By Mike
After a lot of organising and excitement, three of our team, Hannah, Graham and Yusuf, left Jinja for Kampala to watch the African Cup qualifying football match between Uganda and Kenya.
In the meantime, the rest of us were split even further to coach at two venues in Iganga. Michelle, Mike, James and Alan stayed at our old haunt and waited for the promised 90 pupils from three schools. Richard, Veronika and Veronique went further into town to Iganga Town Council primary school to meet their promised 60 children from two schools.
So that was plan ‘A’, but this is Africa. Plan ‘B’ was quickly introduced which involved the first group coaching 138 children and the tutor led second group having 31 (including our driver Joseph). Fortunately Michelle is becoming more and more confident and was able to take on a team of 23 to practice their skills. At lunchtime, Richard and the two V’s were told to relocate to another town school where another 31 children awaited them. The difference in ability and language could not have been bigger.
So how is the team doing after the first completed week? I have now worked with Richard in Uganda three times, so when he puts a cutlery basket and napkin on his head to look like Tommy Cooper, I am neither worried for his sanity nor unduly surprised. Veronika, aka the Water Goddess is still forcing liquid down us in alarming quantities but sharing bottles of red wine from Veronique. Graham is enjoying more food choice away from Tororo. We had resorted to ordering our dinner at breakfast time to allow the chef time to get in supplies, but the shortage of minced beef was still a problem except for lumps of it in the vegetarian samosas. On the first night there, I asked the waitress what the meat was in the chicken curry, but she was unable to enlighten me. James and Michelle are also enjoying the delights of Jinja. As they have got to know the team better, James is entertaining us with his impressions and Michelle comes out with amusing insights. Hopefully this double act will be seen back in the UK performing at children’s’ parties. Alan’s accounting system for the team’s money has relaxed in recent days to the extent that he is now happier to spend our contributions on luxuries such as food and water. Hannah is gaining invaluable experience of a CWB project. Her front foot drive off a cone is a work of art – not sure what would happen if the ball was not stationary though. Veronique is still queen of the pull, (shot that is). Overall they are a pretty easy lot to manage.
So our first week is over. We are looking forward to more challenges (including trying to find internet access in Masindi – a town well known for power shortages) in the week ahead.
Part Two – We Go, We Go, Ugandan Cranes we go. By Hannah
A once in a life time opportunity to watch Uganda V Kenya in the African cup of nation’s qualifier presented itself whilst we were here. Uganda has not qualified for the AFCON since 1978 and a win against their neighbours would secure it. With the support of the others (for which we are truly grateful) Yusuf, Graham and I got tickets and shirts and were excited about what awaited us. The 8.30 leave we had arranged the night before suddenly became a 7.30 leave at 7.05 when Graham knocked on the door to say we were leaving!! The mini taxi ride into Kampala was a real eye-opener. The taxi doesn’t leave until it is full and we picked up a variety of people and vegetables!! The journey took around two hours and we arrived at the ground around 10.00.
The atmosphere was already building with the yellow, red and black of Uganda everywhere. After queuing for a short time the ever resourceful Yusuf found a man who, for the princely sum of 2,000 shilling each (50p), could get us in via a short cut. We entered the stadium around half ten a grand 6 and a half hours before kickoff and so the wait began. Now you might think that we were a little keen to be there so long before kickoff but it soon became apparent that we were the wise ones. The Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Nambole officially holds 45,000 people but there were an estimated 70,000 tickets sold and everyone was determined to get inside.
As the hours passed the stadium became more and more full and it soon became apparent that we were not going anywhere including to the toilet, it’s a good job we all have strong bladders!! The atmosphere built and built and the excitement was at fever pitch. The noise from the crowd and their accompanying vuvuzelas was, quite literally deafening.
Eventually the game began, only to end with bitter disappointment for the Ugandan Cranes who despite being by far the better team, failed to score the vital goal. The disappointment was tangible and, being a long suffering West Bromwich Albion fan, I felt their pain!!
After enjoying the delights of street food, chapatti and samosas both excellent we found a mini taxi to take us back to Jinja. Having experienced the best thrill rides Florida has to offer this ride home rates as number one.
We arrived back in Jinja at 9 and were thrilled at the prospect of an early night. Graham assured me he knew the way home so I was a little surprised to find that the ten minute walk back to the hotel took half an hour, still his friends will confirm he has previous in this area!!
Today has been an experience I will never forget and one I am unlikely to repeat, unless of course I ever want to become permanently deaf.