2023 Pamoja Soccer Tournament
Brampton, Canada - November 19, 2023
The Inaugural Pamoja Soccer Tournament ended yesterday November 18 2023 with Wazalendo FC representing Kenya clinching the Championship Trophy and Gold Medal. The tournament which aims at promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-being kicked off took place at SaveMax Sports Centre in Brampton. The inaugural event organized by Kenyan Canadian Association to unite communities through the spirit of sports, showcased an exciting lineup of teams competing for glory representing Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda and Tanzania. The soccer spectacle also served as a compelling precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Toronto and Vancouver.
The final matches featured Ivory FC (Côte d'Ivoire) facing off with Toronto Select FC (Uganda) for Bronze Medal while Zan Heroes FC (Tanzania) contested for Gold Medal with Wazalendo FC (Kenya).
Kenya took Gold after beating Tanzania 4-3 in a highly contested match as Tanzania was top of the table heading to the finals by goals difference and only needed a draw to win the tournament championship. Both teams also had 6 points before the finals.
Uganda thrashed Côte d'Ivoire 5-4 to settle for Bronze.
The official final results of the tournament were as follows:
- Team Trophy Winner / Gold Medal - Kenya (Wazalendo FC)
- Team Trophy 2nd Place / Silver Medal - Tanzania (Zan Heroes FC)
- Team Trophy 3rd Place / Bronze Medal - Uganda (Toronto Select FC)
- Best Goal Keeper / Golden Glove - Anwar Suleiman (Tanzania)
- Best Scorer / Golden Boot - Ayub Moses (Kenya)
- Best Player / Trophy - Richard Nene (Kenya)
Table standings:
- Kenya - 9 points
- Tanzania - 6 points
- Uganda - 3 points
- Côte d'Ivoire - 0 points
At the heart of the 2023 Pamoja Soccer Tournament lies the unwavering commitment to cross-cultural integration. The tournament serves as a powerful platform to strengthen bonds between diverse communities in Canada, fostering understanding and appreciation through sports to create a harmonious environment where everyonefeels a sense of belonging.
The Tournament has been generously funded through the Ontario Youth Wellness Grant (OYWG), aimed at enhancing wellness programs for Black youth in Ontario.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Communications Officer
Kenyan Canadian Association
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +1 888-448-6225
