Africa Month kicks off - literally

Seeing green: It was a late consolation goal, but you wouldn't have said so from the celebrations that followed the green team's single score in its 1-6 defeat.	Africa Month launched: Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo enjoyed the post-match celebrations as much as the students.

What better way to spend the ever-scarcer sunny days than fêting Africa with a game of football?

In celebration of UCT's inaugural Africa Month, the International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO), the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and international student societies at UCT jointly hosted the university's very own African Cup of Nations-style tournament on 7 May.

Two teams were no-shows; but the two that did make it - one representing southern Africa, and the other an eclectic mix of players from southern and east Africa - put on a show to remember.

In the final minutes of an entertaining if one-sided, match, Southern Africa, in deep red kits, was enjoying a somewhat too comfortable 6-0 lead. With seconds remaining, their green-clad opponents suddenly turned the run of play on its head to score a sensational (did someone say consolation?) goal, sparking the wildest celebrations the campus has seen since last year's graduation week.

Minds were lost, green shirts went flying, and the good people of the surrounding Mowbray must have wondered what the yelps of delight punctuating the lazy Saturday afternoon were all about.

Deputy-vice chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo joined in the post-match jubilation.

"That was probably the best celebration by a losing team since Bafana Bafana," quipped the DVC. "I am particularly pleased with today's football, because now Africa Month has officially kicked off," he beamed before handing over the trophy to victorious captain Thamie Mhelo.

Chanda Chungu, chief student organiser, said the idea behind the tournament was to bring students from different African countries together to have some fun. "We mixed teams so that people can get the chance to play with people from different nations and get to know each other."