Monday 26th February 2024:
The morning began bright and early with breakfast on the hotel terrace.
Spirits weren’t dampened by the torrential downpour the previous night, we clearly brought it with us.
We piled into our bus, parked expertly by our driver Joseph, who takes pride in his work and must think he’ll have to hand in his licence if anyone has to walk more than 100 yards to or from the door.
On roads that would make a UK town planner hand in their notice, we made our way to our first destination, Spire Primary School, to assist our local cricket development team lead a session on coach education.
This offered an opportunity for teachers from Jinja and surrounding villages to learn some basic cricket skills to take back to their schools. They arrived in drubs and drabs throughout the morning. Some local, others having had a long walk just to get there. The first cohort to arrive included a PE teacher called Ruth from Kyabirwo Primary School which she said had over 1,600 pupils.
Having never played before she was not afraid to pick up and bat or a ball and throw herself in with gusto.
So much so that Tarn presented her with a shirt and made her an honourary member of the Wedgwood ladies team.
In total 26 teachers joined in the training and threw themselves into every task, drill and game we gave them with the enthusiasm of children unwrapping presents on Christmas morning.
CWB development officer Emmanuel attended Spire primary as a child and had got into cricket via a similar route to the children we would be coaching this afternoon. His coach was also there, which was a lovely full circle moment for him.
The teachers session culminated in a final show down match between the Jinja Giants and the Jinja juice. Everyone had a go at putting all the skills they had leaned to the test and went away very happy and enthusiastic to pass them on to the children they worked with.
Whilst the coach education was happening on the square the bell rang for play time, which meant a sudden rush of children of all ages, wide eyed and itching to know what we were up to.
Not sure how the teachers managed to finish their lessons with us a causing major distraction all morning!
Whilst some of the group left on the hunt for ‘Rolexes’ for lunch, (an omelet rapped in a chapati) and others took some shade, some of us kept the the children entertained by doing some simple throwing and catching exercises.
The delight on their faces when they caught the ball and presented it back was a joy to behold. However, 30 children chasing 1 ball like their lives depended on it got a little hairy at times.
In the afternoon some classes were sent out to have a go at the drills. stations for batting bowling and fielding were expertly lead by Becky, Yolanda and CWB coach Bryan.
Over 200 children or all ages were enthralled and hung on our every word and action.
The group included some children with visual
Impairment and Mark was amazing at adapting to their needs with a very simple one to one session away from the main group.
Running a tad behind schedule, we made our way to the next school, having loaded the kit bags onto the bus via the windows, (of course).
Jonathan got the tunes pumping and spirits were high when we got to Victoria Nile school where we were greeted by 276 pupils on the outfield ready to participate.
It was a quick set up and lesson in adapting sessions on the fly but we all pulled together brilliantly as a team and every one of the children went away having learned something and had a go.
Ellen even got to conduct a rendition of the Victoria Nile school song.
Our third and final school, Railway School was, as the name suggests, the other side of the railway tracks.
With his bus, Jospeh’s parted the goats grazing on the outfield like Moses did the red sea and parked in a nice shady spot.
Out of the windows came the kit bags and 66 children, ranging from toddlers to teens, were ready and waiting.
One of the teachers from our morning session worked there and was very keen for us to pass on the skills to the children as well.
To make sure everyone was included Tairn took the initiative with a small group of tiny tots, some no more the 3 years old, and got them throwing and catching.
Exhausted, covered in red dust and with some red patches appearing on arms, legs and necks we piled back into the bus. Tired but incredibly satisfied with a great first day.
In total we had delivered training to over 600 children and 26 coaches.
But was it straight back to the hotel to shower and sleep for us? Oh no!!
We wanted to visit the source of the river Nile before dinner.
So, at a lovely bar on a floating pontoon, we all enjoyed an incredibly well earned and refreshing ice cold beer/soft drink whilst watching the sun go down over Lake Victoria.
We were joined by 2 pied black and white kingfishers driving majestically in and out of the water catching their dinner.
Not a bad spot for a debrief on a very successful first day!
Be First to Comment