Yesterday’s blog had predicted glorious views and those of us who were not completely bus-lagged were treated to a magnificent the African sunrise over the rolling plains and distant hills of the Rift Valley and the green specked city of Kasese, just peeking through a rising morning mist. Suitably refreshed we headed for the hills, following the Nyamwamba valley as it wound its way into the foothills of the Ruwenzori. After negotiating a security checkpoint or two – large guns are disconcertingly common in Uganda but thankfully generally out of all proportion to the good nature of their carriers – we rounded a bend to see a fully fledged game of cricket in full competitive flow. We had planned to announce our arrival in Kilembe by setting up our own demonstration game; clearly this was not necessary. This was not to be the only change in our plans today – more of which later.
In 2013 and 2014, the river burst its banks and swept most things in its path away the damage to roads and houses still evident today. But this is Africa, so the locals simply shrugged their shoulders and got on with things. And one thing they do well in this hidden valley is cricket. The national champions at four different age group categories come from the Kilembe region. The cricket match was clearly not staged just for our benefit.
As with many places in Africa, it is difficult to see where everyone lives, but with any gathering people emerge from all directions. Today was planned to be coach education. We were told to expect 30 teachers eager to learn more about the game that is gripping the valley. There may indeed have been 30 teachers but it was difficult to see past the three hundred and fifty children who had arrived to be coached or to watch the fun and games. Another plan discarded!
However, being CWB we had a whole alphabet of back up ones so pretty soon two-hundred and fifty children and twenty five teachers had been divided amongst ten coaches (have we told you about the extra input we’ve had from local CWB Ambassador Emanuel and proud Kassesian Johnson, both cricket fans, skilled players and expert coaches?) each group putting into practice a drill centrally demonstrated by Tutor Graham. And it worked, with local coaches gradually gaining the confidence to take greater role in the later drills. All day this was a vista of activity against the stunning panorama of the valley and the mighty Ruwenzori beyond.
We finished the afternoon with ten games of rapid fire cricket. There are trained mathematicians who would be unable to solve the puzzle of fitting these ten games into the space available without hitting across each other’s ranges, but somehow we managed it instinctively, and a fun time was had by all! As we left, we couldn’t help but notice more impromptu practice starting up without us. Surely the greatest reward of the day. Well almost. Did I tell you I watched England chase down a record T20 score in a hotel bar in Kasese with a cold beer under star-filled African skies? I’ve a feeling I might!
Mark Campbell