Alive & Kicking Stitcher, Juliet Auma Anibo, is on her way to Paris for the Homeless World Cup

Before boarding a flight to Europe, Alive & Kicking stitcher Juliet Auma Anibo spoke about what she hopes to gain from playing in the Homeless World Cup in Paris, and what working for Alive & Kicking means to her.

“My names are Juliet Auma Andibo I am 22 years old. I am the second born and I have 5 brothers, my elder brother stays in Eastleigh. My mother passed away in my infancy and my father in the year 1999. Together with my brother we are the bread winners of our family. Our last 3 brothers are in high school, 2 in form3, 1 in form4 they stay with our aunt who has 8 kids. We help her run the household as she is a peasant farmer.

My favourite position is in Central Defence. I started playing football in the year 2001 when I was in class 6. I attended Archbishop Njenga High School in Lugari (Western Province) and I graduated in the year 2007. In this year we were also the champions of Kenya in football and we were knocked out in the East Africa games in the Finals that were held in Kigali, Rwanda.

I came to Nairobi to play football in 2008 and that is where I met Alive & Kicking Kenya’s Commercial Manager (Bella) as I represented Old is Gold (our team) in a Championship in Dandora. I was employed at Alive and Kicking in November 2009 and I was trained to stitch footballs by Kyalo (Francis) and in a week I could stitch 2 balls. As we speak today I can stitch up to 5 balls daily.

I was the only one selected to the homeless world cup contingent in March 2011 in our team, and we will be travelling as 8 boys, 8 girls. Our Ambassador is Dennis Oliech (Kenya Football Captain) in Paris France. I don’t know French but I am eager to learn. I am going to France to show case Kenyan Football, make friends, and prove to the world that even ladies can play the beautiful game. I will be wearing my A&K T-shirts and will also show off the ball that I made and that I will travel with. Previously Kenya has reached the Semis Twice and our major opponents will be Brazil this year.

There is no women’s league in Kenya so I feel this is the only way we can showcase our talent to the world. Based on previous years 1 or 2 players will be selected by professional clubs for trials. If not selected I would definitely come back to Alive and Kicking to work as I feel it is the only place I know that I could get between Kshs 9000 and 15000 ($100- $170) in a friendly environment.”