The Fredericton Wanderers of Brikama

The soccer (football) season back home is fast approaching, and this past weekend I proved to myself that I'm about two-months away from game fitness...luckily the season starts in exactly two months.

I was invited to the bustling hub of Brikama (really the centre of action on the West Coast of The Gambia...think Truro...or better, don't ever think of Truro...think instead of Moncton)--all traffic seems to run through Brikama--to join my former NSGA colleague and good friend, Jerreh Manneh to play with his senior men's team in a "test match" against a local academy team. Me, old legs, out of practice, unfit, out on the field with a group of nimble and tough 20-25 year olds, squaring off against Team "Two-a-days" (in the form of this youth academy--no joke, these kids practice for upwards of 5 hours daily). And get this...Jerreh plugs me into the central midfield!! Luckily a three man midfield and tells me to just hang in the middle of the field and hold things up..."Yessir" I say, the less running the better.

And so we played...on the FIFA installed field turf that bears little more than two years of wear and tear. (From what I've been able to discern...there are three grass fields and the one turf field in The Gambia...the rest is dust and dirt my friends).

It was spectacular. A real soccer (football) game, on real fake turf, with two real teams, with a real-ish referee...and I made it through the whole first half...barely. These kids can run...and run...and run...and run. And, I cannot.

But we managed to pull out the 2-1 victory, and all and all, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get out and have a good run on the field.

Here comes the kicker (see what I did there)...my club team back home, the Fredericton Wanderers has been looking to partner with a Gambian club, association, group of teams, etc. for the past several weeks. When I told Jerreh of my idea to partner with his team and provide a sense of goodwill through football across the pond, the boys immediately took to the idea and OFFICIALLY changed the name of their team to: The Fredericton Wanderers of Brikama. I left them with a football and a nominal sum of cash as starter money for their upcoming season and promised to develop a close relationship between our two teams...something that we can use to promote global friendship through sport.

The Fredericton Wanderers of Brikama

I can't wait now to get home, get fit, and get out on the real fake turf to start the season.

Until Next Time...Don't Stop Believin,

Matty

On the Road Again

I’m back! Back from the road...again. This time, from a full week’s worth of entertaining and informing young and old alike in communities of the Upper River Region (URR). I was stationed in Basse—the hub of URR action and, as it turns out (despite its mere 300kms distance from Fajara), a long drive...try almost 8 hours. But, the drive itself is lovely, the “highway” is well-manicured, the scenery at times is breath-taking, and I got to take two ferry rides each way, as we criss-crossed the River Gambia heading up-country.

Sunrise at Georgetown Ferry on the River Gambia

Now, like my previous roadie, the purpose of the expedition was to educate and inform youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and empower them with the necessary Life Skills to live happily and healthily. This time, however, we were dealing with out-of-school youth (aged 20-45). Everything proceeded famously, although much of the training was done in the Mandinka language...of which I am still a basic novice in comprehension, oral and certainly written...but I’m learning!

The highlights of the trip for me, however, were the evening soccer training sessions (here forth known as “football”) at the local pitch...err sandlot, followed by the nightly presentation of NSGA’s community cinema shows put on by my partner in crime, Pa-Madou Sarr (NSGA Media expert and trainer). Each night, myself and Pa, with Uncle Sanna at the wheel would head into a different small village on the outskirts of Basse and set up shop with our two speakers, stereo system, projector and screen, to show one of the many dramas recorded by the NSGA drama troupers (these skits deal with a wide range of health issues including teenage preganancy and early marriage).

See video below. (Err...don't. I tried to upload a video, but the connection here is too slow. Just one of the challenges at hand)

To top the whole trip off, upon the completion of our workshops, the local Basse Youth Association hosted a friendly football match in which yours truly suited up (luckily, as I mentioned, I had been training throughout the week) and stole the show...well not really, at times I felt I was wading through quicksand out on the dust and dirt. I would be running to receive a ball on terre firma when all of a sudden the earth would give way and I would be ankle deep in sand. I kid you not, it’s a whole different kettle of fish from what I’m used to dealing with back home. But, I did manage to set up a beauty goal (long ball chased down by one of the many Speedy Gonzalez’s out playing...man these guys can motor) and at the end of the second 25-minute half we were knotted at two goals apiece.

Basse Red Devils...and white guy

There is lots more to tell about my time in Basse, but I’ll save those stories and offer a steady dose of blog action as this week passes...my treat to all you faithful followers out there.

Glad to be back at the homestead...M.C. and I indulged in a few JulBrew’s as we debriefed Friday down at the beach (M.C. had been in the Central River Region village of Somma) and then hit the “town” with a cluster of U.S. Peace Corps members celebrating the Thanksgiving weekend. 

So yeah, glad to be back in Old Jeshwang and connected here in Fajara...but to be honest...I can’t wait to get on the road again.

Till next time, Don’t Stop Believin.

Matty

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