Our first four days are based in the southern district of Muhanga, starting off today in Muhanga itself, a smallish town situated right at the very top of one of the many hills. After navigating up the long and winding roads to the top, our driver called ‘Steady Eddy’ pulls up to a football pitch, which through the clearing of the trees at the far end you can see an awesome panoramic view across the lush green valley below. The newly named ‘Muhanga Oval’ however  is far from being lush and green and is in fact a rectangle (oddly enough being a football pitch) but for the purposes of today that is what it is going to be called.

The morning has the team coaching 108 children, aged between 4-12, from St Augustine Primary School. For many of the first time volunteers among us, we were amazed when we were doing our introductions, that kids as young as 6 were aware of at least part of the ‘A (Abstinence), B (Be faithful) and C (Condom)’ HIV/AIDs awareness messages. The other outstanding feature, which we know we are going to see more of, is natural ability shown by the kids for playing cricket. In a country, let’s face it a continent, which is dominated by football the game of cricket is quite an alien sport. Yet today there were kids under the age of 12 plucking balls out the air, taking fantastic one handed catches, bowling at pace and picking up the skill of batting straight away.

Cricket lunch African style, is to Steady Eddy’s favourite Muhanga haunt – an all you can eat African buffet for £2. For our two week tour we are joined by Ange from the Rwanda Cricket Association, who is going to be coaching along with us. At 5’2 and three stone soaking wet, the team were amazed when he returned from the buffet with his plate piled high so that all that could be seen when he sat down was his forehead amongst the layers of chicken, beef, plantain, rice and peas, chips, bean curry, pineapple…. the list does go on but too much to mention here. As he carefully devours his way through the mound, like an expert Jenga player, the team can only watch in awe trying to work out how someone that height and stature can consume so much.

For the start of the afternoon we go to St Joseph’s Secondary school to negotiate the afternoon play with the Head of Discipline (for the record we didn’t do nuffin’, and we were on our best behaviour). After finally securing the deal, with the Head of Discipline, to take 25 students for the afternoon (it’s a bit like the Indian Premier League in getting players here) play resumed.

Unfortunately, we took the great English weather with us and it hammered it down for the start of play. Fortunately the Muhanga Oval has an awesome natural drainage system (extreme heat, red dusty soil and nice slope) and so our fears that the pitch was starting to look like New Road, were quickly put to one side. Again like this morning the team were overwhelmed by the natural talent, this time from the girls in the school. We had learnt that CWB had done a lot of work with St Joseph’s, which has led to the formation of a boys’ team at the school. However, after (rather foolishly giving some of the injuries the team acquired) standing up to the stumps to one of the girls, and getting taken out by a ball, the bowling coaches (Kevin and Jules) soon learnt their lesson for their day.

Day 2 ‘Of the Day Awards’

Moment of the day: 25 (in reality it turned out to be 50) students from St Joseph’s running down the hill from their school singing their school song to the Muhanga Oval, which resonated around the ground long before their actual arrival.
Catch of the day: Video Footage to follow shortly
Bowling of the day: The St Joseph’s girls beating the boys by a good 3 minutes in the ‘bowl at the stumps’ competition.
Batting of the day: Still being decided by Jim and Carl.
Item balanced on the head: Metal Door Frame and Window Pane.