Day 2 of the Tournament
On New Years Day we continued the tournament. Saying it was a success would be a great understatement.
Off to Markala
In Markala i met a few more Malians and was bestowed with my Malian name - Seydou
Stade
Several of us, including Yacouba's sons, and some players from the winning teams from the New Years Tournament attended a professional football match. For many of them, it was the first match that they had been to.
The Crew
The is the Little Eagles winter 2011 group in order: African Sky Founder Scott Lacy, Myself, and Project Director Sekou Kante
Holy S%**, I'm in Africa!
The title says it all
Year 1 Review
Dear Little Eagles family,
Rob/Seydou
Pagou Foot: Champions of Bamako
The two finalists |
In the second semi final, undefeated CID took on Centre Gata. In the league, CID and Centre Gata ended in a 0-0 stalemate in the first round. In a victory that ultimately led to winning Group B, CID edged out Gata by one goal in round 2. Semi final 2 was a closely contested match, ending in a 1-0 victory for CID.
The Action |
This set the stage for a compelling final between Group A winners Pagou Foot and Group B winners CID. The first half saw both teams feeling out the competition, with neither team able to make a breakthrough. The second half was a different story, and both teams came out of the break with strength and vigor looking for a winner. Ten minutes into the second half, Pagou Foot found their way past the CID goalkeeper and scored the opening goal. In response, CID changed 3 players, changing the complexion of the match. CID began to dominate the possession, but couldn't find the back of the net. In the final minutes, Pagou Foot won a corner kick, which was dispatched into the CID net, sealing the cup. Shortly after, the final whistle blew and Pagou Foot won by a scoreline of 2-0, commencing the celebrations.
Pagou Foot accepting the trophy |
Bamako season wrap up
This week, the Bamako season wrapped up, setting the stage for a mouthwatering playoff. In Group A, Inter Milan managed to grab their first point in their last game of the season, which saw them face AC Madou. This result opened the door wide open for either team to win the group, and set up a massive final match in Group A between AC Madou and Pagou Foot last weekend. Because of AC Madou's draw with Inter, Pagou Foot knew they would still require a full 3 points from the match in order to take the top spot of the group, while AC Madou only needed a draw. When the teams met in the first round, AC Madou topped Pagou Foot by two goals. In the return fixture, Pagou Foot managed to overturn the last result, this time winning by a scoreline of 3-0, and securing a first place playoff bid.
Pagou Foot vs AC Madou |
The final points tally for Group A were as follows:
Pagou Foot - 9 points
AC Madou - 7 points
Inter Milan - 1 point
Group B had a similarly enticing final fixture, with Centre Gata and C.I.D. both looking to claim the top spot. After beating FC Morino with a convincing 3-1 win last week, C.I.D. went into the final second round match with a two point advantage over Centre Gata, meaning they would only need a point from this game. Centre Gata would require a full 3 points in order to take first in the group.
C.I.D. faced Centre Gata in a toughly contested match |
The final points tally for Group B were as follows:
C.I.D. - 10 points
Centre Gata - 5 points
FC Morino - 1 point
The first round of the playoffs will take place this weekend, with the following fixtures:
On Saturday, C.I.D., who remained undefeated throughout the season, will face AC Madou. On Sunday, Group A winners Pagou Foot take on Centre Gata.
Week 4
Pagou Foot v Inter Milan |
The first match of the second round saw Pagou Foot taking on Inter Milan. In their first meeting, Pagou Foot managed to shut out Inter Milan by a scoreline of 3-0. This time, however, Inter Milan put up quite a fight. In a 9 goal thriller on Saturday, Pagou Foot managed to top Inter Milan 6-3. This win brings Pagou Foot level on points with group leaders AC Madou, who have a game in hand. Furthermore, this loss from Inter mathematically eliminates them from being able to reach the playoff stage despite their strong efforts this summer.
