When the sun is beating down, and the heat is rising, there is only one thing to do. No, not dip into the lush cool pool, shaded by African plants, by the hotel bar, but head to the Ndera sports stadium.
The stadium: Some grass. Some dust. Concrete steps for seats – the kind of concrete that burns your bum when you sit on it. No shade. Except maybe a bit thrown by the CWB team members as they stand, taking in the surroundings
The plan: A Cricket Festival. 10 teams of 9 boys and 9 girls from the schools we had been coaching and working with all this week introducing cricket and sharing health, gender and team messaging.
The aim: For a boys team, and a girls team to return back to their school, triumphant, with a large trophy in hand.
180 children arrived. Some in their sports team kit. Some in their PE kit. Some in their own random clothes.
8 pitches of ‘Rapid Fire Cricket’ were set. 2 CWB coaches at each station. Determined, competitive school teams. Even more determined, competitive teachers.
And then the off – they played hard, they pushed the boundaries, (not that there are any)They learnt, they played tactically, they thought about the game. They laughed, they clapped. They argued. They took their shoes off as apparently you can run faster without shoes, despite the stones.
There were hard fought games. But always, always, smiles, handshakes, cheering and clapping. Enthusiasm was everywhere, infectiously spreading, especially with us.
The sun beat down, balls thwacked left, right, centre. There was no let-up, until, suddenly the games were over.
Back to the burning concrete steps, kids seated, excitement and enjoyment etched across their faces. The doughnuts and lemon sodas in hand, chatting excitedly, bantering with each other, kids being kids.
Coach Gislaine clapped them to order. (Did I mention all the clapping? The power of clapping?).
A hush fell across the stadium. The trophies came out. Bright Lights boys team: The Winners! They rushed to the pitch laughing, shouting piling onto each other in joy. They were taking a trophy back to school!
Then, the girls winners! GS Gosagi. More cheering, more clapping and the same joyous rapture and bundling each other, they were going home, honouring their school with a trophy!
Such an incredible, fun, exciting morning, with, for me, the icing on the cake: 180 kids singing happy birthday to me. I’ll never forget today. To be honest, I’ll never forget this trip. I’ve loved Rwanda.
Gareth
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