Projects Abroad World XI 0 - 5 Tanzanian All-stars

On Saturday 7^th April, the Projects Abroad World XI succumbed in the heat to a 5-0 humbling at the hands of the Tanzanian All-stars. After a bright start the Project's defence held firm limiting the amount of clear cut chances that the All-stars were able to create resulting in a 0-0 half time scoreline. However, after the restart, the organisation and fitness of the All-stars began to shine through and the Tanzanians ran out comfortable winners in an, at times, feisty game.

Anticipation was high prior to the match with two members of the team running 15 minutes late and most of the others carb-loading using cakes, biscuits and a tin of Pringles. Not the best start. With their loyal cohort of five travelling fans, the team bus left Arusha with spirits high and tactical knowledge low. Upon arriving at Engikaret we had a team, a formation and not much else.

We were given a quick tour of the facilities of Engikaret that volunteers had built for the school, including a water tank project supported by Projects Abroad and a classroom that the volunteers had built from the foundations, before we moved on to the school where we would be playing. However, during the tour we managed to lose a significant part of our team: the ball had been thrown into a cactus and the spines deflated the ball we had over pumped to be able to play our long ball game. The pitch was on the large side with no markings on it to tell you where the edge of the pitch was let alone the penalty area. We warmed up and got ready to go.

We lined up: Kevin Wong (GK), Marcos Rodriguez (RB) Erik-Jan Meulenbrugge (LB), Baraka Mbise (CB), Chris Kammerer (CB), Jon Lambrecht (RM), Josh Baravelli (LM), Ian Baxter (CM), Tim Leenstra (CM), Constantine Sirili (CF), Remzi Kemal Sipahi(CF)

Shooting downhill for the first half the Project's team kept their shape and discipline well, with Mbise and Kammerer holding firm in the centre of defence with Meulenbrugge doing well despite a few misjudged headers. The All-stars were having a lot of joy down their left flank, though no crosses were ever threatening. The World XI offered little going forward as the players needed time to gel and the first chance of the game fell to the All-stars when their striker was put clean through over the top only for Wong to put him off, the ball sailing over the bar as the keeper rushed out. The All-stars managed to create three more chances, twice shooting straight at Wong and forcing another save low down to the keepers right. The closest the Tanzanians came to scoring was a looped chip from just outside the box, that Wong let go in order to not fall in the huge pile of cow pat lying on the goal line, but the ball just did not dip enough. In reply the World XI carved out a couple of clear cut chances falling to Sipahi but, unfortunately for his team, was unable to convert either. A solid defensive performance kept the score at nil-nil going into half time.

This was not to last. As the game restarted, the heat and altitude began to take it's toll with the gap between the midfield and defence beginning to open up. As the All-stars began to find more space outside the penalty area, their superior teamwork carved out chances to shoot from distance and they were finally able to beat the World XI keeper with a low shot from outside the box. At this point, heads dropped and soon after the All-stars slipped the ball through the defence to leave the striker with a simple task of rounding the keeper to slot home a second. It was not long before the All-stars had a third when Wong failed to hold on to a rasping shot low down to his left and only succeeded in deflecting the ball into the path of an onrushing striker. This seemed to spark a mini-revival from the World XI though as the began to play better football, switching some of the positions to leave Baravelli and Sipahi in the middle. An exhausted Sirili, playing lone striker for much of the game, was given a chance when he was set through but only managed to drag his shot across the goalmouth from the right hand side.

As the All-stars made the most of their whole squad, the only change the World XI could muster was to bring Wong out of goal to be replaced by Sirili. Sipahi had managed to get a grip on the centre of midfield and was attempting to dictate the play when he could leaving Baravelli to make his physical presence felt. Assisted by Leenstra the World XI abandoned their 4-4-2 formation to a 1-3-3-3 playing three across the back in front of a sweeper, with Baravelli, Leenstra and Sipahi taking control of the middle, leaving Wong on the left, Lambrecht down the middle and Baxter as the right winger. The World XI attempted to make a comeback with Baxter throwing over a few crosses from the right and Wong winning a free kick just outside the box which Sipahi got on target. Unfortunately, the All-stars keeper was right behind it. Leenstra was finding a lot of space out on the left hand side of the midfield and was able to set Wong free and the winger showed his tenacity as he still retained the ball after being bundled over, preventing a throw in and demonstrating surprisingly quick feet to beat his man down the touchline. His cut back was met by man-of-the-match Sipahi who drilled it towards the far post where Baxter managed to connect with his knee only to see the ball fly agonisingly wide. The game was getting stretched and the Tanzanians made the most of their downhill advantage scoring two further goals on the counter as the World XI pushed forward in search of a consolation goal. That goal nearly came towards the end as Baxter found space on the right to throw over a great cross. Wong flung himself at it but the goalkeeper was well positioned to snatch the ball off his forehead.

The game ended soon after and the teams shook hands and applauded the fans that had turned out, the home fans jubilant after the victory. To celebrate the teams were treated to barbecued goat before the exhausted Projects Abroad World XI team boarded their bus for the long ride home.

Now, before you say anything, I know this sounds like the most biased match report you've ever read but I simply don't care, plus I only really remember what I did. It was a great day out and I hope we get to do it again soon, hopefully on a flatter pitch with less thorns. There were times when I could catch the ball and it would leave about five tiny balls with spikes stuck to my hands. I also managed to slice my thumb on a bit of glass before the game too so my hands took some battering. I need to find some gloves before the next game methinks.