13 July 2010 - As a heavy “haboub” or sandstorm blew over El Fasher and its Stadium, two youth football teams from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, the Zamzam Tigers and Al Salam Peace, merely narrowed their eyes, hunched their shoulders and waited intently for the whistle announcing the start of the first match of an inter-community football tournament.

Asked, before the game, if the weather conditions did not bother them, the players replied that they were used to it. “As long as we can see the ball, we’ll play. After all, this is Darfur.” The match started in earnest and was still on, as this brief went to press. Results will be published tomorrow and readers will be kept informed on the progress of the tournament.

Thirty-six teams from Abu Shouk, Al Salam and Zamzam camps had taken part in the first round of the tournament, organized by UNAMID’s Communications and Public Information Division. The six winning teams, two from each camp will face off in the final competition. The last match is scheduled for 18 July, coinciding with Mandela Day, which will be marked in Darfur by events organized by UNAMID.

The tournament was established to encourage the region’s youth to shun violence and direct their energy towards activities that unite communities, rather than divide them. On Sunday, the Mission presented camp leaders with sport equipment and jerseys.