Coaching Clinic

We conducted a coaching clinic for the coaches in the community and the coaches we had worked with over the last ten days. Due to start at ten am, as usual we began a little later than scheduled. What is so noticeable is how the coaches took time off work and battled public transport to get to the coaching clinic. We eventually had 14 coaches which is a fantastic turn out.

It was a little tough to start as it was a little one way, I wanted to set it up where it was an open forum and we were able to show, discuss and demonstrate ideas together.

So after a quick discussion and covering ideas from the FA youth modules we set about completing a session, a basic passing session encouraging body shape, pre-scanning and movement. The coaches struggled to get it to begin with which emphasized my view that coaches should not get frustrated when players can not get new ideas immediately, because as coaches, we at times struggle to understand it too.

The coaches worked hard and were attentive, as the session continued the lines of communication improved and the discussions developed.

The area that we were using to complete the coaching clinic was also an area which two local primary schools used at lunch break, we were surrounded by little children, some sat watching, some playing and joking around, using tires and sticks as toys, the simplest of things bringing exercise and entertainment.

I think the clinic was successful, and something I certainly enjoyed doing. Hopefully next year when I return we will see some of the coaches implement the ideas and see these ideas in the players. From little acorns, big oak trees grow.

After the clinic we grabbed a quick lunch at Mothers Kitchen in town, and then headed out to Oscerian Flower Farm to watch a match. Most of the flower farms have football teams, similar to how Coal Mines would in the UK decades ago. It’s great for the community to have a team, for young players to watch and aspire to play in and for the community to support. Oscerian play in the 2nd tier of professional football in Kenya, but the match we watched was a reserve team game vs Shalamay, the flower farm team were from the town I had coached at Thursday and Sunday. They play in the 4th tier of football. What a fitting end towards the end of my trip, being able to watch the players and community who I had coached in the week, play. Shalamay are not full time professionals, unlike Oscerian, so the players of Shalamay still work on the flower farms. The match was organized last minute, so it is likely they worked that morning, jumped into a very small van, where it seemed impossible to fit a team into and drove the nearly 2 hours to play.

The game was competitive, and there was plenty of quality on show. After the match I was asked to have a talk with Shalamy and then was introduced to the coaches of Oscerian who Hesbon had played with. I was also introduced to their team, and had a quick chat with them. A great experience. On the way home, I asked Hesbon what was an Africans opinion on a white man? He said that many feel that the white man feels like they are superior to them. I found this notion very humbling, but also found it to be reasonable considering the events of history. I do not understand how anyone should feel they are better than anyone else? Please, I am not trying to say I have never thought or felt this, nor am I saying I haven’t passed judgement on someone before, I am just saying that this trip and this conversation has opened my eyes and mind to many things, and made me look at things in a very different light. My ex-girlfriend is a public defendant and when I asked her, how could she defend those who she knew was guilty, her simple response was “it’s not my job to judge”, perhaps it shouldn’t be any of our jobs to judge?

Scrubs Debut

Tuesday – I had a day off from coaching today, so as I sat at breakfast with the group of doctors, nurses and ultra sound techs that I had joined on this trip who are working at the local hospital I asked Dr. Stice if I could be of any use today? She said ‘yes’ and that I could be a runner between the two hospitals. I thought, sounds decent, I’ll have a bash at that. My room mate Tony had a spare pair of scrubs, so after bombing back to the room, quick change and bombing back upstairs we were ready to go.

On arrival to the hospital the doctors and nurses started prepping for surgery, my main job was to help Michaela continue reorganizing the store cupboard in the old surgery, which is where Dr. Stice would perform her skin grafts.

