Pics

Hoping these pics will come out. Check out the mud huts which are just 5kms from Nkandla and typical of the area. The number of cows boost the attendance figures at the stadium (pitch is not bad compared to the other grounds).

Computer is so slow i can't be asked to add any more at the moment. I'm in Durban with my mum so just enjoying some family time....in the internet cafe...

Right Midfield

I hear England may be looking for a new right midfielder now that Becks seems to have played his 99th and last game, look no further than the Blue Stars' no. 7! In our last two games we have won 4-1 and 5-1 and a number of the goals have been supplied from the right wing. And this was on a pitch with no grass and against oppositions who were a lot younger and fitter than i am (more comparisons with Becks). On Sunday i put in an inch-perfect cross for our no. 10 to nod home much to the pleasure of my watching management (all of whom were getting pissed on whiskey on the sidelines!!).
On a more disappointing note i am constantly aware that i am not completely accepted as one of the boys. I guess this is not surprising seeing as i am the only player who seems to have a job - and certainly the only one whose job pays well. So when 2 of the lads pitched up at the hospital today to ask for 50 Rand it was difficult to say 'no'. But i did as i'm no pushover and have been giving the management money to buy new balls (and hopefully not whiskey!).
Been having great chats with people both in England and Australia - i really appreciate the calls so please keep them coming. Work often gets me down as it is so frustrating and difficult to change peoples bad habits, so to have a laugh with friends on the phone is a real comfort!

No Show

Comical moment for me on Saturday. Having driven to Mthingwa high school for a game with the Blue Stars i was told that it had been switched to the Nkandla Stadium which was a few kms away. I was so pleased as there wasn't a blade of grass on the school pitch and the stadium has a full time groundsman! So i got there and we were messing about waiting for the oppo. I won the team penalty shoot-out comp and was elected taker for the game! Then the boss told us to get changed and did the team sheet (still no sign of oppo) and we jogged to the half way line for the customary inspection by the referee in full kit, shinpads and boots. He took his R120 fee, blew his whistle and my teammates all laughed and we jogged back to the manager! At this stage i asked one of the guys who speaks good English what was happening, and he told me the other team weren't coming and we automatically won 2-0!! Comical, classic moment as i didn't have a clue what was happening and was all stretched and ready to play!
I also had a wry smile on another interview panel yesterday. There was only 1 candidate for a very senior nursing position - the other candidates had been disqualified as they had not produced their documents. When i looked at the nurse's CV, 2 of her referees were on the interview panel!! Is that legal? Surely that is against employment law?! She was very good (and connected) so we gave her the job anyway..

Headline News

This week Nkandla was the headline story on the national TV news for all the wrong reasons. The local old age home at Kwamadala had a fire on the male ward and consequently 12 people died as the ward was locked shut! I was on duty and treated patients brought to the 'resus' with smoke inhalation, fortunately none of them seriously. Then today i went as part of a health screening team to the Home to assess the other residents. The place was gutted with fire and it was a very sad sight. The politicians have all been making noises about 'improving things' but ultimately this is another example of how backward parts of South Africa really are!
This has been a truly extraordinary week and one i will never forget.
I also played for my team the 'Blue Stars' on Sunday and the pitch was inside a School for the Deaf. It was definately the worst pitch i have ever played on with very little grass, fortunately i play right midfield so see the most grass out of everyone!! It was amazing to have all these deaf kids surrounding the pitch and then at half time crowding round me and just gawking! As we'd had no water i had a lot of stubble and they kept miming about my face. I am so lucky to have had such an experience - nowhere else on this earth apart from Africa could such a scene have existed..

Disaster

Nkandla is officially a disaster. I'm half-cut for reasons that will be explained later so sorry if this doesn't make much sense. on Thursday there was a massive storm with thunder, lightning and hail. Rivers of mud flowed through the hospital. Consequently we have had no electricity, water and my car was damaged in the process. A number of houses were flooded with mud as were some of the wards....this place is a disaster!!!
My car was towed to the nearest Opel dealership this morning...2 hours away! So i am stuck! Having texted a number of mates in Oz who told me how good a time they were having, i decided to make the most of it. So i joined a guy from the hospital and we went to the village and had a braai outside the butchers. Not sure about the meat (no refrigeration) but after a few Amstels and with everyone staring at the strange white man cooking and drinking in the street, i settled in. we then retreated to sitting under a tree (it was hot) and checking out girls, drinking more beer and chatting about the world. I felt very local and not bored at all. After chatting up the very tidy paramedic who works in the hospital i have retired here as we have power now. It has been a very African Saturday and one that i will not forget for a long time.