On The Field

I haven’t played a competitive football game since Bogota in 2008, but it’s time to come face to face with my fitness levels as Ginger Warrior has organised a match between my our school and Sandford, the oldest and one of the most esteemed international schools in Addis.

GW collects names from the Secondary and Admin staff, whilst i have no trouble getting 14 names from Primary within 10 minutes. We’ve both brought along site staff too. The game is on.

A bus collects us at 4pm and the spirits tribal and high with Amharic chants and reels as we make the 20 minute journey to Sandford. With 20 players several are disappointed, but GW is lone striker whilst i take up position as right back with the promise to Mr Sasha that i won’t last long as he threatens to walk out having not made the starting 11.

Addis is high, some 8000 feet high, and i quickly become very conscious how much thinner the air is up here - i’m panting during the warm – up! School starts well and we dominate the first 20 minutes. Fortunately, i don’t have much to do and spend my time shadowing their left winger who is half my height, but twice my width. We are awarded a a rare free kick some 30 yards from their goal, and Mr T takes a fast one with GW blasting the ball into the corner of the Sandford goal. But the ref calls play back as he hadn’t “whistled”. He has not blown the whistle once since kick – off!

I make a couple of donkey like clearances and feeling i have “done my part,” i am happy to substitute myself with Mr Sasha. My teachers applaud politely at a truly unremarkable performance. Unfortunately Sasha is even worse than me, and within five minutes Sandford have scored. Sandford dominate the rest of the half, and we’re luck to keep the score 1 – 0.

The second half gets more fractuous between the teams and i’m happy to stand on the sideline and hurl encouragement and support. An own goal draws School level and a great strike by Accounts gives us an undeserved  lead, although it lasts less than 10 minutes as Sandford make it 2 – 2. But School is clearly in the ascendency and Shimeles, our showboating Secondary Maths teacher gives us the lead yet again in the 80^th minute. Time is clearly up, but the ref plays on. And on. He sends Shimeles off for abuse, books Ginger Warrior who is now on the touchline for the same offense, and  eventually, he blows for a penalty. The six foot 6” Head of Primary from Yorkshire is “penalised” by Baruk, our 4ft 11 Maintenance Man, apparently, and the game ends 3 a piece.

Mr T. invites the entire party to a bar opposite Sandford, and in true Ethiopian tradition, after 3 beers, they are all singing and dancing and cheering themselves. I am on the Fanta, it’s getting cold and late, and i just wanna go home for a bath. GW says it’s the best bonding session he could have done with his staff, but i am not convinced. I don’t wanna be liked – i wanna be feared if it forces them to care about teaching and developing their craft, rather than a slack-ass lackadaisical approach they take to be teaching.