By: Larry Mackey, Columnist
Global Lacrosse 2016 At the World Games, I got to interview Team Poland and got to feel the global reach of our sport… After seeing what Uganda did, I had a young man from Nigeria contact me… So, let’s talk about that then.
I spoke to a player from Poland who explained how the creator’s game was growing in his country. I geek out to the Total War Two Series, and the civilizations who have a history of hand weapons take to Lacrosse.
The Knights of Europe; Marius’s mules; the classic picture of the Roman solider we are used to seeing; and of course the Samurai. They used the sword while carving out European and Asian dynasties. On a visit to Japan I had the opportunity to see the some players who had some great stick skills. Is there any wonder part of the reason we didn’t invade Japan were the thousands of children training with sticks? Ummmm…. In my humble opinion, it’s only natural that places with elite warrior backgrounds take to the Creator’s game.
So what of Africa? The continent has a history of hand weapons but will they take to Lacrosse? Kevin Dugan of Fields of Growth proved that answer to be “yes”. And their showing at the 2014 FIL World Games in Denver proved there are countries in Africa willing to play the Creators like our native brothers. Uganda is the home of African Lacrosse, but would the game spread? Who else would accept the challenge? Enterprising spirits in Uganda launched a campaign in nearby Kenya to grow the game of lacrosse. The Kenyans are now the 54th country in the FIL, spearheaded again by the ULU and Kevin Dugan. South Africa has a Lacrosse project serving youth players and has some resources behind them. What’s missing you ask? “A Big Dream” that’s what. Even with starting Dream4NigeriaLacrosse so the team and Lacrosse dream comes true in Nigeria they’re making larger dreams.
Whose skills are the best? How do we find that out? Of course the answer is on the fields in an African Cup Championship. The “4” in Dream4NigeriaLacrosse indicates they will be the fourth team and complete the first African tourney bracket. It should be held in Uganda, the rightful home of African Lacrosse. There should be a women’s Lacrosse showcase; as well as a youth showcase; and maybe a guest team from another country to play the host country. I’ve already heard rumors that Ghana may want to try their hand at the game Uganda made great in the Motherland. With the right situation, this can happen, and so begins the dream for an African Cup of Lacrosse.
American football, our football is OURS. No one will ever play it to the level the U.S.A. does. Our culture is almost completely built on the sport, but you’d be hard pressed to find 300 guys who can run a 4.5 forty yard dash anyplace else but here.
Lacrosse however as a global game could unite the world in a relatively safe but hard competition. With a tool similar to what each continent holds close to its soul, its warrior’s tools! Peace!
Larry Mackey, Columnist
Lacrosse is Awesome