Mutai visit (sport)

Something amazing happened yesterday just prior to our football at Mama Jane's. Most of their boys walked to the field in shoes, but then took them off to play football in bare feet!
The same happened today with all of the home players in bare feet apart from 'George', a very talented player, whose skills and ball control were that good we videoed him keeping a ball up in the air at the end of the match.
Clearly up against it with skilful and athletic opponents our chances were not helped by searing heat and a pitch of varied lengths of grass! In parts it was knee length, in others bare earth. Putting the right weight on a pass was going to be a challenge but the LP tactic of not using the facilities on offer and hoofing it upfield proved useful whilst Jack and Henry had the energy to chase everything up front.
Trained observers in the game will know that such tactics are rarely successful and, as fatigue set in, attempts to 'play the ball around' were frustrated when either the ball or worse, one of our midfield quartet, got caught up and/or disappeared in the long grass! James, Jordan, Tommy and even the taller Simon all came unstuck in these conditions. A half time score of 1 - 1 was a tribute to the resolute defending of our back four of Alex M, Tom R, Kit and Jonny B and some acrobatic saves from Francois. Sadly, it wasn't to last! As the local primary school flooded out to boost the home support the men of LP wilted under the African sun or got waylaid looking for each other in the long grass! Three further goals for the home side saw the Mutai boys run out 4 - 1 victors but football, fellowship and friendship were the winners! It was a match these boys will never forget!
After lunch, the girls hurriedly organised themselves in preparation for their netball match. The match started on a court with no lines and with a public footpath running through it! The match rules were slightly different to what we are used to as well with no offside rule, no footwork rule, no replay ball and there was certainly contact! It was 'go anywhere you like' netball but, the LP girls quickly adjusted to match their barefooted opponents. The stifling heat and undulating nature of the ground tested the stamina and strength of the visitors who never gave up! The score ebbed and flowed as both sides took the lead at different times. Rossy,Helen and Nicole were the goal scores with Finty and Maya working tirelessly in the centre. Many a home attack came to nothing due to the sterling defence; Martha and Charlotte holding firm there. At the end of a competitive game the final score was 13 - 13 and so, unlike the boys, the girls remain unbeaten in Africa!