Published: 5 September 2006
Lesley's account of the latest visit to Gambia
I boarded the plane at Gatwick full of apprehension and feeling really nervous about the whole trip. It was like it was my first time again and I was shaking like a leaf. However, once we landed at Banjul Airport and I saw my 3 boys - Samba, Amadou and Moms waiting for us in the arrival area I couldn't stop smiling and got the warmest feeling of arriving home (which may sound strange to some people).
The eleven days flew by with loads of badminton being played over that time. All 30 or so of the students have now successfully passed the first badminton award and are all well on their way to becoming good players. One or two have that natural ability we all wish we had and will develop to become great players who could represent their country at larger tournaments.
I spent quite some time with all of the players and so got to know much more about them when talking to them whilst building up a player profile on each of them. I feel that they are now starting to take the game more seriously than they have previously done and they are showing a far greater committment to each other and to their training when it can be arranged.
I got an immense amount of satisfaction out of the fact that there are now 4 girls who are really keen to play and they turned up with their paperwork etc for training on a regular basis. We had to split the group into two so that these groups could train on alternate days which meant that with a smaller group more could be achieved. Many of the students came along to watch and lend their support on the days that they were not actually training which was also excellent and meant that everyone really did get to know each other far better this time.
The general standard of behaviour and competitiveness was excellent and any disputes were quickly and favourably resolved (these usually ocurred when Jerry and I were playing aginst each other!!)
I had a fab time and really enjoyed the whole thing especially seeing a 4ft-ish python slowly crossing the road one night on our way back from a wonderful evening in Youna at Aziz's compound. Those evenings are just the best and most wonderfully relaxing time you could wish for. Can't wait till the next trip which will hopefully be in October - half term permitting.
Thanks to all who came along to make it so memorable and we found the best driver in the whole of Gambia on this trip too, so thanks to Abou for all he did for us as well. Jerry was brill and trained hard also, and is doing well in his role as the Gambian Team Manager now organising training sessions on saturdays with one tournament a month taking place.
Lesley