Day 12 Ramotswa Schools

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Cricket Without Brackendene

Our final morning as a complete team began with team photos on the balcony of the Brackendene Lodge - our ‘Home Away from Home’ for the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow the party splits during the day as we head to different flights home or holiday extensions to the trip.

Photos complete, we loaded the Combi for the last time and headed down to Ramotswa for a second journey into the unknown. Yesterday started looking like a washout and ended with vast numbers of children spread across the Magopane Hill School field playing cricket. So what could we expect today? Good news was that all the teachers who turned up on the first day returned on the second. So by applying ‘continuous assessment’ we were able to satisfy ourselves that they were up to scratch before finishing with a game.

Once again, the Magopane staff invited us to share their lunch - brought to us in a large shiny bucket - actually not as bad as it sounds! The final exchanges of thanks were concluded by the first ( and only!) performance of the CWB Botswana Choir as, in return for their hospitality, we serenaded the staff with our ‘unique’ performance of Jerusalem. Nuff Said!

This afternoon proved to be a similar experience to Thursday with initially around 100 kids turning up for coaching. However once the four games were established, we all experienced ‘player creep’ as additional boys and girls joined in until we probably had around 150 kids participating. So by our ready reckoning we have coached around 1100 kids in the last couple of weeks with probably a few more tomorrow as some us return to the BCA Oval to assist with their Saturday morning sessions. Add to this around 60 odd teaches trained as coaches.

Tonight we will call in on the second semi-final of the Mini World Cup - Zimbabwe vs Pakistan before heading out for a final meal together. ( Last night’s other semi was finally won by Botswana close to midnight after the rain subsided - Thanks Ravi for posting a comment with the result)

So, it’s been hot and it’s been dusty but above all it’s been a fantastic experience. Personally I’d like to thank all team members for making this a great trip for me and all the kids and coaches for the enthusiasm they have shown. Around the coffee and restaurant tables over the past few days, conversation seems to have consistently drifted back to what are we going to do next year to make CWB Botswana 2010 even better………

Cheers

Mark

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Photos

CWB Botswana 2009
On the Balcony of our' Home Away From Home' - the Brackendene Lodge.

The Ramotswa coaches enjoy a game.
As coach training concluded with continuous cricket.

The Brackendene
The Brackendene in all its glory complete with Combi, our kit and us !

The Ramotswa Coaches
The successful Ramotswa coaches (and Violet and Evelyn from Mochudi who came all the way down to see us before we go)

Enthusiam
Typical scene on the sidelines of games

Ramotswa Awareness
More good messages in public spaces - there were many like this in Ramotswa

Comments

[Ravi Angara]

Hi there.....
Am not pretty sure if any of you will read this comment while you are in Botswana.... it was really nice to meet you all and i really enjoyed the last 2 weeks with your company....keep in touch when you get time...

[Ravi Angara]

results
Mini World Cup-Second Semi Final (pakistan Vs Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe won the toss and batted first....scored 141 for 4 in 15 Overs, Pakistan chasing the target were 89 for 8 in 15overs... Blessing Mugumwa scored 45 in 32 bals, Faisal scored 24runs, Amir Shaukat scored 30runs but the man of the match was Innocent Chando 3Overs, 9runs for 5Wickets... Mini World Cup-Final (Botswana Vs Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe won the toss and asked Botswana to Bat first. Botswana scored 189 for 7 in 30 Overs, Zimbabwe were 164 all out in 29.2 Overs, Botswana won the Mini World Cup by 25Runs. John Mokokwe scored 58runs, Manan scored 34 runs, Aiden Rose 6overs 32runs for 4wickets....Reginald 57runs, Aslam chand 5.2 overs 23 runs for 3 wickets, Sidat Shaukat 4overs 13runs for 3wickets...Man of the match was Tarisai Mahlunge who scored 52runs in 48balls. Hope you all had a safe flight to back home, except for Michael and Veronica .....