Students and government officials from African countries met their Taiwanese counterparts on the soccer pitch yesterday for a friendly tournament, kicking off a series of events to highlight the upcoming Africa Week and this year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Africa-Taiwan Economic Forum, consisting of African students and staff from African embassies and representative offices in Taiwan, routed Team MOFA (Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 5-1 in a 30-minute opening match at the National Taiwan University (NTU) outdoor stadium.
It marked the first time the ministry organized a sporting event as part of celebrations for the May 25 Africa Day and Africa Week, which runs from May 26 to May 30, said Samuel Chen (陳士良), director-general of MOFA’s Department of African Affairs.
Teams of students from Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe — Taiwan’s four diplomatic allies in Africa — and a mixed team of South African and Nigerian students met local university teams from NTU, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei Medical University and National Taipei University of Technology, in the one-day Taiwan-Africa Youth Friendship Football Tournament.
“Too often we sit in the office and forget to step outside, enjoy sunshine and share time with families and friends,” Ambassador of Swaziland Njabuliso Gwebu told participants at the opening ceremony, adding that the tournament is a great opportunity for expats to get together and enjoy some “football fever.”
Kelson Chimutu, a Ming Chuan University sophomore from Malawi, was an emergency call-up to Team Sao Tome and Principe as the team was short of players.
“Unfortunately, soccer is not as popular in Taiwan as baseball and basketball. It’s good to have the opportunity to play in a soccer tournament,” said Chimutu, who is studying international trade and plans to establish a business after graduation.
He said he would watch the upcoming World Cup tournament on television even if he has to stay up late for broadcasts because of the time difference between South Africa and Taiwan.
The Malawian, who speaks fluent Mandarin, said he has enjoyed almost every aspect of his life in Taiwan — “except for tofu.” Steamed soup-filled dumplings, known locally as xiaolongbao, and bubble milk tea are his favorites, he said.
A cocktail party celebrating Africa Day will be held on May 25 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), where President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will unveil a weeklong exhibition showcasing Taiwan’s humanitarian relief efforts in Africa in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. An Africa Fair will take place on May 29 and May 30 at the same location.
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