Yesterday I was dropped 8am at Olympic High School in Kibera with a suitcase full of football boots and another bag full of t-shirts, bibs, hats and trophies.  Maureen met me there and we left the bags at her cousins place nearby and then walked to her place to have tea and take a few photos for next year's calendar.  WE were back at the school by 10am for a day of training and feedback with the girls team.  Around 30 attended and there are were a lot of new players to get to know.  It was great to see Mercy, Vienda, Beatrice, Lydia and Eunice.  They were all asking after the Sunderland team, particularly Cox and Corby! 

Lydia, Eunice, Vienda, Mercy and Julie with their player IDs

We also had players from the Ujamma school which we have started to support and which we'll visit next week.  We trained hard through the morning working on off the ball movement and decision making.  It was obvious to me that our players have improved and we've also got some really good new players.  Our team is also a young one which bodes well for the coming seasons.  Lunch was mkate na maziwa (bread & milk) in one of the classrooms and after eating we had a feedback session on our first season in the league.  It was the first time they had seen the final league table and they saw how easily they could have finished in the top 3 if a few games hadn't been lost late on.  Some of the feedback: thanks to Sunderland for the support, good that we provide lunch money for games, we don't have to be the best players but we can be the best team, if we've lost we have cried and wept but then still taken photos and had fellwship time with the other team which has been a good attitude, we've proved ourselves as ladies in football and this has really motivated me, need to be more serious in training, there were ups and downs but this shows us the way to pull ourselves up next season.  For next season: aim to finsih in top 2, don't underate the other team,need watercans.  Suggestions: watercans, shinguards, boots, ankle supports, gloves, training bags to carry boots.  We discussed in small groups ideas for new strip colours and the favourite was green shirts, white shorts and green socks.  We also worked on a team rallying call and the faourite was 'with God and teamwork everything is possible'.  I liked 'yes we can' which would be good as a reminder on the pitch.  Other suggestions were 'no losing hope', 'teamwork until the end', 'together we can achieve more', 'never give up, never give in, never give out'.  Then we looked at the suitcase of boots which were donated by Boxford Rovers FC form Ipswich and kindly delivered to us in Sunderland my Melvyn Eke.  Melvyn had suggested we make a photo with the boots writing 'Boxford Rovers'.  The girls were quick to try it out and it worked really well. 

We were then back to the field for some matches and we finished around 6pm with a penalty shoot-out practice.  Maureen arrived back at this time as after lunch she had to go into town to the FKF office to find out about a tournament being organised next weekend.  Unfortunately the matatus had gone on strike so she had to walk all the way there and back.  This also meant it was going to be difficult for me to get back to Joe and Mary's place where I'm staying.  I walked with Maureen and Kevo (our new biggest supporter who I discovered is studying Sports Management at University in Karen) in the dark to the prestige plaza where Joe was able to pick me up around 7.30pm.  Nose got a little sun burnt today as I forgot to put more sun cream on after lunch!  Also returned to an email from the Presiding Bishop Elect of The Methodist Church in Kenya but more about that next time.

Maureen our Kenya Project Co-ordinator was very pleased to see the bag of kit and equipment we've been able to bring, especially the 26 pairs of football boots donated by Boxford Rovers FC (they gave us more than 50 but this is as many as we could get in the bag this time!). 

We visited the FKF (Football Kenya Federation) Nairobi Branch office.  We met the secretary, assistant secretary and the assistant to the assistant.  They were keen that we arrange some friendly matches with some of the Kenyan Premier League teams when we visit with the Samba UK team next year.

We also got a print out of the provincial women league standings for 2012.  Sunderland Samba finished in 9th place (out of 20) in our first season with 12 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses.  We're planning now for the new season which will start in March next year and our hope is of winning the league to gain promotion to the National Premier League. 

Arrived in Kenya today and planning to review our Kenya Project over the next 12 days as well as plan for our next team visit in 2013. Found out today that Kenya Methodist Youth Conference going on from tomorrow until Saturday at Kivu retreat centre near Lake Nakuru – don’t think I’ll be able to visit but hoping that Samba will be mentioned as we try to build a stronger link with young Methodists here in Kenya.

Relaxation day today.  Her with my nephew Anthony lookimg serious.  He says he is serious!  Let's hope he's still serious and get's his shooting boots on when he plays for Samba next year.

Samba Girls trip to Kuria

DATE: 17 AUG 2012


TIME: 10.30A.M

NAME: WINNIE

REPORT ON A FOOTBALL TRIP TO KURIA

The long awaited day finally reached, each player was excited with the trip to kuria most of them it was their first time to travel long distance but this, did not hinder their excitement. The journey started at 7.30pm each player in the bus was chatting with one another, at around 10.30pm everyone was asleep.

We had a stop over at Narok town for about 30 minutes where everyone alighted to help him or herself. The journey continued smoothly, we reached Migori town by 2.30a.m, and waited for our host to come pick us unfortunately, the host kept us waiting because he had to send for drivers who were coming from far place. We were picked at 5.30a.m when everyone was tired and sleepy.

