Thursday 15th March is the day of the previously postponed Youth Polytechnic (YP) District Sports Day. Our transport was supposed to pick up outside the orphanage at 07.30 so I am ready and waiting. I have liberally plastered in suntan cream for a rare full day outside. Other trainees are there and by 8am all the expected people for this pick up have arrived. By 08.15 I call the our Games Master who says they are “on the way”. 45 minutes later (for a 4km journey) the cattle truck (I am not joking!!) finally arrives – welcome to Kenya time!!, I could have had another hour or so of sleep!! 30+ of us stood up in the back of a truck for the remaining 4km down a dirt track. Great fun and good for the balance.
All the other teams had come by bus or Matatu but we made the biggest impression!!
The Cattle Truck - Man Utd should try this??
After a 2 hour delay whilst we waited for someone to organise the playing schedule and refereeing timetable etc, we finally started about 10.30 (planned start was 8am). Anyway although forward planning is not fashionable, the ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat and everything to work in the end is quite impressive!! So around 4-500 trainees commenced a highly competitive tournament of Football, Volley ball and Netball.
The Girls Netball and Football Squads
Substitute
I did not realise how serious the competition was taken until it got going and shortly afterward the first fight started. Then an hour or so later there was a pitch invasion of about 100 supporters of one YP disagreeing with the referees decision and wanting to “have a calm rational debate about the matter” Alternatively known as chase him off the pitch brandishing sticks and stones.
Dedication!
- Check out the stud plates in the boot -
imagine what the soles of his feet are like!!
There was even a fight at the volleyball. The netball being all girls was completed with the grace and self-control that ladies display……
Despite the over-enthusiasm that manifested itself in a few minor incidents the day was not marred by these and was an fantastic success and great for morale and team building for both our Trainees and Instructors. Although we did not progress to the next round the YP’s that beat us were significantly larger and therefore had a far greater pool of talent – that was our excuse anyway J
Friday was a normal day but a little slow given that the Sports day was a 12 hour day and some of the boys had played 3 x 90 minute football games and 3 volleyball matches. I was tired and all I had done was watched from the shade of a tree and tried not to take a siesta!!
No comments:
Post a Comment