The Real Kids

By Anna Kevin and Emilia Sten Photos by Edward Sixtus Busungu (Originally published on May 18, 2014)

The co-operation between Real Kids FC and Art in Tanzania started already in 2001, and now it was time for them to get new clothes. Real Kids FC is a football club on Zanzibar. The club consists of two teams Junior league and Central. Junior league is from 8-13 year olds and Central for 16-20 year olds. At the moment the younger team has 37 players and the older 25. The players are really committed, they practice every weekday and have games almost every weekend. Since 2011 the Central team is playing in the ZFA Central league, which is the “national league” of Zanzibar. The road hasn’t been easy for the Real Kids FC. They didn’t have much in the beginning, but since the coach Salum Ahmed Mahadh knocked on Edward’s door they now have much more resources.

Edward Sixtus Busungu is the manager of Art in Tanzania on Zanzibar and he puts his whole heart into helping the team. He has spread the word of the team in the aim of getting as much support as possible. Donated footballs have arrived even from England. Last Saturday the team got brand new football clothes from Art in Tanzania. The design and the making of the clothes were made by Detroit Sober House – one of Art in Tanzania’s community development projects. The team now looks like a professional team and maybe that takes them one step closer to their dream – to be part of the national team of Tanzania.