Hey PZ followers,
After an incredible weekend in Livingstone the team were back at our project sites around Lusaka on Tuesday morning. It was an especially important week for Tom and I as the match between our football teams was drawing ever closer!
The eagerly anticipated contest finally took place on bank holiday Monday as my boys from the mighty Wembley Delta travelled to the home of Socehaz FC NRDC community ground in Mutendere. The game definitely lived up to the hype as both teams were keen to show off their footballing ability in front of the gathering crowd. Tom’s side settled first and had the better of the play as both sides grappled for superiority in the opening minutes. However, it wasn’t long before Wembley got to grip with the pace of the game and started stroking the ball around in a manner that has been rumoured to have inspired the likes of Pele and Maradonna to the beautiful game. Their dominance soon got it’s just deserts as Chilufiya latched on to a wonderful through ball from Raul “Loreno” Bravo to stroke the ball home for the opening goal.
This dominance lasted for much of the first half but, as one would expect from a team coached by someone whose so headstrong he’s been known to walk around the cold streets of St Andrews in nothing more than a pair of Speedo’s, Socehaz came storming back. And, their usual style which itself has been rumoured to have inspired the likes of Vinnie Jones and Robbie Savage to the ‘beautiful’ game led to the ball being bundled over the line in the dying moments of the first half.
The second half panned out in a remarkably similar way as the first however, Wembley struggled to convert their chances and as the game went on Socehaz grew and started to look the more likely to come away with a win. As extra time beckoned the younger members of the Wembley Delta side began to struggle and a lapse in concentration led to a forward galloping midfielder from the Socehaz being left unmarked and driving the ball home from some 25 yards. There was pandemonium in the crowd and on the pitch and with Wembley desperately charging forward to get a late equalizer Socehaz wrapped up the victory with a flowing counter attacking move.
Obviously, I was devastated by the loss but it was an incredible game and the boys thrived playing in a more intense environment from their usual games. I only wish that I’d gone for the Chelsea style of play like Tom as, even in Zambia, Arsene Wenger’s beautiful football doesn’t produce the necessary results!
Anyhoo, Matt, Harriet, Sheila and I have packed our bags as we leave on Wednesday for ten days in the rural village of Chongwe living off insects and relieving ourselves in a hole in the ground...the other four will face a similar fate when they head off to Liteta on Thursday! I know it’s going to be hard to live without any updates on this little blog but stay tuned as Ailsa has been sent home with two videos that should give you more of an idea of what we’ve been up to out here!
Love to all,
Kyle and PZ x
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Hi guys! This is just an opportunity for you at home to keep updated on how things are going at our end of PZ. We will be updating as often as we can, with photos, videos and no doubt some strange stories of experiences we couldn't have imagined. Take Care PZ Team xxx
