Bill on another days coaching in Huye.
I guess Tuesday could be described as just another day in the life of a CWB volunteer here in Rwanda.
Three schools visited. Two hundred and forty-one children coached in cricket skills and given the all important HIV health messages. Much shaking of my old bones as we were bounced around in the back of Eddie's mini-bus.
Being a CWB volunteer here can sometimes fell a bit like being a pop star. There is a lot of hand-shaking, “high fives” and smiling to do. The children just want to touch the mzungu (white man) or claim a souvenir. A wristband or tennis ball is a great prize. Being mobbed doesn't happen to me in England.
Today we had with us Mary, who is based here in Huye – formerly Butare – where she is studying bio-technology at the National University of Rwanda. Mary is a keen and very talented cricketer, having represented the very successful Rwanda Ladies U-19s team.
She is busy spreading the cricketing gospel among her many friends at university and also travelling the 90 miles to Kigali at weekends to play. In a country with so few active cricketers you have to be prepared to travel in order to get a game. People like Mary, as well as CWB, are working hard to change that and bring cricket to the provinces.
Our first stop today was at Group Scolaire Cyarwa where we had 114 youngsters switching between four stations and learning about batting, bowling, catching and fielding. In such circumstances a successful outcome looks impossible but somehow we manage. A CWB volunteer will not be daunted!
Lunch was eaten in Huye centre – it must be the centre because it is where the three main roads meet – and after over feeding ourselves yesterday; our cheeseburger and omelette orders were of more modest proportions. You can't do what we do on a full stomach!
Then is was off to the Group Scolaire de Parents where I think we spotted one or two fast bowlers and future 20/20 stars. Most of the boys amongst the 70 participants were bigger than us. The final session was at the end of the bumpiest road in Huye, at Kabutare Technical Secondary School. Time was tight but the playing field spacious so the decision was made to have some fun and play crossfire, the Lord's game and continuous cricket, all of which bring out the competitive element in the youngsters and produce plenty of mayhem.
With 57 involved at Kabutare our “stats” man Rob did his sums on the way back to the hotel and reckons we we have coached 3,840 children since day one in Kigali. I reckon that deserves a Mutzig – or three!
Sounds like another great day with the CWB in Rwanda! Good to hear that Ladies cricket is also progressing. A few more days and mutzigs to go…….. keep up the good work!