We posted up at the Ethnic Enrichment Commission Festival at Swope Park, put out flyers and solicited players by way of social media. The growth came but still too slowly to be taken seriously. The decision was made to postpone the start until 2023, after the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

 

This apparently did the trick l as the sign-ups flowed in. So many different nations were represented by the sgn-ups, from Bangladesh to Puerto Rico. But how many would end up having enough to field a full team on the pitch?

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Brazil did. Algeria did. And so did Mexico, USA, Germany, England, India, Tanzania, Congo DR, Haiti, Gambia and Senegal. It was shaping up to exceed any hopes or expectations when this endeavor originally set out.

 

There was even an exclusive story about the tournament featured on KCTV5 with Neal Jones. Trophies and medals were ordered, everything was shaping up nicely. That's when trouble reared it's ugly head.

 

Tanzania dropped out due to lack of funds. Senegal followed suit as commitment among too many of their players raised questions of their being able to compete (to be fair they were a collection of various African nations that couldn't field a full squad). The tournament was down to 10 teams; still very good for a first year.

 

The night before the tournament: food trucks were secured to attend, fields readied and referees assigned. Things still looked great. 9pm, Congo DR calls asking the odd question of how much they were being paid. An odd question indeed as they knew they had to pay a share of field and referee costs. Head scratching, but now Congo DR was out. Was this whole project imploding?

 

Match Day 1 arrives to cloudy skies. Still the field is ready and India and Haiti begin to warm up for the very first match of the tournament... that is until the thunder rolled. But perhaps it would pass by quickly. An hour later and after mich hail, the match was officially postponed. The fields were in ruins with small ponds occupying each goal box. This was yet another setback in a series of setbacks. It makes one wonder if the naysayers were correct that this was a impossible dream.

 

I could rehash the rest of the tournament but after a disasterous Match Day 1 followed by having to come up with insurance last minute to lease a new location, and only 7 players showing up for Mexico's first match (and subsequently dropping out), thing s did start to turn around in a positive manner.

 

Fast forward to championship Saturday. A beautiful day and a large crowd gathered to witness what ended up to be a very competitive match. Algeria struck first when the Crystal Boot winner, Hacene, put one in the back of Brazil's net.

 

Halftime came and went and the match remained very competitive, neither team bending. As the minutes ticked away in the second half Brazil finally equalized as Allyson Hoffman netted a goal in the 60th minute assisted by Marcelo Dias.

 

This was very similar when these two teams played in the group stage to a 1-1 tie. Both teams had chances and came within inches of taking the lead. But in the 80th minute when Gabriel Jardim fed the ball to Phillips Porto who blasted his shot past Algeria and into the goal within the closing minutes that gave Brazil the eventual victory.

 

It all came together nicely after such a startling beginning and one that even left doubt. But after it was all said and done, this tournament was a success. Stayed tuned, because there is a lot more in the future with the Select League and the international play. As for the World Cup… see you in 2026!