Week 4

This week wasn't the best week. But, still exciting because of the animals that we saw heading through the lodge.  Monkeys and bamboos that were bravely getting closer to us. Some were using fearful signs like noddling their head and making noise. Robbie communicating to one in particular to tell us to go away.

There were wild hogs in the wilderness. It was a shame, that I didn't get a picture of them. They ran really funny, plus they were scared, what would happen to them.

On top of all this week, the land rover was about to fall apart because one side of wheel was making some kind of racket. When sound was getting worse, a metal pole was sticking out of the middle of the wheel. Lucky we stopped in time, or the land rover would have collapsed to one side.
But who comes the rescue, the mechanic from the lodge.  Freddie fixes the car with ease. On the other hand, the hand brake was disfunction, because that metal pole was the key components to the hand brake.  Freddie told us, to use the brake normal, but if your in stationary, put the car into gear.
The next day we didn't use the land rover because it needed to be fixed.

Most of the coaches look for us for reassurance  and guidance. I never felt much like a leader, but it showed on the field as well off the field.  

Each day I'm learning something new.  One thing that I realised is that. Don't make any promises or they will come chase you for what they want.

We were invited to another football game to see a secondary school and there were was the champion league final. I wish I could see it in london. The secondary match was really good from my impression. Even though they only played 20 to 25 min each half. Again, we only saw one half and left early to see the champion league.
                                                     
There were some nights the workers wanted to see a film. So, we watched 'Alfie' and the other night, watched 'Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels'. The second film always made me laugh because the stupidity and the constant swearing.

It been a brilliant week, touch wood nothing esle would happen.

Week 3

We've had long weekend off. Plus, the rest was brilliant. I didn't feel tried the next day.

Robbie and myself did caneonlling on a Friday. It was really peaceful, but a lot of work on the arms. I struggled a bit, evenaully I got the technique. The river was so calm, and every stroke on the paddle to the river was a ease.

Fish Eagle were above our head, I think he or she was hunting for their next meal. But, it is a beautiful sight to see among other things in the river.

In the Tongole Lodge, Zane has arranged for the staff members to pick up First Aid. They were occupied for three whole days. The trainer or instructor was Rodney Chiwengo. Who, I've be told has a great patient and calmness. On top of that; he cool about things, which shows in his personality. I hope to see him in the near future. 

The great achievement this week was, the teachers who took the ideas from 'coaches coach', they've seen a change in the children and the children would want to learn more and want to do similar activities. It shows, a little change in what they do makes a big difference. One school in particular, Loga primary school. A teacher said "I've never seen so many kids coming to a session, because they were having so much fun." He also added, "there would be only 3 or 4 kids would come, 19 children was amazing! 

It displays children having fun and keep on enjoying sessions, they are now willing to come to the next session. It working!

During this week, we also saw Tongole Chickens. Were Robbie's mum, donated money to buy chickens to the foundation. The chickens are disrupted to families that don't have a lot means sell or buy things, this is great way to help them in right direction.

Pretty much all this families adopt children who have no longer have a parent to look after them.

As we going through the villages, there were field of peanuts, I was really surprised, how the old man pulled a bush out from the ground and there it appeared peanuts! That was another source of income that they would use to survive aswell. At first glance you'll never think, it's a peanut field. 

It been a long week. There some coaches that needed help in what their doing. But majority were able to execute the session with no problems so far. It's definitely feels satisfacting knowing that your skills and talent are working.  They really appreciate what you give them and they keen to learn more. 

We were invited to a game in the weekend. Everything was presented well and players look organized.  For my surprise, I saw actually referee and they were wearing their uniform! 

But, all the players didn't have shin pads. They still played regardless, two minutes into the game; the referee decide before they took a corner kick, to fix the hole in the net. (In my mind, they should have check that before they started the game.) It a shame we didn't see the whole game and only the kick off.

During this week, there were new staff that  Zane and Jo have employed.  To help them out during their holiday.  We have met her, and her name is Leia. A funny person and really good to talk to as well.

I see you next week!

Week 2

Morning Malawi,

What a great way start the by driving half way to the lodge.  We get stuck in the mud twice or three times.  I lost count how many times before heading to the Lodge.

It doesn't stop there. We're stopped by police before heading to St.Paul. Because the insurance was expired.  We were only allowed to go until we had the a new insurance sticker on the windscreen.  Robbie radio the lodge saying our diemella, to Zane. Like wildfire, news speared quite quickly.  After a few minutes (an hour later), evenaully we got to the St . Paul. We a few smiles and stirred eyes looking at us, some was unpleasant looks. I too     wouldn't be to pleased seeing two Arsenal people turning up late.
Dispite all the delays. We managed to have a great hour and a half session. You see the changes on their smiles on their faces, downside is all the pictures from that day, was corrupted by memory card. (Stupid memory card!) now, I'm just using the phone memory only.

As the week continues.  The coaches and teachers wanted us to monitor them, while they did their session. In the four day of 'coaching coaches' they were all competent in what they were capable of doing. It was definitely, a long four days, now some the coaches and teachers had the cheek to ask for our jerseys.  There was one in particular moment I had question from a teachers or coaches was 'Cedric, when your done with your socks, I will have them.' My responses. 'These are my work clothes.' It's a bit of shock they would ask for my socks. The next day that same person asked, 'Do you have my socks?' He was persistent that he wanted a football socks. Usual you get this attitude from kids not from adults.
Anyway, I got my first interview from a local radio station called 'Community Radio' I felt like celebrity,  their questions was based on, what are we here to do and if we had any equipment to give away. My answers were 'We're here to build a foundation for the teachers to have knowledge that they can take on.'

Not forgetting, I was driving a 4x4 that didn't get stuck in the mud. To me it was beast riding around. This week was interesting how to cope with awkward questions and trying to get coaches attention and reinforce positive comments. Overall, the teachers and coaches were reacting well to all the session we've done. Using about three ball to 26 people was a great achievement. The numbers did increase during the days.

Week 1

This is my first time at Africa.  What a way to start of by heading off to Malawi.

The first day we reached at Lilongwe International Airport. We were greeted by Bentry and his colleagues. It was warm welcome by Bentry. We jumped the queue for collecting our visa and in a matter of minutes, we were in the car heading to the Tongole Lodge.

Travelling to the lodge it took about over 3 hours. Before, arriving at the lodge, we did stop a few places to get a sim cards and exchanging money. But trip was quite long.

After few hours, we finally show up to the Tongole lodge. We met Zane and the other staffs, who waiting for a long time for us. Had refreshing wet towels to clean of dirt of our faces.

Then, it was off to work the next day. Heading to Lozo secondary school. Where there were teachers to be taught to become better coaches.  'Coaching coaches' took  about 4 days. The P.E teachers in Malawi are called 'Sport Masters '

Met a few schools in the areas. Show one school, Arsenal handball and variety of other activities.

Weather in Malawi is hot at the daytime and cooler at night. We didn't get any mobile signal at Lodge, but there's Internet; which us a release, Yeah! When we did go back to the place we stay, the only contact is radio connection, contacting through the Tongole Lodge. On the other hand, there were other staff members in the campus that would help us out. All these nights we've been sitting at camp fire, which is pleasant,  you would forget about actually life and your stress free. It makes a change.