There are a lot of burn victims in Kenya due to people cooking with open flames, Dr. Stice had four surgeries that day and perhaps the worst was a little boy, no older than four with severe scarring from burns on his face, arms and hands. His arms and hands were so bad that he wasn’t able to use his hands at all. I have mentioned before that the sound of children’s laughter filling the air must be the greatest sound, well certainly the sound of a child crying must be the worst. There was a little girl, maybe three who was going into surgery, as she was leaving her mother and walking towards the unknown, her crying and screams filled the corridor to the theater. It certainly is a sound I won’t be able to forget in a hurry. If you look deeper in why the little girl was crying, you have to consider, not only the fear in the little girl, but also her mother who she was leaving, as well as the little boy who was waiting for his surgery. It’s hard to imagine what was going through their minds.

I do have to say what a great opportunity it was to be around all the medical team and watch them go about their business. When you think of the nature of their work, and how life altering it is, how much pressure they must be under to perform and the stresses it places on them all emotionally, you really look at them all in awe. Great great people doing wonderful things, and truly making a massive difference!!

Throughout the day I worked with Michaela, a former soccer player who I coached in Omaha for Toro Soccer Club, and who also trains at Mick Doyle’s gym with my good friend Matt Bentley, a small world huh? She has done a fantastic job cleaning and re-organizing the storage room.

When you imagine a hospital one of the first things that come to your mind is that they epitomize cleanliness, your view might be slightly changed if you were to visit where we were working.

During the day, we handed out gifts that the doctors had bought over with them, to the children in the children’s ward. Certainly not a happy place. Often there were 2 children to a bed, mothers with them, a hot and humid concrete block. Luckily we were able to put a few smiles on children’s and mothers faces :).

Today had highs and lows The highs have to be in watching the work of the medical team that Dr. Stice has assembled, operating often against resistance from the hospital staff, but still working hard and pushing forward for the greater good. Definitely the lows are when talking to the doctors how many of the current cases could have been prevented if they had received the correct procedure or diagnosis initially.

I feel very grateful for being allowed to witness the work of the medical team and I feel a massive sense of fortune for every patient that was able to be seen by the medical staff from Omaha that day. Omaha – a smaller city in the middle of America making massive difference in people’s on the other side of the world!

Ladies Training Session, Awesome Skills & the Kenyan Football Federation

Today we left early, surprisingly everyone was on time to leave, it has become a bit of a gamble on when our companion and driver, John will come to pick me up 🙂 makes it more of an adventure…. Fair to say he is a top man, but his time keeping makes mine look impeccable.

We picked up Millie, the older sister of Mercy who is one of the Kenyan U17 players. She is 20, and has also represented Kenya at the youth level. A very good attacking player, small, but very quick, great on the dribble, good link up play, and for her height, fantastic in the air! On our way to coaching, just over an hour outside of Naiavasha, we stopped and bought breakfast, Millie had been traveling since 6 am and hadn’t had any breakfast yet, a quick stop for yoghurt and some snacks and water and we were on our way.

We arrived at the football pitch, which looked very lively, when we got there, the school team was waiting, Pasnega Girls team, along with the team were Mercie, Maco, Caroline and their Coach, Emman Wabuchi all from Kasarani (where we coached Thursday and Sunday). We were told there was a better pitch up the street at a Cathedral so we headed up the road and got ready for training. We worked for around an hour and forty-five minutes, completing coerver footwork in pairs before going into a little passing session. The objective was to improve body shape, and movement before receiving the ball, as well as continue to emphasize awareness and scanning. By the end of the session the ladies began to understand it, as always they worked incredibly hard and we an absolute pleasure to coach.

We broke for lunch, and headed back into town, buying water for the ladies, along with bread and milk. After lunch we had arranged for another school team to come and play in the afternoon.

For this match we had a surprise for the ladies, a full kit donated by Barry Richardson from Wycombe Wanderers. The girls were buzzing to say the least. So after a light lunch, fluids and new kit we were ready to play. The ladies lead a warm up and then we kicked off…..

