After all struggling the night before from illness, I’m ashamed to say, we all stayed in for an early night to get up bright and early the next day. First up on the agenda was a stop off at Nyaragunga school to coach what turned out to be about 60 children and another 30 or so from a nearby orphanage who we will hopefully be coaching tomorrow as well. A fantastic group of kids who were so enthusiastic about cricket, it was a delight for the whole team. One special mention must go out to a young kid called Didier Drogba, (literally couldn’t make it up) who was no higher than my knees, and took a particular liking to me. This was along with a little boy who was an absolute star, repeating everything anyone said to him, causing much hilarity amongst the group. He will be fluent before the age of 6, I have no doubt. We had him saying all kinds of things, cricket related of course! His favourite; ‘come on bowler!’ with arms flung into the air.
Next up was a visit to the plane crash that sparked the 1994 genocide, and a look around the former presidents home which was for those culture vultures out here. This was a quick stop before swiftly moving onto a repeat visit to a school with a similar and rather confusing name (especially for our Timmy) named Nyaradunga. After previously visiting this place earlier on last week it was pleasing to see such enthusiasm oozing from the kids again. This time the majority of schoolchildren were female, which again is incredibly encouraging and they all seemed to engage fully in the afternoons session. A particular high point and something that’s always pleasing, was the fact that there were huge crowds watching the cricket, again the majority female. I think a few took a fancy to a couple of the team, but we are desperately trying to keep things professional here, so we piled onto the mystery machine again, before being mobbed by the advancing girls.
Next stop was a new Catholic school in Efotec where we were pleasantly greeted by a herd of cows, on the playing field, (the norm in Rwanda really). There were approximately 100 schoolchildren which was a handful, but we were more than up for the challenge. Some had had some previous experience of playing cricket, and again the enthusiasm of the kids you simply can’t get used to. Another successful day coaching, a particular bonus, not falling in the field covered in cow pat and on to Kabana, for a Birthday meal for Tim. All still struggling with our you know what’s, we were forced to retreat back to the apartments/toilets and prepare for tomorrow. We will sort our behaviour out tomorrow I promise, and with a bit of a lay in, and the mutzigs flowing, who knows what could go down in Kigali!
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