SPORTS, PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP GALORE

SPLA in action against UNMOs

India Army QRF vs Kenya A

The orderly and coordinated India Army QRF cheering squad

Wau, South Sudan, Saturday 29th April 2006: At 1600hrs today, five teams assembled at the Kenya Battalion camp in Wau to participate in what can only be billed as a momentous afternoon of Sports, Peace, Friendship and a lot of Volleyball!

On location were volleyball teams from Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA), Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), India Army Quick Reaction Force, Kenya battalion (Kenbatt) A and B teams and a team of the ever-ready United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs), ready to do ‘battle’ with each other.

Two volleyball courts had earlier been prepared in readiness for the competition. Crowds started converging much earlier than the stipulated 1600 hrs in anticipation of the matches. And the teams did not disappoint!

First in, on court 1, were the diminutive but surprisingly agile India Army QRF playing against Kenya battalion A team. The Kenyans, surprised by the tenacity and agility of the India Army team, were handed a 25 – 14, 25 – 19 defeat in the thrilling encounter.

On court 2, in a match running concurrently with the one above, Kenya battalion team B was facing off with the UNMOS team. Kenya B thrashed UNMOS 25 – 23, 25 – 16.

Back in court 1, Kenya A were now facing SAF. The explosive encounter ended with a 24 – 25, 25 – 23, 15 – 9 win for Kenya A.

On court 2, SPLA were squaring out with UNMOS. UNMOS took the match 25 – 15, 25 – 22 in a match that saw SPLA fight tooth and nail to try and recover the first set loss.

India Army was next on court 1 in a match against SAF. India Army lived up to expectation by dealing SAF a 25 – 14, 24 – 16 defeat. 

The final match for the day was that of Kenya B vs SPLA on court 1. In this hard fought match, Kenya B dispatched SPLA by 25 – 21, 25 – 15.

Kenya B vs SPLA	Col Yusuf, Lt Col Kheeralla, Lt Col Hassan (SAF)	India Army QRF vs Kenya A

The match was graced by among others, the sector II commander Col N. Ndono, Col M. Yusuf of SAF, Kenbatt 15 commander Lt Col A. Kendagor, Lt Col Karani of sector II liaison office,Lt Col Kamal Jit Singh Mundi of India Army, Lt Col A Kheeralla, Lt Col Abdul Aziz, and Lt Col Mustafa Hassan all of SAF.

Kenya vs SAF	SPLA players on the ready	L-R : Lt Col Kamal  Jit Singh, Lt Col Kendagor, Col Ndono, Col Yusuf,Lt Col Kheeralla, Lt Col Abdul Aziz

All leaders present appreciated sports as an avenue for peace, friendship and fitness.

Much more than the occasion being a sporting event, it was also a time for personnel from the various backgrounds to meet and make friends. SPLA and SAF who have been at war for decades were on the same pitch having fun.

Participants were later treated to a sumptuous dinner at Kenya Battalion and much later to an evening of singing, where the willing sang songs from their motherland.

The finals to decide the winner will be held on a date to be announced soon.

This was a true ‘FRIENDSHIP THROUGH SPORT’ event.

India Army QRF vs SAF	A sumptuous dinner hosted by Kenbatt after the championship	Participants later had an opportunity to sing own country songs under amango tree at Kenya Battalion compound