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| Aussie Rules In Kenya |
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One of the remarkable things about the original efforts to kick-off an Aussie Rules invasion into Kenya is that the pioneer was somebody from a team not based in Australia.
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In February 2004 Gus Horsey, a gun spearhead from U.S.A.F.L. team Baltimore Washinton F.C., visited the country to run a three day Auskick footy clinic, in Kiberia, organised in conjunction with two wonderful non-profit organisations, 'Carolina for Kibera' and 'Binti Pamoja'.
In September of the same year, Gus revisited the same area with some footy jumpers, Auskick CD's and DVD's to help the kids improve the fundamentals of the game. These jumpers and training materials were donated by Gus and the U.S.A.F.L.
He also ran some more clinics and helped to organise a lightning premiership between four local teams in Nairobi. During this second visit he was holding after school training sessions involving over 100 kids, utilising the help of local soccer coaches.
Above: The slums of Kiberia will, hopefully, one day be full of T.W.Sherrin footies!
Unfortunately plans to continue the clinics through the U.S. version of Auskick, US Footy Kids, did not go ahead, and at this stage there is no competitive Aussie Rules structure in place.
But the ice has been broken, and the kids have had a sniff of the best game in the world. And from all accounts they loved it, so there is a good chance that somebody will take up the reins again and try to emulate the incredible growth that is happening in South Africa.
LATEST GOOD NEWS!!!
In June 2009, AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan reported that junior clinics were being conducted in Kenya under the same model as FootyWILD in South Africa.
He also stated that ""We're trying to develop and become, I suppose, bullet-proof in South Africa with what we're doing, and of course we're just in four provinces there, but we'll have close to 20,000 players or participants by the end of this year and we'll be considering our own expansion within the other provinces of South Africa, but we are obviously courting the interest that we're receiving from other countries who are hearing about the game; on their visits to Australia they can't ignore Australian Rules footy, they're hearing about it through their networks, and so at this stage all we're doing is having some of their diplomats guest at games and spending some time explaining the game to them. There's been quite and a number and Kenya will be next when they come in next weekend".
So it should not be long before over 39 million Kenyans realise that 'if it's not Aussie Rules, then it is a waste of time!'.
And that can only be a good thing.
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Posted on Dec 12, 2010 22:29pm by admin
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