Following the success of the pilot Ace Future Stars Football League pilot in Arusha amongst 6 schools (6 boys teams and 6 girls teams) we are delighted that some of the children are continuing to flourish and excel in football.
A recent competition, Airtel Rising Stars, has just taken place in Tanzania. 10 girls from Future Stars Academy in Arusha, of which 4 were from Ace Africa were selected to play in the national finals in Dar es Salaam. One of these girls is Diana Mosses.
Throughout the Ace training and matches Diana showed commitment, potential and great talent with her football skills and hence was selected from her school for the Future Stars Academy. Every Saturday Diana trains with other children in the Future Stars Academy. Here they get the chance to participate in friendly matches, local tournaments and national tournaments.
This year Diana participated in the East Africa cup with teams competing from across the region: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia. The teams came together across different age categories to compete in a tournament held in Moshi, Tanzania. The under 13 Future Stars team had 7 players from Ace Africa schools.
Following this tournament in Moshi the Future Stars team and Diana were invited to participate in the Airtel Rising Stars tournament which led them from district on to regional and then onwards to the national tournament held in Dar es Salaam. Diana participated in both matches that Arusha played and became a hero by scoring the only goal that Arusha scored in the tournament. Unfortunately they didn’t win on this occasion, however the experience this has given Diana and the hope for a better future is just the start.
Through the support of Eton College and a number of other schools in England, the Ace Future Stars Football League will be kicking off again at the start of 2016, this time in 10 schools. We are hoping to expand the league to Moshi later on in 2016. If you have a school that may be interested in supporting a school with the football league in Tanzania 