On a cool Saturday afternoon, hundreds of football fans gathered at the Jakaya M. Kikwete Youth Park, a non-profit, multi-sport facility, in Tanzania’s bustling port city of Dar es Salaam.
The reason for this unique assembly was not just any football match but a symbolic contest of unity and resilience, featuring two extraordinary teams: the Albinism Sports Club and the Sauti Parasports Club.
The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, showcased the exceptional footballing talents of both teams.
The Albinism Sports Club, which trains albinos to excel in football and athletics, faced off against the Sauti Parasports Club, a team of amputee footballers based in Dar es Salaam. Despite the outcome, the significance of the match extended far beyond the scoreboard.
“The match was coordinated by Sauti Parasports Club to express our condemnation of killings against persons with albinism in Tanzania,” said Abdul Ali Machine, the 52-year-old chairperson and coach of Sauti Parasports Club.
Machine emphasized that the game was a gesture of solidarity and a call for an end to the barbaric killings that often resurface around election periods. With Tanzania’s general elections slated for October 2025, the timing of this match was particularly poignant.
According to Under The Same Sun, an international organization advocating for the well-being of persons with albinism, individuals with albinism are frequently targeted in witchcraft-related killings, driven by a widespread belief that their body parts can bring prosperity or luck.
This macabre superstition, prevalent in many African countries, has led to heinous crimes, particularly as elections approach and desperation for power escalates.
“We amputee footballers feel that after our albino sisters and brothers are exterminated, the killers will turn on us,” Machine remarked somberly. His words echoed a profound fear that the cycle of violence might expand to include other marginalized groups.
Joseph Magutu, the general secretary of the Albinism Sports Club, expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by Sauti Parasport Club.
He pointed to a recent tragic incident—the kidnapping and murder of a two-and-a-half-year-old albino child in Bulumula village, Muleba district, Kagera region—as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action.
Magutu passionately refuted the harmful superstition, asserting, “If the body parts of people with albinism had properties that confer wealth and good luck, all of the albinos in this country would have been stinking rich. But to the contrary, most of us are poor.”
Magutu’s message was clear: the path to prosperity lies in hard work, not in the exploitation of innocent lives. His words resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the moral imperative to protect and uplift those who are vulnerable.
Among the players was Meck Hussein, an 18-year-old albino and second-year law student at the Muslim University of Morogoro. Hussein’s presence on the field symbolized hope and defiance against the senseless violence.
“I support efforts being taken by the government to punish people implicated in the heinous killings of albinos,” he declared, embodying the spirit of resilience and justice.
The history of violence against albinos in Tanzania is grim. Between 2000 and 2015, more than 80 albino individuals were murdered, prompting a significant crackdown in March 2015, during which over 200 witch doctors and traditional healers were arrested.
Despite these efforts, the fear and danger persist, underscoring the importance of continued vigilance and advocacy.
The Tanzania Albinism Society, a national organization dedicated to persons with albinism, estimates that there are 18,833 albino individuals in the country. Each one of them, and every member of the Sauti Parasports Club, carries a story of courage and a demand for justice.
As the sun set over the Jakaya M. Kikwete Youth Park, the echoes of the match lingered, a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who refuse to be silenced.
This game was more than just a sport; it was a powerful statement against injustice and a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and compassionate society.
