This Is Football

It's not only about sports.

- Messi, Messi, Messi.

- There's no jazz about amazing ability.

- Football is a language in itself.

It surpasses all barriers.

When I get the ball at my feet,

I feel absolute love.

- When it gets to the pitch,

we're on equal grounds.

- Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi.

- The goosebumps and the emotions, phenomenal.

- Football can help bring communities together.

- We could become bigger and greater

through football.

- Football is not a game, it's emotion.

It comes from the heart.

- Alright! Welcome to 91.1 Radio One.

Today we're broadcasting Liverpool v Newcastle United at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's team is made up of Loris Karius, wearing the number one shirt,

Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold

Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain...

We are from different areas

but we've come here as a sign of love

and the passion that we have for Liverpool.

- I'm a Liverpool fan for about 37 years now.

Yeah, I was still a kid in a village

Then we were just listening on the radio and sometimes see magazines.

- Rwandan Reds is a fan club for Liverpool

which combines, ladies, gentlemen...

every category of people.

- Welcome to Anfield for the Premier League meeting

between Liverpool and Newcastle United.

- My favourite player for all the time is Ian Rush

Liverpool legend...

scored around 391 goals.

That's why I called my son Ian Rush also.

- It's the triumvirate set-up,

Firmino and Mane, 66 goals.

I remember...

breaking up with a Manchester United supporting boyfriend

because I was a Liverpool fan.

- The Anfield crowd in full voice,

with their anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

- If you listen to the words of "You'll Never Walk Alone"...

it is like the story of our country.

It's really very inspiring.

In Rwanda, you know the history of this country.

Some of us don't have parents, don't have brothers or sisters.

The Liverpool shirt means a family.

That's why I love Liverpool.

Liverpool! (clapping)

- Salah's in on goal,

and Liverpool are in the lead.

Once more, it's Mohamed Salah.

And you just cannot leave him on mark like that.

One touch to control the ball,

a second to finish.

- Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

- It's Mohamed Salah, it's one-nil.

Always when Liverpool wins...

I feel my Daddy, that's...

is also watching and supporting Liverpool.

Here in the plain we can see the impala.

The difference between the zebras is stripes.

It's like a fingerprint, a human fingerprint.

There are lions, three lions.

The giraffes are just watching them

to see their intentions.

Are they hunting?

If you see how beautiful Rwanda is...

I think it is a Garden of Eden.

In our language, they say that...

"God chooses to sleep in Rwanda."

But one day... we thought God left us.

The story of Rwanda...

...began a long time ago.

Rwanda was one country...

and everyone spoke the same language.

We all share the same culture.

This is Rwanda,

a country twice the size of Belgium.

- Rwanda was then colonised by the Belgians.

The colonisers divided us into ethnic groups.

The Rwandan people,

made up of distinct races...

the Hutu tribe,

and the Tutsi tribe.

This created tension.

Their policy was to divide and rule.

But at least they gave us football.

A coin is tossed

to see which team begins on which half...

and the game begins...

the bare feet kick the ball with ease...

The chief's son scores a goal for the missionaries' team...

- The first time I saw white men play football...

was in a Liverpool match.

It was the 15th August 1987.

-(crowd cheering) - Beardsley.

Oh, a goal for Aldridge!

Until then,

I had imagined white skin was so soft...

it bruised if you touched it.

- It was love at first sight. There's no other way to say it.

- Oh, brilliantly done by Peter Beardsley.

Liverpool are in the lead.

- This is a place called Mayaka Cinema Hall.

Very special place.

When I became a good boy at home,

my dad used to bring me here and watch football.

He used to love Liverpool.

- He dare not fail.

And he slid it beautifully and comfortably into the net.

And then when we get a goal...

everyone, "Woah, woah! Liverpool, Liverpool!"

- (crowd cheering) - Liverpool are European champions!

What joy!

And Alan Kennedy's penalty gives Liverpool the European Cup

for the fourth time.

My dad used to like Dalglish

as a good player

and a good leader in the game.

- There's Kenny Dalglish.

- He used to say, "I wish, Joe, you can be like Dalglish."

"You like to play?"

I said, "Yes, I can play, Dad. I can be like him."

Yeah, my dad was wishing me to play football.

- And he's allowed to get away with it.

, Kenny Dalglish,

oh, and torn away at the end by Mark.

It was our dream.

(announcer speaking in foreign language)

- Rayon Sports, it's a big club, you could compare it to Liverpool.

Rayon Sports can bring you happiness...

(announcer speaking in foreign language)

but it can also make you sick.

This is where I began my career...

I debuted with this team.

The team was made up of both ethnicities...

Tutsi and Hutu.

It's where I made many friends.

I have many memories.

- You're not in this one. - Is that so?! Haha.

I was probably at training.

You're in the middle,

and I'm next to the coach.

His name was 'Maveke' right?

You remember the Al-Hilal match?

- How could I forget? What an atmosphere!

The match was really important because

it was to qualify for the final phase of the African cup.

(TV announcer speaking foreign language)

- Dieudonné gives it to Baptista.

Baptista on the ball.

- I was having a great game. I was having fun with skills, dribbling.

- You were going on all those runs.

(TV announcer speaking foreign language)

(men cheering and clapping and laughing)

- It was the first time that Rayon Sports had reached this level...

- That match made history for us.

More importantly...

that match saved lives.

It saved my life.

- The President invited us to his house.

I even have a photo of that occasion.

- And then his Excellency the President...

joined the players.

They took a commemorative photo.