Drummers got the crowd excited by beating drums on the sidelines!
My students have nicknamed themselves after famous players. One student calls himself "Neymar" after Brazillian football player Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. Another calls himself "C.R.7." after Cristiano Ronaldo. Do you know these players? I did not know about football before I came to Ghana. So, my students have helped me understand the rules. For example, there are always eleven players on each team. And you must not be mean to your opponent. (My students are football experts!)
Unfortunately, it is not common to see girls playing football in Tamale. I still wonder why that is the case, but when I do talk to the girls about this sport, they still know the rules of the game and talk about playing it. The girls, here, play other sports, including basketball, volleyball and ampe.Ampe is a game made by Ghanaians, but it is played in other countries, too. To play, you and another person must jump and thrust one foot forward. Meanwhile, the people who are watching clap and chant. Watch here!
No matter who you are in Ghanaian society, sports are an important part of the culture, here. What do you think about football and sports in Ghana? Have you played any of these games before? I would love to hear your thoughts about what you've learned, travelers!
Until next time!
