Day 34

Day 34.

We got a taxi to Cape Town station as we forgot to tell the guys at the learning centre that we had run out of money on our cards! Our fault not theirs! Apart from that, it was the usual route to work.

It was Maja crèche's second turn to experience jeff and I's coaching. We did a warm up incorporating animals and sounds just to get them energetic and then played a quick game of statues. Whenever Jeff  or I blew our whistle they had stop and stand still. Anyone who stuttered and wasn't still like statues, they were out! We did a couple of rounds of that and the kids were not sitting out for long as a lot of the kids reactions were slow! Those two drills lasted a good 20 minutes and then we headed straight on to the game of ten pin bowling but using their feet to kick instead of rolling! One of the teachers teams came first, joe's team second, my team third and Jeff's team last, behind another teachers group! We had 5 teams overall. Another enjoyable session with a crèche!

Next we had a long break, did a couple of admin stuff and then had lunch! I think it's fair to say Joe,Jeff and I are all feeling the effects of a hectic schedule and early starts but most of all the weather! The sun really drains you out here and it's wise to get plenty of fluids on board, wear a cap and get in the shade every now and then!

Our second appointment of the day was in Guglethu, a black township where we have visited a few times! The last time we visited we were welcomed with 80 kids buzzing to play with Arsenal coaches. This time only 34 kids turned up due to the principal only allowing a certain amount of time. Therefore the session was a lot more manageable and this meant we could do the session we had planned! We showed the boys some turns such as the outside and inside turn, dragback as cruyff turn! However to add an edge of competition we made it into races in teams! First of all we would do shuttle races (dribble to the cone and comeback) WITHOUT a race, just so that they could get a grip of the technique and be able to perform without the pressure of a race. Once we were confident they could do this.. We went on to races! First team to do all 4 turns and sit down and scream arsenal wins!!! They had to dribble to the first cone and perform an inside turn and then comeback. The second was an outside turn.. Dribble to the second cone perform the turn and come back! The Third cone was a dragback. The fourth was a cruyff turn! Despite the conditions of a pitch made of sand, thorns and glass! They were all very good! Before we even got there, they were performing a dynamic and static warm up so we gave them the ownership to finish that off! Which we thought would be better than us just barging in and commanding them! Also it meant we had more time to set up perfectly. The session went really well and we ended with a match!

We got back to Berghof at about 6:30 and after a well deserved wash.. It was time for Jeff to cut my hair! He did pretty well to be fair, as well as I expected anyway! Thanks to Joe for lending me his clippers.

Time to go to Jolly Rogers now to watch the match! Come on you gunners.

All the best,

Luke