Olympic dreams and crushing disappointment ……..

Ben Foster clearly has a penchant for Flipper films. As 94 mins clicked by we were happy to escape with a point until the red mist came down and we left empty handed. But we are not bitter. Even our Ugandan recruits sensed the disbelief.

We try to move on.

Biggest question of the day is whether Waka can break his own mental barrier of getting in at the deep end and completing a length! See later for updates………

If it’s Wednesday its the first day of coaching children in Tororo .

This small town has already shown itself different to its bigger cousins in Soroti and Mbale with a slower pace of life, being less intense with a rural feel to it. Even the children themselves offer a more laid back approach. Here we are not subjected to the same scrutiny or demands as is the way in Africa. Oh and we have grass to play on!

What does remain the same is the plan going out the window. On station at 8.30 for a 9 start it was nearer 10 before the masses turned out but in true CWB tradition we were up and at it and 2 hours of carousels followed by further games of rapid fire and mini cricket left the punters screaming for more. After having learned at the feet of head of facilitation , Big John stepped into the breach and delivered a varied, structured session that the team put into practice. Seven schools totalling an approximate 240 children lent itself to an element of relaxation but no less intensity.

To anyone who has never been to this part of the world it’s easy to make assumptions about how life is. Those assumptions are probably correct. Difficult living conditions amid a seemingly failing infrastructure with an economy based on a myriad of small businesses- perhaps not too far removed from the UK after all! But in the end the children we work with are keen to learn, respond to a challenge and have enthusiasm to burn as do the teachers.

Tororo doesn’t offer the same evening attractions so the team will be battling it out over JC s quiz tonight. Our hotel managed to fix its TV so Wednesday’s premier league fixtures will end the evening.

Stop press – Wakamara has completed his challenge. For those of a certain vintage brought up on Olympic ideals fostered by Eric the Eel and our own Eddie the Eagle his swim stroke is not the smoothest but for sheer determination he is right out in front. Or was it the sight of his prize ( a Nile Special) sitting invitingly at the end of the pool?Jackson is a much smoother exponent of the sport – sums him up really – this guy does nothing in a hurry but is no less determined.

Team Uganda is feeling the strains of the last 12 days but is gearing up for one last push and remains strong #stickingtogether