Tenkodogo Futsol

When I lived in Thailand in 2007, football (soccer), or more specifically futsol, was my best tool to integrate and make friends. Futsol, played 4v4 with small goals on a blacktop, was the most popular sport at my university. Teams would gather every night for hours to compete for that coveted right to say, “I am better than you.” I played almost every night and made many friends doing so. My love of football and futsol has allowed me to make friends around the world; doesn’t matter that I’m terrible at it. I always bring a pair of cleats with me because you never know under what strange rock you will find a match.

Countries and places that I have played football in since 2007: Thailand, Burma, Vermont, Washington DC (all over), Seattle, Stanford University, Golden Gate Park San Francisco, Guinea, Mali, the beaches of Ghana, and of course Burkina Faso. I have played on almost every surface from turf, to grass, to dirt, to rocks with locals and friends alike. Only music in my opinion can rival the power football has in bringing people together.

When I went home for Christmas last December, I found a futsol that was donated to me in my pile of assorted donated soccer equipment. I remembered how much I loved futsol as a game; its fast-pace and quick footwork puts players above the rest. Playing on a hard surface limits contact and frankly that is just fine by me-I am not in the business of getting hurt.

Could I get a futsol group started in Tenkodogo? Why not, it’s worth a shot. Football is religion here, kids and adults never stop playing no matter what condition Mother Nature throws at them. I returned with the futsol ball and began organizing a group right away.

Along with two of my friends Rodrique and Las, the group began slowly. We started by playing Sunday mornings with a turnout of 6-10 people. This continued for two months and some days nobody would show up at all. Then, the strikes happened. My high school gave us permission to use the small metal goals we have for classes to play our own futsol matches and then futsol took off.

With all the downtime allotted to the residents of Tenkodogo with the school closings, people picked up futsol as a replacement activity. We played so often (it was my friend Rodrique that took charge) that we destroyed our ball. Just the other day we had over 20 people come out and over 50 spectators. We have officially become a club, and as a result players are pooling in money to pay for new balls. I have loved watching this project grow from nothing to a very popular sport and for others to share my interests in the great game.

Football creates bridges that no other game can do. If you are a world traveler and enjoy spending time with locals, not other travelers, pick up the game of football (guitar and/or drums is another option). You may be terrible at it and often you will be the worst on the field-playing against kids who have played since they first walked will do that to you. But that’s not the point. It’s the spirit of the game that is important. Nobody cares that you stink (but being awesome makes you pretty badass), most people are just happy to have an exchange created only through the football pitch. Pick up this activity and just watch the fruits of it grow, there is a damn good chance that you will find footballers everywhere.

Maybe one day you will win the right to say on the football or futsol pitch, “I am better than you.”