Week 5/6

It has been a couple of weeks since I last blogged. A lot has happened. Armando has beaten malaria and made a strong comeback, we said goodbye to fellow visitors Jake and Kinvara with a proper African send off and I have even been doing some DIY!!!

Firstly I have to say it’s brilliant to have Armando healthy and back to his usual cheeky self. He has been back to coaching with me and Albin.

I have felt Arsene Wengers struggle this week, as GDMs first team have been struggling with numerous injuries to key players. This is a big problem with the season fast approaching, last week we couldn’t even play a friendly because we had such a depleted team. But the show goes on and we have done our best to put on beneficial training sessions. Week before last we focussed a lot on build up play and playing through the lines, this past week we have focussed more on wide play.

Many of my highlights from my time here in Manica come from the community sessions we visit. I travel to 4 locations in a week to coach different sets of kids. In these destinations you really get to see what Manica is like. Most of my venues are only about 15 minutes walk away, one of them about 30 minutes. Albin and Armando travel further to their sessions, so I guess I got lucky on that one.

One venue I have to cross this bridge to get to:

One venue is high up in the mountain and uses school grounds:

One venue is a dome which was once a bull ring (the acoustics here are crazy).

My final venue is the same pitch that the first team train and play on, but we have to fight for the area as other teams want to use it at the same time:

The environment we coached in whilst in London seems like a distant memory. There’s no ignoring the fact that these kids are very poor, they play in the same ripped clothes and without shoes. Although this may sound like a sad environment to be in, it’s really not. The boys don’t complain about their kit, the lack of equipment or the uneven ground, they just want to play and have fun. This is how they have grown up and football is a big part of their life!

When I arrive at the session I here ‘MUZUNGU’ (white) or ‘JAMSEY’ as they sprint over to me!!For a few minutes before the session we will mess about with the footballs. Kids show me skills they have practised. They hand me the ball, I can’t help but show off with an around the world or two and the kids then try and copy.

I will then put on a coaching session working on their movement and ball skills. It’s a challenge to plan when you have limited footballs and large numbers of kids. I do my best to plan sessions where they are on the move as much as possible and not waiting around in queues. And of course I allow plenty of time for a match at the end. It gets very competitive. Because we have no bibs, one team will pull their shirts over their head so they know who’s on their team.

Every session is a new adventure. Expect the unexpected. The other day my session got interrupted as kids ran away from the set up. I turned around and saw that the boys were running over to this big circle of people. I went over to investigate. In the middle there were a few older boys breakdancing impressively as the crowd urged them on. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say fair play.

It’s funny because now whenever I walk to the shop or to the market I will always hear: ‘JAMSEY’, I will turn around and see some of the boys that I coach with a big smile on their face. They really are some great kids.

By the way if you are trying to picture myself here. Don’t imagine Mozambique as all sun, we have had a lot of rain recently, and when it rains, oh it rains. Isn’t that right Albin?

Last week was fellow visitors Jake and Kinvaras final week at GDM. I had been helping them out with their painting project in the clubhouse. I had to go on Jakes shoulders at one point when we didn’t have the ladder. Teamwork people would have never expected from an Arsenal and a Spurs fan.

The club organised a big feast for them on their last night. This was followed by African style dancing and singing. You dont need speakers and alcohol to have a great party here. It was a night i will never forget. They have done a lot of great work here and it was a perfect send off for them!!!

#Mozambique