Challenges

During last week’s training and tournament, it was difficult being at the mercy of the Constituency Officials for all the arrangements for our team. On one hand it was nicee that I wasn’t having to pay for things out of my own pocket, but the lack of control was frustrating at times.

They tried to force us to take 9 players from a neighboring constituency. When I tried to send five of them back home because they weren’t good players and their discipline was not good, I met resistance. Even to the point that one of the officials paid for them to travel to Kisumu on their own and meet us on our arrival, much to my own shock and that of the players.

On Friday, we were supposed to leave Mbita for Kisumu by 8:00 a.m. and arrive early enough to settle in and practice. Because of financial arguments and other problems, we didn’t leave until the afternoon. Then they crammed all of our players and the boys team into a minibus that wasn’t big enough. The boys were rude and were speaking bad things towards everyone around, including the girls.

In my last blog I shared about the problems with the meals and trying to play matches on empty stomachs. Finally, both teams had lost out on Sunday morning and were ready to go home, but the officials forced us to wait until Monday to leave. The bus was supposed to arrive by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, but was three hours late again. When we tried to leave, the boys team took all the seats and forced the girls to stand. Some of the boys team wouldn’t give back their uniforms which forced the officials to take them to the police station where a riot almost broke out between the police and the boys.

Being around all of these problems helped me to realize how well-behaved and disciplined our girls are. We have built a strong tradition on the field and off of it. Even the four girls that joined our team from our neighboring constituency quickly adapted to our way of doing thins. The girls stayed positive and worked hard through all the difficult circumstances. There wasn’t much complaining from any of them. I think it also made the girls to appreciate how much our own club officials and coaches care for them and how well we take care of them. Each of the difficult situations was a learning opportunity for all of us. They help us to learn what is wrong and what is right.

I learned that if we qualify for a tournament like this again, I will demand that our training, transporation, accommodation and everything else will be separate from the boys. I will give the officials the budget and ask for the money so that we can handle these situations ourselves. But I also know that, whatever the circumstances, our girls will persevere and do their best!