Final Day Reflections

Project leader Mark’s question at breakfast was which festival is going to take precedent today, Good Friday or the CWB Fort Portal cricket festival.

Well apart from a brief interruption in the early afternoon, where we had to pause the cricket to allow a several hundred strong, cross-carrying procession to traverse the playing fields, the cricket triumphed. This was despite the morning rain and the chilly conditions which left the team peering out of the bus widows reassuring each other that it would be a good day for the Festival. After all we could see the Rwenzori Mountains through the clouds. This is a common trait in English cricketers – eternal optimism! The optimism was obviously shared by the local children who were busy completing a series of vigorous warm up exercises. Ross and Beth led the warm ups with the goal of getting warm, both having dismissed the rest of the CWB teams crazy idea of wearing a jumper in Africa.

The organisation of the nine schools lead by Johnson took a short time so we could get the cricket started. The girls in the senior competition taught Beth all about their lives, showing her their best dance moves and we all enjoyed having a laugh together. They are incredibly competitive girls and loved the games. In all twenty nine pairs cricket matches were completed, the clouds lifting to reveal warm afternoon sun reflecting off the vivid green mountains.

Both competitors and spectators revelled in the competition and the crowd feedback was starting in its intensity and something none of us present will ever forget; every ball because an event and the cheering left us looking for the celebrity who must have just arrived. The under 13 competition was remarkable for the fact that you could actually see the improvement of the players as the competition progressed.

Final Thoughts from Project Leader Mark:

It really shouldn’t work. Throw a large group together, of all ages and backgrounds, commit them to spending two weeks together, full-time, spending their days in physical activity under a burning tropical sun. Spice things up with hundreds of loud but enthusiastic children and try to teach them skills they have never even seen before, let alone attempted, under the critical eye of their carers who seek to maximise the benefits (rightly so) for their children. Change plans at the last minute, and then change them again.

 Add the piquancy of saying goodbye on a daily basis to the very same children who arrive in the morning with nothing and leave in the afternoon with nothing, other than broad smiles, a few new chants and hopefully an interest in the game we love and awareness of what they need to keep themselves healthy as they grow into the future adults of Ugandan society. It shouldn’t work, but it does. That it does must be due to teamwork.

 Everyone on this trip has worked together with a common aim of providing as enjoyable experience as possible to any and all of the children who were so generous to share their time and enthusiasm with us.

I do think we were fortunate in fact in having the ideal cricket eleven. Solid experience and calm at the top of the order. An ability to improvise and surprise in the middle order. Cracker-jacks in the field. A young energetic all rounder. A safe pair of hands with a sense of drama keeping wicket. A burly medium pacer prepared to do the donkey work and strike some big, booming drives. An experienced quickie who can adapt to local conditions and can argue about batting position. The wily spinner who has a theory for every situation and sure-fire plans to get the opposition out. Oh, and a captain who is Captain just because he is, and needs to get in the team somehow.

Perfect. So in batting order my CWB Uganda 2016 eleven was:

1. Graham Gayton
2. Sarajane Marchant
3. Richard Armes
4. Bethan Evans
5. Johnson Barack
6. Ross Opie
7. Tom Barnes
8. Mark Campbell
9. Joseph
10. Liam Stubbs
11. Emmanuel Ifaneez

A team I’d be happy to take the field with anytime. That’s all from me for this trip! Thanks readers for all your support

Final Thoughts form Tutor Graham

Uganda is my 5^th CWB project and easily the best. The team were amazing and all 8 of us giving their support when necessary. The children we coached were terrific. So responsive to everything we did and creating a great atmosphere at the Festival. Our local coaches Emanuel and Johnson provided the local knowledge and became good friends. Mark as our leader was well respected by us all.

I am left with some great memories, from a beautiful Country.

Thanks for CWB for giving me the opportunity