12/09/2026
Sports Unite Communities for the Conservation of the Proposed Kwa National Park.
Jacksonville City was a place of excitement on September 10, 2026, as athletes and community members gathered for a high-stakes, three-day sports outreach event. Hosted in Jacksonville City, the tournament brought together the Boe-Shaw, Kulu, and Seekon administrative districts—represented by Plandialebo.
Organized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF), the event used the unifying power of football and kickball to promote biodiversity awareness and rally local support for the protection of the proposed Kwa National Park.
After two intense matches per team in the preliminary rounds, the competition narrowed down to familiar rivals. Jacksonville City (representing Kulu District) and Boe-Shaw locked horns in the grand finals for both sports.
In kickball, Jacksonville jumped out to an early lead, building a 5-run lead. Refusing to back down, Boe-Shaw orchestrated a dramatic third-inning comeback, storming back to capture the victory with an impressive 8 home runs.
In football, Jacksonville struck first in the final, seizing a narrow lead that energized their home crowd. Riverside Boe-Shaw fought back relentlessly, finding the equalizer in the second half to force a tense 1–1 draw through 90 minutes of play.
The football title was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout. Jacksonville’s goalkeeper stole the show by stopping three crucial spot-kicks, sealing a 4–2 victory for the hosts.
As organizers distributed trophies and prizes to the victorious teams, the underlying message reached far beyond the scoreboard. Representatives from the FDA and Chief Parken Warden Marcus George reminded players and spectators that protecting local ecosystems—specifically the forest corridors surrounding the proposed Kwa National Park—is vital for preserving endangered wildlife like the western chimpanzee and securing a sustainable future for local communities. Through sweat, sportsmanship, and community pride, the tournament proved that local passion on the football field can translate into powerful momentum for conservation.
Earlier, during the indoor program to kick-start the activity, Ministry of Education Representative Tarjuwon DEO Sneh welcomed the initiative and called for stronger collaboration between WCF and the Ministry of Education to expand environmental awareness among school-going children and communities.
As part of the campaign, six sets of jerseys have been distributed to the three participating communities for both male and female teams.
The three-day campaign combines sports and educational activities aimed at encouraging communities to play a greater role in biodiversity conservation and the protection of the Proposed Kwa National Park.
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