Done in Lira – not sure where to put the comma!!
It was Festival time for our last day, with ten of the schools we’ve visited over the last few days sending teams, although they were slow to arrive. We got excited as we heard approaching footsteps, and dashed out to the pitch, but the local cattle weren’t up for a game. Once we got started, our secondary players enjoyed some pairs practice, with the boys only and girls only schools mixing their players to match the others with CWB inclusivity. The primary teams played a hard fought rapidfire competition, with some fine shots and great fielding on display. Otim Tom School were able to put together an extra team, but with only one girl, so they were allowed to play, but wouldn’t be able to claim the prize. Conditions were a challenge, with strong gusts of wind carrying great clouds of dust across the ground at times. A useful tip to take back to the UK – if your plastic stumps keep blowing over, just weight them down with a lump of termite mound.
The climax of the day was the playoff final, between Otim Tom A and Ujwina, which went right to the last ball, with Otim Tom the worthy winners. St Gracious, easily the youngest and smallest players to enter, put up a brave fight, improving in each game. Despite losing them all, they lived up to their name, being Gracious in defeat, and took home the Spirit of Cricket award.
Time to say goodbye to our friends Igulu and Sandra in Lira, and hit the road to Kumi. Our time here has been a bit of a challenge, with a full on schedule, coaching around 2500 kids, and the temperature reaching a balmy 37°. Our already small team was depleted by illness and injury at times, but the rest of the team stepped up without missing a beat, and we managed to deliver everything our fantastic local coaches needed. Feet up for a well earned rest on the 4 hour bus trip to Kumi, and to ponder what the breakfast options might be at the next hotel. Pineapple and chips will be tough to beat!
We travelled on roads lined with small settlements, with a bigger village every few miles. In between, the scenery is mainly open, and around Soroti we drove past some beautiful lakes. Our pit stop was as guests of our wonderful driver Joseph, who kindly invited us to visit his home on the outskirts of Soroti. The whole area is incredibly dry, and the locals are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the rains, which will bring welcome relief…………..although maybe just at night until after next Sunday?!!
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