Meet the Kenyan teen who waved flag at World Cup match
A proud moment when a Kenyan teen waved our flag during Russia’s match against Spain was captured on camera and shared widely online.
The cut away, though short, was snapped by a fan who was watching the match and shared it online.
The Kenyan teen Ogom Asugo from Marsabit county who is in Moscow for the Fifa Foundation Festival.
Ogom is one of four teenagers attending the festival as part of the Horn of Africa Development Initiative (Hodi) NGO delegation.
SOCIAL CHANGE
The 10-days festival that ends on Tuesday brought together 48 NGOs drawn from 38 countries who are using football to drive positive social change.
As Ogom showed OFF the Kenyan flag, many Twitter users praised his patriotism, but few got to know his story.
Aged 18, he left his goats to join the Kenyan delegation to Russia as a testimony of how football is helping bridge the ethnic clashes among the Gabra, Oromo and Rendille.
The Hodi delegation, led by founder and executive director Fatuma Abdulkadir Adan, champion for peace and development in Marsabit county.
Through the slogan “Shoot to score, not to kill,” Hodi encourages youths in Marsabit and Moyale counties to drop their guns and stop ethnic clashes.
Hodi also organises football matches between rival clans and sometimes it integrates players from different tribes into teams in a bid to foster peace among the warring tribes.
As Hodi represented Kenya in Russia, back home fans were proud when the Kenyan flag few high.
A proud day indeed for the young player from #MarsabitCounty in #Russia #Moscow on invitation of #FIFA for an official #FIFAFoundationFestival alongside #FIFAWorldCup as part of @Hodiafrica delegation flying the kenyan flag high as we #shoot2scorenot2kill #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/5srgkUgani
— Fatuma Abdulkadir (@fatumabdulkadir) July 2, 2018
#KTNRussia2018
This #WorldCup has 1 of the most painful exits but even though we had 5 African teams in the tour' they went & regrouped as nations & we now have a United Africa in France' squad but again the Kenyan spirit also NEVER dies.NOTICE the Kenyan flag in #ESPRUS game? pic.twitter.com/6ToTkpcLDh— Kowa Fredrick (@KowaTheGreat) July 1, 2018
Call it patriotism, a proud Kenyan shows up, even in a World Cup Round of 16 match between Russia and Spain in Moscow, and carries our flag high up!!!!
#ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/wuZfBx2AlN— Erica (@_ericndemange) July 1, 2018
From far flung Marsabit to Russia. Kenyan flag at Russia Vs Spain match .Well the young man raising our flag high is Ogom Asugo a Teen Striker from remote Kargi in Marsabit County. Kenyas delegation invited to FIFA Foundation Festival Thanks to @fatumabdulkadir pic.twitter.com/vNsKDWXF93
— Mohammed Hersi (@mohammedhersi) July 2, 2018