Friendlies

During the first couple months the team was starting, we played a few friendlies to gauge where the guys were in their football ability. After those very casual games it was clear they still needed to learn fundamentals not only pertaining to their skills but also in how they approached and played games. For example they were very lackadaisical in the way they just walked out there and let whatever happen happen, which was letting the other team do pretty much whatever they wanted. They weren’t thinking about what they needed to do in the position they were playing or about getting a good result.
Since May we have been learning those things by practicing and playing amongst ourselves without any contact with other teams. I feel like during that time they have grown. From learning to keep their foot straight when they pass to going into a game with the desire and confidence that they can win it, I believe they are ready to be tested in real games against other teams.
We started this campaign of seeing where they are now at last Thursday against the junior varsity team of Rosslyn Academy (a school in Nairobi). While Rosslyn won the match 1 – 0 the teams showing was much more positive. Actually the main thing that kept them from getting a draw or a win was an oversight on my part in that I hadn’t taught them the offside rule. I had just ASsumed they knew it. But they didn’t and not only did being offside cost them literally about twenty attacking opportunities it caused the defense to stay back and allow Rosslyn’s offense to come at them instead of staying on them and preempting attacks.
While most spectators of the game probably came away noticing a few individuals on the team, because of some good individual performances, I feel positive about the first game because the guys know what they have to do for the team to be better. And they’ll get the chance to do those things in our next game, which will be this Monday in Karen against a school called St. Christopher’s. So keep the guys in your thoughts and prayers as that approaches. I know they are encouraged by your following their progress here on the blog, so keep reading also (and start commenting).
And one more thing. There is a kid who recently moved to Ngong and a little over a month ago started joining us. He is 15 and has played before on teams in the various places he has moved to in and around Nairobi. Anyway his skill very nearly made me weep for joy, I mean it was truly beautiful. And he looked like he’d come straight out of the aforementioned trash pit that separates the field where we practice and the area where he and most of the other guys live. However he has stopped coming and even missed the game on Thursday. I know his absence is not due to his not wanting to play anymore or his joining another team so pray that whatever it is keeping him from being able to play stops and that he his able to follow his God-given gift. Because believe me, he has a gift and I know that whatever it is stopping him from coming isn’t coming from above. It’s starting to really get to me and I’m about to go hunting for him to drag him back if I have to.
However overall things are very positive here and we are all excited for the next game. Talk to you then