promoted friendship by interacting with the people.
Also in my second year, our fotbol team traveled to Kamakwie for a key game. We traveled in the back of a public works truck. This game also ended in a 1-1 tie, which cost both teams a shot at the championship. The townsfolk, who had been verbally abusing us during the game, stormed the field throwing rocks and sticks at us.
Fortunately, I got the players in the truck and we headed out of town with the mob in hot pursuit. Just as they were catching up, the police arrived and gave us an escort out of town.
Such was life as a PCV, teacher and coach in West Africa. What an unforgettable experience.
Charles L. Kennedy is a senior instructor in political science at Penn State York and an avid sports fan.
