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Drake University footballers in historical game Arusha hosts 1st American football game on African soil 15,000 fans to watch historical game at Sheikh Amri Abeid On May 21, in Arusha’s Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium, the very site where Tanzania proudly raised its first national flag in 1961, college football teams from the USA and Mexico will compete in front of 15,000 curious fans. Also in attendance would be worldwide media television, photographers and writers.  While noting the historical sporting element of this football game, the fact that it comes during Tanzania’s 50th Anniversary as an independent nation will not be lost on the growing list of international political, business and sports leaders who will attend. The game had been previously scheduled for nearby Moshi, but on his just-completed trip to Tanzania, Global Football President Patrick Steenberge found that the vibrant city of Arusha, just 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport, would be the ideal host for the 1st American football game on African soil. “Arusha Stadium has good grass, a rich history, and is a much larger venue than in Moshi, and with the building interest worldwide about the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl, will provide what the teams and event need. Arusha boasts numerous quality hotels, has an active and diverse international community, wonderful practice fields at the Tanzanian Game Trackers facilities, over one million residents, and is the tourism, political and business center of the Kilimanjaro Northern region of the country. Plus, everyone I met there is extremely excited to have us come. Arusha is perfect!”  The ‘Kili Bowl’ will involve university student athletes from Drake University in Iowa, a Pioneer Conference member, and the CONADEIP Mexico League. For months they have worked to earn the funds to travel halfway around the world to compete on the field, to teach this sport to the African children and sports fans, to serve the orphaned youth there through labor-intensive effort, to enjoy the natural wonders of Tarangire National Park, and to challenge themselves to reach the 19,340’ summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.     In summer 2009, Coach Chris Creighton of Drake University awoke from his dream of taking his team to the Rooftop of Africa, a dream that may forever change the athletic landscape in Tanzania, while positively impacting those who travel with the teams, and the local people who are personally touched by the entire event  An event of this magnitude will clearly involve many key individuals and organizations in Tanzania, in support of the huge efforts going on for the past year in the USA and Mexico.   While in Arusha, the base of operations for the entire event, the teams will train prior to the game at the Tanzanian Game Trackers facilities, offering their ‘best grass in East Africa’ for practices as well as for the youth clinics where some 1,600 eager boys and girls will learn the basics of American football from the teams’ coaches and players.  Hosting the Drake University team, university administrators, families and fans, as well as international media, will be the classic and legendary Arusha Hotel. Nearby, the stylish Kibo Palace Hotel will host the Mexican official party and followers. The entire group is anticipated to number 250, not including the growing number of sports fans and media who are just learning about the Kili Bowl and its activities.   Schedule of Events May 18               Teams arrive JRO, transfer to Arusha Hotel & Kibo Palace Hotel May 19               Morning practices;youth clinincs 11:00 - 13:00; press conference- TGT facilities May 20               Morning practices; youth clinics 11:00-13:00- TGT facilities                          CONADEIP Mexico visits Cultural Heritage Center May 21              Global Kilimanjaro Bowl, Arusha Stadium, 1:00 pm Kickoff                         Awards Banquet @ Arusha Hotel May 22-25         Service work at IRIS and STEMM orphanges, Arusha & Moshi areas                           Groups of players visit Tarangire National Park for day safari May 25-30         Climb Mount Kilimanjaro; Kibo summit dawn of the 29th. May 30               CONADEIP Mexico departs JRO May 31               Drake visits Cultural Heritage Center; departs JRO