I can honestly tell you that I witnessed some of the best, most creative and enjoyable football I have seen on this trip. Maco, bossing the midfield, she reminded me of Gascoigne, flicks and tricks, keeping the ball ticking over, threading passes through to front men and wide players. What a player!!!! We then come wide to Mercy, playing wide right, a slight winger with plenty of tricks and pace, who can also come off the line to link up play, a bit like Januzzi at United, great quality and you know there is plenty more to come. Caroline, an uncompromising central defender, tough as nails, great in the air, quality as a one v’s one defender and very comfortable playing off her right side and going forward with the ball. Captain of the side with great leadership qualities. Because of her lack of height at center back we will liken her to Cannavaro. And finally there is Millie, I’ve already described her earlier, it could be possible to liken her to Tim Cahill, just because of her great aerial ability considering her height.

The girls were fantastic, passed the ball very well on what was still a lively surface in comparison to what we all may be used to playing on. Looking to take players on, playing from the back and enjoying their time on the ball, an absolute joy to watch.

After the match both teams gathered in the middle of the pitch, we talked to the ladies about how their athletics should go hand in hand with there academics, we handed out kit and boots to both teams and then surprisingly a gentleman from the Kenyan Football Federation appeared. Somehow he had heard about the match, and came to watch, it was great to have him there, to talk to the ladies and endorse what both Hesbon and I were doing, to top it off, he donated money to the ladies to buy snacks on the way home! Happy days!!

It was a great day, again, we coached players, we fed players and we were able to hand out kit, it doesn’t get any better than that!!

Two things that struck me today, firstly, at the start of the day where we were lead in prayer by a young Muslim lady, everyone joining hand in hand in a circle, everyone else Christian. The fact that we did this showed that everyone is equal, what an ideal notion 🙂 Secondly, some ladies began cramping in the afternoon, Mercy included. As you may know one of the primary causes of cramping is dehydration, lack of fluids. It is a necessity for these ladies and indeed all athletes to take fluids, so for next time I will know to budget much more for a this trip so that I can ensure we have plenty of water for the players.

Simple things make for the biggest of differences.

Thank you for reading and thanks again to Bazz and Wycombe for the generous donation!!

Soccer Training, Kit and Lunch

On Sunday we returned to the same town that we visited on Thursday, but this time prepared. Armed with Lunch, enough kit to dress a small army and four different sessions to prepare for.

We were on it!

We arrived and trained the younger boys first. We completed dribbling skills at the start of training and then put them into little chaos practices; small sides games. The boys are first class, again some talent that would fit right into any academy system. Gabrielle was the best player for me, so we kitted him out fully, shorts, shoes and a pair of Adidas boots. I saw him later that day and asked where his boots were, he said they were at home, and already cleaned! What a legend!

We had close to 30 players in the first group so we split the group in two, taking the younger players into the shade to hand out lunch, simply a carton of milk and 3 slices of bread. After lunch we handed out kit, and were lucky enough to have extra lunch and kit to hand out to the young, non soccer players who were at the pitch.

On Thursday I met 3 little boys who were hilarious, playing, giggling, running around, they couldn’t have been any older than four. I saw one of them again, the cutest little man you could meet. On Thursday he was in tattered clothes, ripped bottoms shaggy shirt. Luckily I was able to kit him out, and he joined in lunch with the boys!! From that point on the wee man wouldn’t leave my side 🙂

Later that day we trained a high school age group of boys. The tempo of the session was okay, but not high. I have learned to consider several things for this. Immediately you consider the heat, it was roasting. You then consider that the players are a little nervous when working with a new coach, and obviously there is a language barrier, but perhaps the biggest element to consider is who knows when these boys had eaten last or drank water. As soon as we bought bottled water, the players come around asking for it. It’s a factor you do not have to consider in the western world, you often have to consider if the players ate correctly (did they eat too much?) and at the appropriate time, you certainly don’t need to worry about if they ate at all. Another thing to consider would be equipment, some bare footed, some wearing just one shoe, the toes kicked all the way through, so you can see their socks, that’s if they are lucky enough to have a pair. Through it all though, they players smile, they are attentive and really try to apply what you are showing them.