We reached our final destination at 7a.m, our host received us warmly we were given a heavy breakfast and hot water to shower with. We did warm up with the coach at the nearby field after that, we unpacked our luggage and started the tour of the place. We realized that the main activity in the community is cattle keeping.

We noticed people in that community are friendly it did not take time before we started bonding as one family. The food was not the best because some of us had stomach upsets so we decided to cook for our self. As the day ended each player had something to show for instance, we fetched water at the river some of us it was our first time doing that but we still enjoyed the adventure.

On the tournament day, we walk up very early in the morning to prepare for it at the field many people from that community came to watch the games .The first match started at 9.30a.m between schools from that region then our match was next. We easily won the match because of our skills and experience in the game, but our last opponents were a bit tough and we settled for a barren draw.

The event ended at 5p.m, and in the evening, it rained heavily. That night, we had a small farewell party where a goat was slaughtered to some of us it was our first time to see a goat slaughtered, we had supper at 11pm as we retired to bed.

Sunday was our departure day; the host did not want us to live and begged us to stay for even to days unfortunately we could not honor the request. We left for Nairobi very early in the morning; we still had our usual stop over at Narok town after that we proceeded with our journey arriving at 2.30pm.

The trip was fun we enjoyed the adventures and would like to go back again.

Sean's Blog - 10th June 2011

Today was our last day at CHAMRECC School in Mitumba, the day started with a tour of the Mitumba community.  We used the maps that the parents had done in their workshop the other day and visited the different places that they had identified as the key parts of the community. The final touches to the water tank that we have been working with all this week were made and the water tank was placed onto the foundation ready for the water company to come and connect it and fill it up with water ready for the school to put the tank into good use. After the tour and putting the final touches to the water tank it was onto the CHAMRECC school presentations the school went first and we were treated to two tribal dances (they were Luo and Masai) and also a few poems and other songs put together by the kids of the school.

After the school kid’s presentations, they went back to class to finish off the arts and crafts stuff that we had set for the participants who attended the arts and crafts workshop to take back to the class. We had lunch and then went straight into doing our presentation to the school. We started off thanking the school for the hospitality they have shown us throughout the week and to the teachers and pupils also.  We then sang a few songs (red and white is the colour, everywhere we go and a new debut song composed by John to the tune of when I was young) and each class in turn brought their paper chain that they had designed and joined up to make a bigger paper chain  as a whole school. The presentations went down a storm and all in all it was another productive and rewarding week at CHAMRECC School.  The week has gone so fast and we’re looking forward to the next week at Naivasha.

(Sean)

 

Coxie's Blog - Thursday 9th June

Today was our fourth day at CHAMRECC School in Mitumba.   We had the tour of the old school and also the classes.  After the tour of the school we had the parent’s workshop which was all about Gender Equality.  The session went down a storm with both the team and the parents, especially when we did the debate, as recently qualified mason’s construction engineer Jordan is thinking about a career in politics, just kidding.  After lunch we went to the Masai field for the coaching session with the children.  The coaching partners were as followed:

·         Sean and Dan

·         John and Jordan

·         Lawsy and me (Coxie)

The children enjoyed the session.  After the coaching we had our first 11 a side match of the trip.  After the first half we were 1-0 down.  John’s inspired half time team talk made a difference as we turned the game around.  I (Coxie) started the comeback after a great passing move and I slotted it home past the keeper who was diving to his bottom right hand corner, 1-1.  Then a few minutes later Lawsy on his third attempt hit the ball off the post and it rebounded off the keeper and went in, 2-1. We were hanging on to the win but a few minutes later Jordan with the outside of his right foot rounded of a great performance by the team to score, 3-1.  The children were fantastic cheering us on all game.  After that we headed to the Langata field near Kibera for our training session with Samba girls.  We saw better improvement from the girls with their passing and movement off the ball during the session.  After the training session we headed back to the apartment to eat and have a few drinks.  Overall it was an excellent day.

Peace out!

Coxie

John's Blog - Arts Workshop (Wednesday 8th June)

Today the stand for the water tank has made good progress with the top being cemented.  We were leading an Arts workshop in the school today on the theme of ‘building up’ each other in positive ways.  We made paper chains with our names on, learnt a catchy song called ‘build up’ with a few actions to keep everyone on their toes.  It was encouraging to hear the class next door singing along as well!  We did mime including reeling in a very big fish (Lawsy)!  We built up a tower with Jenga blocks and made our own bricks out of cardboard decorating them with ways of encouraging people before building a wall with them.  We had taken quite a bit of materials and resources (pens, pencils, crayons, etc) for the school to keep as well which we will donate at the end of the week and it was good to start off using them.

We also had a tour of the school from teacher Dan which was great as we saw the different class rooms and were able to get some feedback from each of the teachers.  It was good to see the room had improved where a few children who stay at the school sleep.

After lunch we continued with more coaching at the Masai field including one of our favourite games – football rounders.  We were meant to play a friendly match with the Masai community but unfortunately they didn’t arrive in time before we had to leave to get to the training pitch at Langata for training with the Samba Girls.  It feels like we’re starting to get to know them better now and we can see their improvement already in the sessions focusing on making and exploiting space.  It will be good to hear more of their personal stories over the next week and see how best to develop the team.