Streets

If I needed a reminder that I'm working in the hood/streets/ghetto/whatever I was reminded since the last update. There was a kid named Juma who had been coming since the beginning, however he started missing practices then just stopped coming altogether. A few days ago I was using a route to get to the field that goes right behind the 'slum' area, Mathare, of Ngong and I could see Juma ahead in the distance standing at the start of this large trash dump that covers at least an acre and is located at the tail end of Mathare. He was standing with a few other kids his age and I could tell he saw me coming because he tried to hide as I neared. I didn't continue on the path direct to the field but started on one that would take me right past him. As I passed him I didn't stop walking but just said, "Well look who it is. Its okay you'll come back to practice one day." I was about to stop and ask him why he'd stopped coming but before I could some thirty something guy a little ways away, who I'm guessing was like his (gang) boss started yelling at me after he'd heard the last thing I'd said to him (as it had been in Swahili). I couldn't understand what he was saying but I believe the gist of it was to leave his little minions of trash rats alone. I just kept walking, I didn't want to cause trouble for Juma or make problems for the team since we use a field nearby (and I only have so much mace).
Anyhow, long story but keep old Juma in mind. Its just a reminder that most of the time people fail not because they don't have the ability or get the chances, they simply just choose not to take the chances when they get them. A big reason people choose not to is fear, and usually that fear is just a fear of what people will say if they do. In Juma's case scared of what his "friends" will say.
All that didn't get me too down though because later I heard an excuse that I'm sure not too many coaches outside of Africa get, "Coaches (I'm not sure why they refer to me in the plural but with my Swahili the way it is I don't say anything), Sam will be gone for two weeks to get circumcised"
The skills and fitness tests are still going on but so far they are going well.
Thanks for checking in, holler at you again soon.