By James
The final day of coaching in Masindi began with the team saying farewell to our tutor Richard who was flying home today. Before leaving, Richard presented each of the self-named NCG (non-coaching group!!) of Michelle, Hannah and Graham with coaching certificates for all their hard work and enthusiasm along with the huge improvement they have made in their coaching skills – all are now talking about going on UKCC 1 cricket coaching courses when they get home.
The morning’s activity was to help run a tournament for the local Primary schools, we were expecting a boys team and a girls team from six schools but true to form only four schools appeared (all at different times of course!!), play finally got underway at about 10:15. It was pleasing to see that the skills coaching of the previous day had been worthwhile as the standard of play was very high. Our team was divided up and we were each assigned to a pitch so four games could be run at a time. I was joined on the field by Graham to umpire while Michelle organised the batting teams and acted as head cheerleader! The boys were all soon singing and dancing the umpires signals with every four or six that was hit. After playing two games of kwik cricket, the players were all presented with CWB “Bowling AIDS out of Uganda” wristbands while the two girls and two boys were presented with caps for outstanding performances during the morning.
After a successful morning the team jumped onto Joseph’s bus and we drove into town to find our favourite chapatti stall, before returning to the hotel to eat them. There was just about enough time for me to play two frames of pool against our driver Joseph (my Ugandan brother!) honours even as we won a frame each.
With Richard gone, Michael asked me if I would organise the afternoon session, the boys and girls from Masindi Senior Secondary School arrived on time (by Ugandan standards!) and Alan and Graham took them off to do some skills coaching that we had been unable to fit in yesterday because of all the rain interruptions. Two more schools arrived shortly after, Mike and Veronika teamed up to coach one school and Veronique and Hannah took the other. This left Michelle and I waiting for the final school to arrive…… In the meantime we decided to do a bit of coaching with two boys who were sat watching their school friends in Alan and Graham’s group but were hesitant to join in. The final school never arrived but encouraging the two boys to play and seeing the smiles on their faces as they improved made the afternoon a very rewarding afternoon for me. Again presentations were made as each of the schools were given a set of cricket equipment. I am sure they will be put to good use.
We returned once more to the hotel and very fittingly took tea and biscuits in the colonial style drawing room, watching as the rain falling outside. Thoughts turned to returning to England, but also reflecting on what has been an amazing two weeks in a wonderful country. Tomorrow we travel to Entebbe via a trip to the UCA in Kampala. I’m sure it will be another emotional day with the prospect of saying goodbye to our fantastic team. It has been a pleasure to share such an amazing experience with you all.