“… It rained real hard, it rained for a real long time…” Randy Newman
Day Eleven and, as forecast by the local weather-prophets when the wind started to rise on Monday evening, the relentless heat had given way overnight to heavy rain and the team awoke to drizzle, cloud but more importantly a cooling breeze.
Back to the highly impressive facilities at the Francistown Vocational College and the resumption of the Coach Education course for 40 young trainee teachers, mainly in PE. After brief instruction and demonstration from Ali Goddard, each of the small groups was sent off to set up and complete their own drill, with one of the group nominated each time as tutor, under the watchful eye of one of the CWB gang. Initial presentations by the coaches were slightly on the bashful side but participation was keen and it soon became obvious after feedback from the CWB and local coaches that as well as a number of very naturally-gifted but clearly untutored players, we had a large number of enthusiastic trainee coaches on our hands.
After an abbreviated lunch-break caused by the trainee coaches’ endless requests for selfies and L1 certificates but with Swiss roll and custard pleasingly on the menu, RSM Vards had a brainwave and invited the coaches to help at the afternoon primary-school session. SEVEN actually took up the offer – a pointer for future trips, perhaps.
Clement Chipanga (regional coach in Francistown for Botswana CA) had again arranged the afternoon visit, this time to Tagala primary school to work with 80 children. Or so we thought. By the time the post-lunch-time flood of small children had slowed to a trickle and Malcolm P-S had completed his excellent introduction, we counted 140. All seven of the newly-qualified coaches were allocated on the four stations and after observing the CWB contingent at ‘work’, took control of the last of the four rotations. Their input was really superb and it is self-evident that they do need to be monitored, developed and used on coaching assignments, both for CWB and for Botswana CA, at every opportunity.
After finishing around 4 p.m., a stroll along the main street of Francistown did indeed confirm that we have (with respect) not really missed much so far, apart from multiple branches of Choppies and Pick ‘n Pay supermarkets. Happily the Surf Steak Ranch next door to the hotel (“Camp David” for the regular daily brain-storming session of the CWB hierarchy, especially the smokers) was perfectly willing to replace a pint of Windhoek lager FOC when the bottom the glass actually exploded.
All in all, even as tough a task-master as Vards was forced to admit that Day Eleven had been the best day to date and very probably the perfect CWB day. High praise indeed.