Using transition play to understand victims and perpetrators

According to the Youth Development Football Violence Prevention toolkit, it is often difficult to differentiate between the victim and the perpetrator. But it can be possible to understand the two if a proper analysis is undertaken.

During a return leg fixture of the 2017 AFCON qualifier between Kenya and Congo Brazzaville at the Safaricom Stadium, Kenyan captain Victor Wanyama intercepted a ball deep in the Kenyan half, and executed a long pass towards Eric Johanna who perfectly lobbed it over the oncoming Congo Brazzaville goalkeeper to score the winning goal that earned the team three points. That moment is what football coaches call attacking transition.

Almost a decade since the 2007/08 Post election violence, Kenya is gearing for the second general elections under the new constitution. This will occur at a time where the skirmishes hot spots like Maai Mahiu still hosting internally displaced persons camp.

Just like in transition play, the team which is attacked can position themselves to win the ball and launch a counter attack to score as witnessed in the game between Kenya against Congo Brazzaville. A victim who is attacked will most likely retaliate to defend himself from harm either physically or verbally but may in the process cause more harm to the instigator. The perfect case study is the 2006 FIFA World Cup final in Germany between France against Italy which saw Zinedine Zidane sent off for head-butting Matterazzi which later emerged that the latter had insulted the former.

Efforts to educate the youth on eradicating the culture of violence have over the years been spearheaded by organisations such as Amani Kibera through their Ukabila Ni Ujinga campaign. Playsoccer non-profit organisation has also been encouraging grassroots organisations across the globe to hold the Global Peace Games for children and youth in the last sixteen years as part of the celebrations to mark the United Nations International Peace day. Such energies are crucial in the attainment of SDG 16: Peace, justice, strong institutions

As the elections are approaching government institutions such as the National Commission for Integration Commission should actively be able to influence implementation of reports such the Truth Justice and Reconciliation report so as to ensure justice is served for people who previously suffered atrocities. Without justice the victims will tend to hit back as a strategy of healing as a witnessed in transition play hence the cycle of violence prevails.