In all honesty, in the western world, what do we really have to complain about?

The final session was with a group of young ladies from the village. It was a very talented group with some top players who were again on a different level. I think the important thing to consider is that football is all they really have outside of going to school. Their town is simply in existence because of the flower farm, their homes are right next to the farm, from the pitch you can see workers picking weeds. My point is that football is their only outlet and chance to play, there are no play stations, xboxes, touch screen phones, at its simplest form it is just school and football, so it’s no wonder these players are so good, they are always playing.

My feelings leaving the town today are in complete contrast to leaving on Thursday, firstly I knew what to expect and secondly we came prepared. When we arrived some guys from the town were cutting the grass with long blades, they were trying to improve the pitch for the children, again the community working for each other. We then coached over 80 players that day, coached, fed and clothed as many children as we could. Leaving knowing that we were able to do that for the children, made this day, a fantastic day!! Roll on tomorrow 🙂

Side note: Oh on the way home we saw baboons crossing the road. It’s not every day you can say that.

Soccer Training Helps Feeds The Community

Today was a fantastic day.

During the week we had identified 35 players from each training session who were to come for a full days training and then play matches. As it turned out we had close to double that, over 60 players. I can only presume that word had gotten out throughout the community as the numbers increased in both players and spectators.

Unfortunately, it rained the night before, leaving the pitch very muddy, with large puddles across it. As always, this didn’t stop the quality or energy, the players just played as normal.

We started off with 4v1’s in a tight 8×8 area, defenders on the outside of the grid, rotating in on the command of “change”, so the defender was fresh and the players had to be aware of where he was coming in from. We then went into a session I watched online from Gareth Southgate, encouraging creative play. 9v9 in a tight area, keepers at each end, trying to either dribble or receive a pass over the end line. We had 3 of these games going on at once, rotating teams around.

The players play with great imagination and are very instinctive but what we need to keep adding is a greater awareness of their surroundings, so sessions like this, in tight areas where there is always a press on you makes you develop a plan and ideas in your head before receiving the ball.

After we played this, we decided to play 11v11 matches to help accommodate the amount of players. We had five teams and played first goal or 10 minute match. Winners stayed on. We played till 12.30 and then broke for lunch.

Lunch was the very best part of my day. We went to buy the players lunch. A simple plain lunch of bread and milk was all Hesbon said we needed to get.

This meal which was graciously received here, would have most children in other countries turning their noses up. As we were handing out food to the players, much younger children approached hoping for food too. There was no way we could leave them out, so John and I hopped in the car, rushed back to the shop and bought enough to feed the young children at the park.

Happy days 🙂

In the afternoon, we played 11v11, Hesbon organizing, myself observing. Our idea is to produce a top team for Naiavasha to be coached by Hesbon, and hopefully get the players recognition both in Kenya and Internationally. My hope would be able to offer players the opportunity to play collegiate football in the US.

We played all afternoon, and when we finally bought the curtains down on a great day every player and spectator at the pitch came in to hear what we had to say.

To top today off, I received an email from a coach in Florida with regard to the Kenyan Under 17 ladies, maybe we are slowly moving in the right direction?

It’s a start…. 🙂

Soccer Training Session For 60

A more relaxing day. Hesbon and I walked into the town, and then had some lunch at our usual place, “Mothers Kitchen”. We were scheduled to visit two orphanages but they were sitting exams at the first orphanage today which put a stop to us going there. We left to visit the second one later that afternoon, around 4.30. It was an all boys orphanage and as we arrived the boys were walking back from school. Excited for a soccer training session they quickly changed into their kit and were ready to go. We allowed them ten minutes or so of free play, so gave them the footballs and let them enjoy themselves. The sound of laughter filled the air. I can’t think of a better sound, especially considering the environment we were in. We had 60 players in the group, so we decided the best way to accommodate them would be ball orientated relay races to begin with followed by games. The players were, as always, very energetic and it was obvious to see some of the quality, especially in the younger players. One boy stood out, Joseph, he couldn’t have been any older than 5, a tiny little man who had personality in abundance, not to mention ability. He stole our hearts, so we felt compelled at the end of training to give him a full kit, shirts and shorts.

