Billy and I have Unfinished Business in Africa. The #BEATKENYA Dream Lives On!
When I returned from Uganda November 14th, after coaching their American football team to a 14-0 loss to Kenya, the last thing I wanted to do was start planning a trip back. Listen, Billy, Michael Angelo, and myself had an incredible time thanks to our host and president of the Ugandan Football federation Stephen George Okeng,
and were truly inspired by all the Ugandan football players and coaches we met there.
BUT…two trips to Africa in two months is A LOT. Especially when the game is December 17th and I need to be in LA by the 19th to catch a flight to French Polynesia for my Honeymoon.
However I knew how heartbroken Billy was about letting the Ugandan team down,
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and how adamant he was about going back for their next game against Kenya to seek redemption. So when Pardon My Cheesesteak graciously gave us the green light to return for the re-match (use promo code "WEGANDA" at https://pardonmycheesesteak.com/ for $5 off your order), I was in quite the conundrum. Let Billy go on a solo mission and save myself a shit ton of stress. Or return to Africa with him for the game and then pretty much live on a plane for 3 days to make it to my Honeymoon in time. I told Billy I'd need a guarantee we'd #BEATKENYA this time if I was gonna put myself through such an ordeal and this is pretty much how our conversation went:
Not exactly a guarantee… but enough to get me on board! And while looking at my flight schedule for next week is currently giving me a panic attack,
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I think in the long run the trip's gonna be a WIN-WIN-WIN
We either beat Kenya and fans get the greatest travel series I've made to date, or we lose to Kenya and fans get to watch Billy go full Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now.
But either way we're gonna be shining a spotlight on American football in Africa and supporting a squad of Ugandan football players and coahces passionate about growing the game.
It's easy being a "football guy" in the US where it's pretty much a religion that our society revolves around 5 months of the year. It's easy being a football guy in the US where if you're talented enough, the sport might get you a free college education, NFL contract, or at the very least, laid. But in Uganda, where most people don't even know what a Quarterback is, it's a different story. Almost all the players and coaches work full time jobs while still finding time to dedicate to football. Instead of playing a 10-17 game each season like we do in the US, the Ugandan season is literally just these two games against Kenya. The resources and opportunities to play are scarce but that hasn't discouraged them. These guys are playing for the love of the game, the lover of their country, and the hope that they can build a foundation for the future. So, If there's even a small chance Billy and I can help them get a dub, we have to try. They deserve it.
Also, I gotta shoutout, Jamison Flynn, a random stoolie and 6th grade football coach from North Dakota, who has officially booked fights on his own dime to come to Africa with us to help coach/ref.
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Last game we only had one ref with a grasp of the rules and football sure as hell isn't a one ref game.
Some extra officiating help will be a godsend and If our players have a chance to play a full properly reffed game against Kenya this time around, I'll be at peace with with whatever the outcome. NOW LETS GO BEAT KENYA! #WEGANDA
P.S. This has been a wild ride but my next abroad series is gonna have to be a tad bit simpler. This mission has taken over my life and made it hard to get consistent content out. So apologies I haven't been putting out videos as of late but I assure you, this will be worth the wait.
I'm not just going back for content purposes tho, these players deserve a W.
t's easy being a "football guy" in the US where the sport can rewards its best players with free education, NFL contracts, or at the very least the sport opens doors, wallets, and legs for its best players.