In our Sunday fixture, both Centre Gata and FC Morino looked to secure their first win of the summer. After drawing both of their two first round matches, including their first encounter with FC Morino, Centre Gata claimed a vital 3 points with a 2-0 defeat over FC Morino. The win took their point total to 5 for the campaign, leapfrogging C.I.D. for the top spot in Group B, and earning the first playoff bid from Group B.
Centre Gata taking on FC Morino |
With two matchdays remaining before playoffs, we know 3 of the 4 teams that will be competing for the league cup - Pagou Foot and AC Madou, both title favorites, and newcomers Centre Gata. However, the top spot for each group is still up for grabs.
Jostling for possession |
Next weekend, FC Morino has one last chance if they hope to qualify for the playoff stage as they face C.I.D., who is eyeing the top place in Group B. Inter Milan, although eliminated from the competition, will face undefeated AC Madou, who will want an advantage over Pagouh Foot going into the last matchday
Week 3
We have the scores in from the last set of fixtures for the first round!
On Saturday, July 21, AC Madou took on Pagou Foot. Going into the match, both teams were level on 3 points apiece, and they battled for control of the Group going into the return fixtures. These two teams are very familiar with each other, and each had won one of the opening two Little Eagles tournaments. On this encounter, Pagou Foot managed to edge out their rivals by a scoreline of 2-0.
Pagou Foot defeated AC Madou |
Center Gata taking on C.I.D. |
Group B is wide open going into the Round 2. C.I.B., with the only victory of the first round in Group B, sits in first with 4 points, followed by Centre Gata, who drew both matches. FC Morino managed to pick up 1 point in the first round, and will be looking to build on that in Round 2.
We've seen some great action in the first round of games, and all the teams are still alive in the hunt for a trip to the playoffs. Round 2 begins on Saturday, July 28, with FC Morino looking to leapfrog Centre Gata in the Group B standings. On Sunday, July 29, Inter Milan will attempt to stage a comeback and pick up their first points of the season against a strong Pagou Foot.
Center Gata Team Talk |
C.I.D. Team Talk |
-Seydou
Week 2
AC Madou found a late winner against Pagou Foot |
FC Morino v C.I.D. |
In Group B, played on Sunday, July 15th, Center Ibrim Diallo opened their campaign with a Little Eagles program debut against veterans FC Morino. After drawing their first match with Centre Gata, FC Morino were looking to secure their first win of the summer. However, C.I.D. gave an impressively strong performance, putting 4 goals past Morino, who could not find a reply.
After Week 2, Pagou Foot and AC Madou lead Group A with 3 points apiece, and will face off next Saturday for control of the group going into the return fixtures. Inter Milan, who have yet to find points in their tough group, will have their work cut out for them in their second round games. Group B is wide open, with C.I.D. leading with 3 points, and FC Morino and Centre Gata tied with 1 point each. C.I.D. will look to increase that advantage on Sunday, when they face the other new expansion side, Centre Gata.
C.I.D. won their opening match against FC Morino |
Week 1 Wrap Up!
Hey All!
Corner kick for Pagou Foot |
Each team will play the other two teams in their group twice. At the end of the season, the top two teams will face off in the semi finals. The winners will enter the Finals, and a season champions will be crowned on September 2nd.
Pagou Foot vs Inter Milan |
Week 1 kicked off on Saturday, July 7th with Pagou Foot taking on Inter Milan. At full time, Pagou Foot topped Milan in our season opener by a scoreline of 3-0, a strong showing as they take their first step to find a second trophy. The Group B match took place on Sunday, July 8th. Newcomer Centre Gata faced a resilient FC Morino, as both battled hard to a 2-2 draw. Check out the Facebook page for more pictures. Videos will follow asap.
Week 2 will continue on July 14th and 15th. Inter Milan will look to get back on the right track against AC Madou. AC Madou are looking to follow up their Easter trophy with a league title. The second match will see FC Morino and Centre Ibrim Diallo fight for the early top spot in Group B.
