A total of 27 teams from Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia and host Kenya participated in a four-day’ football tournament in Lodwar, Turkana County that aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence in the region.
The tournament ended on Monday with Ngoro FC of Uganda clinching the Ateker Cup of Nations after beating Kakuma United Fc 4;3 in post-match penalty shootout in a match played at Lodwar Mixed primary school.
The event attracted hundreds of fans from the region and a high delegation including Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Affairs, Arid and semi-arid lands and regional development Beatrice Askul, Ugandan minister for Karamoja Affairs Peter Lokeris, Turkana County senator James Lomenen; Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed and Speaker of the County Assembly of Turkana Charles Lokiyoto among others.
Speaking during the presentation of awards to top performers, Askul said the tournament is a major milestone in cementing relations between the neighboring countries and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“The Ateker culture is a testimony to our interconnectedness and reminds us that despite the boundaries that separate us, our shared history and aspirations bring us together as one people,” she said.
She said Kenya appreciates cordial relations between her and her sister countries as well as the spirit of solidarity shared at both continental and global levels.
Askul said her ministry will continue to work with the county government to improve the livelihoods of the border communities.
“We are cognizant of the immense potential of sports as a tool for promoting peaceful coexistence and democracy,” she said.
She added that the event also helped ensure the youth especially students are engaged during the holidays thus keeping them away from vices.
Ugandan minister for Karamoja affairs and one of the founders of Ateker, Peter Lokeris said the tournament is a demonstration of the strides made in achieving unity and peaceful coexistence in the region.
He narrated the journey towards peace that culminated in the Lokiriama peace accord in 1973.
The accord is commemorated annually in remembrance of the landmark agreement, signed between the Turkana of Kenya and the Matheniko of Uganda along the Lokiriama cross-border corridor that marked an end to years of hostilities as both communities symbolically buried their weapons, committing to peaceful coexistence. A monument was erected in Lokiriama near the Kenya-Uganda border.
Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai also underscored the role of sports in peacebuilding, adding that his administration intends to construct a two billion-shilling stadium to promote sports.
Currently, the county does not have a single stadium and athletes are forced to make do with bad playing grounds exposing them to injuries.
On Saturday, some matches were delayed as fields were flooded after a heavy downpour.
‘As a county government we will allocate Sh 500 million towards the sports stadium and request the national government to top up the balance,’ said Lomorukai.
Senator Lomenen called for inclusion of girl’s teams in future tournaments.
Next year’s tournament will be held in Uganda.
By Peter Gitonga