All the boys were great, and the visit certainly raised my spirits considering the emotional day before. Great kids who just need a helping hand to keep them moving in the right direction.

Heavy Heart

A very emotional day, which bought me to tears.

I have never seen anything like it and I know my photos do not do it justice. The poverty in the area we coached in today was so obvious. On the way to the town, we gave a young mother carrying her child a ride, she couldn’t have been older than 14 or 15. Hesbon (the local coach I am working with) told me that families will sell their daughters as young brides for money or in the exchange for cattle. I will let the pictures explain the homes of the people and the streets that the children played in, but as I said, they will not full tell the story.

We drove to a gated community of houses which are used to accommodate the workers of the flower farm just next door. Basic concrete blocks, rows of them, with wooden doors and shutters for windows. We drove up to the pitch, which was adjacent to the flower farm, never had the image of wealth and poverty been so apparent. You have a farm making so much money on one side, and the very basic homes of the workers on the other…. I can’t help but think there must be a better balance.

On a football side of things, I was very fortunate to work with a team of wonderful ladies. All 16-18 years old and the best team in the district. 3 players represented Kenya U17’s National Team, 2 played for Kenya last week in a tournament in Tanzania, the 3rd couldn’t go as she didn’t have a passport. These ladies could play! And would be an asset to a College Program in the US without a doubt. It was a pleasure working with such quality, but then after the session I began to realize that what I am doing is just a very small drop in a very large ocean. I feel very helpless as I can not do enough, and sadly if I can not help these ladies then the likelihood is that they too will end up working on the flower farm and not fully achieving what they could with the talent they have.

During the second session with the older boys, as the afternoon moved into early evening, the numbers grew, people coming from work, showing up to the pitch to play. It was amazing, a training session, turned into a community match. It was beautiful to see players joining in, grabbing a bib and coming and playing, the quality was high, the commitment levels would rival that of any professional match and the very best thing you could hear was laughter, during training and the match. I can not think of a better sound to hear in players, young or old!

Despite of the poverty these children live in, they are happy and full of smiles and laughter.

Personally, today was hard and one which I know has changed me…tomorrow we visit the orphanages, I am sure an environment which will change me again!

Thank you for reading!

Kenya is Teaching Me Than I Can Possibly Teach Them

We had to leave early to drive back to Nairobi to buy new coaching equipment. It was obvious upon arriving in Nariobi that the city has some serious money, when you look at the business buildings that have been built and some of the cars that are being driven around in the city. Traffic in the city was hectic, but we eventually made it. The shopping experience was a new experience for me, and I am not sure I can do it justice via text. In the end, we did manage to buy 15 balls, 40 cones and 12 bibs, the cost came to $500. Thankfully I received donations from 3 of the doctors who in traveled with and paid just over $100 myself to cover the remaining balance.

After that we were on our way to a school which was at the bottom of the Rift Valley, a 9KM drive down the mountainside to get into the valley and to the school. We were welcomed when we arrived by the assistant head teacher, the schools coach and other teachers at the school. All the children had uniforms on and the teachers were dressed in long white coats. With everyone wearing the same uniform the feeling of identity and commitment was obvious.

We had 20 female players and 38 boys, all of different ages. The ability levels were high, but the session was challenging with that amount of players, myself leading it and the 15 balls we had purchased. After a big group dynamic warm up, technical work in groups of 4, which for the most part they excelled in and small sided games (4 games of 6/7 aside) going on at once as a tournament were we really able to see the players express themselves.

