The Boys' Big Adventure

It was saturday afternoon at the end of a hard week painting at the Childrens home and remand centre. We had been treated to a display of African dancing and drumming by the Amani kids. We had been beseiged by the local paparazzi and it was time for some R&R. It was time for Premiership football.

An intrepid party set forth from the hostel in search of satellite TV. We tried all manner of reputable and not so reputable establishments- all to no avail. Babycham and Captain Darling were so fatigued they had to stop for supplies. Things were not looking good and the boys were on the verge of turning back. Then we were greeted by a young Tanzanian gentleman with the customary greeting of 'Jambo'. "We're looking for Premiership football, can you help?" was our desperate plea. "Follow me", he replied and so we did. We followed down many back streets getting further and further from the main road. Just as we began to think that we were completely lost with neither football or any way of returning to civilisation our luck changed. Ahead of us was loomed a bar with a beef carcass hanging in the doorway. We were ushered through the bar. At the far end of the courtyard were some imposing cast iron gates. Dare we peer into the void beyond? We were intrepid explorers far from home and on a desperate win or bust mission, so we did. And the sight that met us was like Cloumbus discovering the new world- it was pure joy my friends. Ahead, on a tiny TV was Chelsea V Southampton in full swing with local Tanzanian crowd roaring. We were found seats. We were given cool drinks to refresh our aching limbs. It was a little slice of heaven. Things got even better for Ginger Spice as Chelsea went 2-1 ahead. He celebrated with aplomb. He was the only one, until he was joined by a solitary Tanzanian who felt a pang of sympathy. Then, suddenly disaster stuck: A power cut. Tanzania's hamster wheels incorporated ceased its supply. What a cruel blow. The boys had journeyed. They had toiled. They had striven and thought they had reached the promised land. But it only lasted seven minutes.

But it was character building...