Our First Football Match

From what I hear, the US is the only place in the world that does not have a football sub culture, and they are the only ones who call football soccer. So as we are trying to "become belongers" in our new community we are getting into football and were able to attend our first football match on Saturday. In this match the Ugandan Cranes were taking on the Congo Brazzaville Red Devils.

We got some friends together and loaded up, look at all that excitement!

Denis, Joseph and David are in the back, Rhona is in between Erin and I, and Kyle and Trey are in the front.

There was a lot to take in. 

Getting into the stadium was quite the adventure, I have never been so close to so many people in my entire life.  There was pushing, shoving and shouting, we were so glad once we got through the entrance gates. 

We got there about an hour before the game and the noise was already started. Whistles, vuvuzelas (loud horns), and cheering never ended. There were so many people that came out to support the Cranes. We did take some video and we may have to post that in the next few days so you can get a better understanding of what I am talking about. 

It was so hot! we were sitting directly in the sun and our rumps were burning on the cement bleachers. After sitting for about 45 min before the game, Kyle stood up to see that some of his sweat was pooling  and making his shirt wet. What we would have done for a MinuteMaid frozen lemonade...

The game was really fun and exciting. The Cranes took an early lead and ended up winning 4-0. After each goal the continuous noise got louder and louder, there is no way to describe it, it was just so loud.

There are many difference from an event like this in Uganda and one in the States. We enjoyed noting some of the differences. Everyone is polite and considerate. In Uganda, people drink home-made alcohol from hollowed-out gourds (you can see that woman on the left standing up is holding some). The only cold thing that was served was some type of sherbet served from a large insulated jug. 

After each goal there was pure pandemonium.

We were so glad to go and even more glad that we had some friends go with us. Our friends made sure we did not get trampled in the crowd and we made it out alive.