After the small sided tournament the ladies played 10v10, a great game which was cheered on by the boys, and other students which came to watch. The match went to pennos and then sudden death pennos, there was one young lady in particular who had good ability and the biggest of hearts. After scoring a worldly free kick in the match, she ran off celebrating like she had scored the winner in the World Cup, it was an amazing sight. Unfortunately for her, her team came second in the penno shoot out and she burst into tears. Not only because of her ability, but also her effort and passion, we were able to somewhat lessen the blow by giving her a new pair of Adidas boots. What happened next just blew my mind…. Immediately after receiving her new boots, she gave her old ones to a younger boy who’s shoes were ripped! Such a selfless act!

After the ladies had played, the boys came on, 3 teams, first team to score or 10 minute game, the pace and tempo was incredible, the commitment is something to behold, how hard the boys tackle, how they sprint for every ball, how they get frustrated at themselves when really the fault is in the pitch and it’s lively surface, not the player himself. Two players stood out for me, one boy who calls himself “Santi” after the Arsenal player, he is the best player I have seen so far and would fit and excel in any academy I have worked in. Pace, ability, flair, creativity, he has it all…. And then Stevie, who I would call a technician, great composure and quality on the ball, and a wonderful young man, all while playing in green plastic plimsolls.

After the games had a presentation of new kit and donated boots to the players who their coaches and teachers decided deserved not only through their endeavor on the pitch but also in the class room, we then took on big photo of the group with the mountains in the back ground. A five hour coaching session, 58 players, plenty of smiles, and the sense I am perhaps learning more from being in Kenya than I can possibly teach.

A final note….we gave a boy a lift to his new home, he lost his old home in the recent violence in Kenya, he now walks to school each day, a 3 hour walk there and back, a 6 hour round trip. He does this every day, leaving his house at 4am to get to school on time… #inspirational

The Soccer Skills Continue to Blow Me Away

Today was a wonderful experience, the pitch where we coached today was on the grounds of a wildlife sanctuary, We were surrounded by Zebras, Giraffes, and Antelop.  As with previous days, straight away today it was obvious the players were of a great standard. but in other ways it was completely opposite from the day before where we had 58 players were it was more a case of accommodating the players and providing an environment for them to play in. Today I was actually able to coach with the 21 players. The quality was good and the focus was body shape and pre scanning before they received the ball in order to switch the play. The players are very instinctive, and I don’t want to take this away from them. Their natural quality and innovation is something that must be praised and nurtured, but if I can help add a little something to compliment their game and add ideas to progress their game then I will feel that the coaching is worth it.

After training in the morning and then playing 11v11 in the afternoon our work with this group was done. We were able to hand out kit and supply players with boots who had previously come with broken boots or normal shoes. We took some great photos and then were on our way down the road to a primary school.

We set up, and a group of 18 boys came, around the age of ten, all bare footed and still in their school uniforms. We did little dribbling challenges, 1v1 matches, then 4v4 and 5v5 matches. Before finishing off with 9v9 match at the end “Kenya v Brazil”. I was blown away by their ability. The skills they know already are ones that we have to teach in academies. Little drag backs and step-overs are skills they already have in their locker. They are self taught. I will upload a video later, but from video you will be able to see they also have an understanding that you do not always have to go forward, they are comfortable checking out of pressure and going backwards. Again, I’m simply blown away!!

With it being a small group, we were able to give every player at least one pair of shorts or one shirt. For me this was and will always be the very best part of my day. And I wouldn’t have be able to do this without the help of many people who helped donate kit and those who have helped sponsor my trip. So thank you!!

Day Three Coaching in Naiavasha, Kenya

Every day has provided me with new experiences.

Above coaching with Coach Hesbon (a local coach – wearing blue t-shirt)

Below pictures of the second coaching session at a local primary school. All the players are in bare foot and showed unbelievable ability which blew me away.

Looks like I’m not the only one enjoying this soccer coaching experience.