Due to the fact that MN has became one of the fastest growing African Community in the United States. A little known organization called African Vision 360 took the task of putting together this great event. This organization is a non-profit organization created to help host the annual “MN Africa Cup”. The organization’s director Kemo Camara recently spoke to the African News Journal about the progress of this organization that is raising eye brows within the African community in Minnesota.
In 2008, the management of the organization decided to create a tournament that will help host and organize the growing demand for friendly soccer games between different African Communities here in MN. This tournament is organized by Africans for Africans. One of their goal, they say, was for each participating team or country to be part of the organization.
Last summer of 2008, few friends, from different African communities, and Kemo Camara, the executive director of Africa Vision 360, decided to sit down and put together something more organized where all the MN African friendly Soccer games can take place. To succeed, Camara said, they decided to have it open to all the African teams. For our first two years, it has been a great success. It has help create new friendships and networks between different participants countries, not to mention the fun and joy during the tourjnament.
Last year we had 6 participating teams including: Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Eritrea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The semi-finals were between: Guinea vs Liberia and Gambia vs Eritrea and final was between Gambia vs Liberia (the same two finalist from the first year of the tournament). So like you can see, this was an anticipated rematch.
Liberia, as the defending champion, unfortunately was no match for a well organized and motivated Gambian team. The final score was 4-1 in favor of Gambia.
“The goal of MN Africa Cup is to have a min. of 12 participating African countries each year in the tournament. We want (through this tournament) to be able to bring hundreds or thousands of fans from various African communities to come cheer for their teams, to come meet, connect and network with other Africans. We want this tournament to be a platform where we African can come share and celebrate our value and culture with other communities.” Kemo told to the African News Journal.
Therefore; he added, I would like to use this opportunity to invite every single African team out there to come join us and help contribute to the growth of this young organization.
—
1- picture -Gambian Team Celebrating With Its Fans Over Winning
Defeating The Defending Champions, The liberian team
2- second – Sal Bah, Kemo Camara, Lawrence and Muktar.
Comment