Soccer, dust, dreams

Dust rose from the red-earth field as players sprinted for the ball. Children sat along the walls surrounding the field, while others climbed higher for a better view. Each goal was met with cheers from the crowd and blasts from plastic vuvuzela horns.

There was no grass-covered stadium at the "Slum World Cup", part of the Mathare Carnival, which concluded on Aug 8. The soccer field was marked with temporary white lines, some of which were already covered with dust by the end of the matches.

The annual "Slum World Cup" brought together more than 500 young players from 42 teams representing 22 community schools in Mathare, Nairobi's second-largest informal settlement.

Among the players was 11-year-old Fabian Adrian, who was lifted onto the shoulders of his teacher and teammates after scoring a goal. His worn soccer cleats had visibly damaged soles.

For Adrian's teacher, Linter Adhiambo, this was the third time she had brought students to the tournament. Her 12-member boys' team won first place in the junior category.