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Rob Webber: coached and played village football
in Ghana
Although I had no coaching experience and was
a pretty average player, Gap Sports Abroad gave
me the opportunity to go play and coach football
in Ghana. I was taken to my village on a Wednesday,
with three other GSA coaches, ready to start coaching
for a tournament on the Sunday. The children were
between 9 and 21 and they arrived in their 'numbers
'(about 75 of them!) all ready for a 'super session'
from their white man coach! With only 7 balls
and 18 cones there wasn't much I could do but
I split the groups up and got them playing five-a-side
football, which went down very well!
The
session was great fun and, to my surprise, they
all clapped me afterwards, and then cleaned my
boots and kit ready for me to wear the next day.
After some drills and a practice match during
my 6am(!) coaching session, I selected a squad
of 18 players ready for the tournament. That evening
the other GSA coaches came to my village for a
drink - the local spirit stuff is pretty strong
so we ended up trying to catch goats - we failed
miserably and ended up in a ditch!
The
day of the tournament arrived and my village team
played against the other GSA village teams. The
atmosphere was great with loud African music throughout
the match, plus a lot of Shaggy! My team lost
the semi-final on penalties - I didn't feel too
gutted though, since it had been such a good laugh,
but I must have looked upset - one of my players
came up to me and said 'Mr Rob - don't worry it's
only a game!' Indeed it is, but what a crazy,
unpredictable and passionate game it is in Ghana!
Further
Information
Gap Sports Abroad Ltd
P.O. Box 1027, High Wycombe, HP13 7ZF
Tel: +44 (0)870 837 9797
Fax: +44 (0)149 476 9090
www.gapsportsabroad.co.uk |
