They Play Football Against Ocean Tides: The Struggles of Matondoni Youth

For young footballers in Matondoni village in Lamu County, pursuing their dreams of a career in football just got a little more challenging.

The football ground in the village is located beside the ocean and when the tide is high, playing a game of football becomes impossible.

For many young footballers, this means that they are no longer able to practise and hone their skills as their playground is left water-logged.

Mohamed Abdulrahman, a young footballer and a Captain of one of the teams from the village, says that many of his friends are forced to stay indoors once the tide is high, causing their morale to drop, which ultimately affects their career in football. For many of these youngsters, football isn't just a sport, it's a way of life.

They dream of becoming professional footballers and making their village proud. But now, their dreams seem to have been shattered by the very environment that they call home.

''Playing football is what we think will make us get out of these poverty but we are not able to do so due to lack of proper infrastructure we ask the Government's both the county and National to move with speed and construct a sea wall to stop water from getting  to the pitch ''said the Captain

Despite the challenges, these young footballers remain determined and committed to their passion.

They are constantly searching for ways to overcome these obstacles and improve their skills.

They are not just fighting against the unpredictability of the tide, but also the lack of proper tournaments and competitions in the area.

For a village like Matondoni, which has produced some very good football teams in the past, the lack of opportunities to showcase their talent is a major setback.

The absence of a regular tournament means that these young footballers have to travel a considerable distance to be able to compete against other teams, which is not always feasible.

The challenges faced by young footballers from Matondoni village are real and significant.

The sea may seem like a natural ally of the village, but it has proven to be a formidable opponent for these young athletes.

Yet, despite the difficulties, they remain committed and steadfast in their pursuit of their dreams.

According to Anwar Abdul a coach in the village the odds stacked against these young footballers have not given up hope.

 They remain committed to the game they love and continue to train with whatever resources they have at their disposal.

They are hopeful that the situation will improve soon and that more opportunities will be created for them to showcase their talent.

''It is up to us, as a society, to support and encourage these young footballers, to provide them with the opportunities they deserve, and help them realize their potential,'' said the coach.