Alex Haynie is an associate at Strathmore University Foundation now in Kenya until December on a three-month exchange assignment to further the collaboration of SUF with Strathmore University.  A 2008 graduate of Princeton University from North Wales, PA, Alex is interning with three of Strathmore’s departments: athletics, community outreach, and alumni development. He is keeping a journal of his experiences and impressions. At Princeton Alex was a starting member of the Princeton University Varsity Lacrosse Team all four years. He is also a soccer player.

I had the great privilege of joining Strathmore University’s Football (soccer) team last week, and the entire experience so far has been awesome.  The guys on the team have been extremely welcoming (as have just about all the Kenyans I’ve met), and they even nick-named me “Aliki” for fun. 

 

Greetings are a huge part of Kenyan culture, and it’s no different with the soccer guys.  Every time I see one of them, I get a big smile and a handshake or a “pound” (this means both people make their hands into fists, and touch knuckles). 

 

Our training sessions are scheduled for 4:30 pm every afternoon, but we don’t get fully underway until around 5:15pm or so.  Coach Micki is a former Kenyan national team player and a great spirit.  He gives good, pointed advice, gives directions in Swahili, and is admired by all of the guys.  Coach Micki is a big guy and a commanding presence, and though the attitude about training sessions is one of “come when you can,” Coach does a good job and gets a lot out of the guys. 

 

I’ve really enjoyed the actual training—competing in drills with the other guys and playing a great game I haven’t played for a few years.  But something I didn’t expect and that I think is really cool happens before and after every practice. 

 

Coach calls everyone over to a huddle, and spreads his arms out wide.  All the players form a circle with their arms on each other’s shoulders, and we get close together.  Coach says a few words—some logistics and some advice. And then he asks someone to pray.  He calls on a different guy every time, and at my first session, he called on my teammate Issa before practice.  Issa, a Muslim, prayed that God would bless our session. And then, after the practice, Coach called on me! Suprised, I mustered a short prayer as well. 

 

The guys are great friends and really enjoy being out on the pitch, and the huddle exemplifies to me how the guys are all in it together.  While the guys are competitors and there are some very good players, the huddle at the end brings the team together and reminds everyone that the team is a family, and that there is something even bigger than which team scores more goals (though it is important to score more goals!).  Even at a Kenyan Premier League Soccer game that I went to on Sunday October 5th, guys from both teams huddled in the center of the field with arms on shoulders and said a quick prayer after the game.  It’s impressive that fierce competitors for 90 minutes can come together at the end of the game and exchange good will, and the Kenyans seem to do this very well.