I'll be setting up a league table for everyone to be able to follow the action as it unfolds throughout the summer. Stayed tuned!
-Seydou
Sekou and the fans looking on during our first match of the summer league. |
Catching up!
Hey All! Please forgive me for such a long absence! Things have been crazy finishing up school and working, but I'm hoping to start updating this more frequently again as more Little Eagles projects have begun to kick off!
First things first, if you haven't heard, there has been some unrest in Mali in the past few months. Scott Lacy, the Founder of African Sky, released an update back in March regarding the current situation. Please check it out to get up to speed:
http://africansky.org/update.html
I am very happy to report that despite the situation, Sekou, Yacouba, and all of the African Sky family is doing well.
Sekou organizing the Summer league during the coaches meeting. |
Also, be sure to keep following the updates on our facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/littleeaglesfootball
New Videos on our Youtube Page!
Hey All!
Forgive me for not writing about the end of the trip yet - I promise that I'll get to it soon.
I wanted to share the Youtube page with you, as I have uploaded some of the best ones shot during this trip of soccer games, celebrations, the trip to the stadium, and the girl's game.
Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/user/LittleEaglesFootball
-Seydou (although I guess I'm back to Rob now)
Dissan Tourney Day 2 Monday, January 9
Sekou's clinic with the girls. |
The girls team photo. |
The girls played a hard fought match. |
To the winners go the spoils. |
PK's during the championship match. |
The pandemonium that ensued after the final. Epic. |
We're on the way to the airport so I'll finish up the blog when I'm back in the States! See you all soon!
Dissan Tourney Day 1 Sunday, January 8th
Celebrating a goal |
Acclimating to Dissan – Saturday, January 7
Coming into Dissan |
Family |
Before going to sleep, we sat in front of Brama’s place (See? I told you there was going to be a lot sitting.) while 100’s of kids came by and stayed for varying lengths of time. Each night, the youth of the village go around visiting each household in a process called “yalla yalla” (not sure if that’s spelled right). Since we were visiting, we got tons of kids coming to greet us, which was a lot of fun.
Sitting |
Tomorrow – Day 1 of the Little Eagles tournament, or so I thought…
-S
Rewind - Jan. 6
Where we spent about 24 hours. The community center is on the right. |
Back in Bamako!
Hey All!
Just wanted to check in really quickly to let you know that we're back in Bamako safe and sound. There's so much to report on about the last few days - an awesome tourney (despite a few speed bumps) and a HUGE surprise addition to the programs Little Eagles will offer. But our day isn't over yet, so I'll write more tonight!
-S
Kickin' it
Just to prove that I literally eat, sleep and breathe soccer
– apparently in my sleep last night, I started calling out, “Coach! Coach!
Coach!”
Neighborhood kids |
The wall says "50 cent clan" |
The kids are so much fun to hang around |
Stade
The Stadium |
Little Eagles players in the Crowd |
Off to Markala
Drew and I with Tamba and his friend Karamoko |
brother of Scott on numerous occasions during the trip, it was only fitting that I was given the name of his Malian younger brother, Seydou Sangare. I’m honored by this name (not to mention that it’s the same first name as Mali born Barcelona superstar Seydou Keita).
Google Maps doesn't work as well here |
The next day, we had breakfast (egg sandwich) and went to visit Tamba’s school. Scott discussed how to bring wifi (weefee) to the school with a group of teachers and administrators before we were showed an English classroom. The students had good English skills, and were given the chance to ask us questions. Once they had heard that I played soccer, the questions came flying in – What position do you play? What team do I play for? (I jokingly told them AC Milan becauseone of the students had a jersey on, and a few of their faces dropped in surprise before they realized that I was kidding). When asked how I liked Markala, I told them that I loved the city, that the people were very generous and kind, and that I hoped to return soon to play football there. The class clapped and cheered.
FORZA MILAN! |
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