SQUAD REACHES OUT TO DEPRIVED CHILDREN
When the RAF Football Association (RAF FA) women’s squad flew into South Africa, little did they know that they would achieve more, in every aspect, than anyone could have envisaged. Since first visiting the Olympic standard accommodation of the High Performance Centre (HPC), Pretoria in 2004, the RAF FA has maintained its support of local teams, shelters for homeless children as well as township leaders working hard to take their communities forward.
But this visit was the first in many ways for the RAF women – their first visit outside Europe, a first for a women’s military football, the first international fixture and, amazingly, two international wins. Not only did the women the fixtures, but they also took part in events and activities that stretched and developed them in sporting and, importantly, in personal terms.
In soaring temperatures, humidity and altitude (Pretoria is 5000ft above sea level), the 10 day programme was certainly demanding. A bright idea from squad member Cpl Sophie Wolfe to ‘beat the heat’ had the team training at 6.30am every day. Ignoring the early morning grumbles, Wolfie, an RAF PTI, put on some fantastic training and within days the girls could feel their fitness improving through this training and the grillings from the backroom team of Chf Tech Wilky Wilkinson, FS Chris Peacock and Cpl Aldo Grant.
Success in the university fixture was complemented by the squad putting on coaching clinics for street children being cared for by local shelters. This year, with the focus on raising the profile of women’s football, the invitation was extended to Home for Hope, a girls’ shelter. There was no doubt that every one of the children had a memorable day and the smiles hid the incredibly difficult lives they had endured. Many were orphaned through AIDS. Had walked for days to reach Pretoria and most found out about the shelter through street liaison workers trying to reach out to abandoned youngsters, some as young as six. Their genuine happiness was infectious. Team captain SAC Claire Bridgett said: “It has been our pleasure to run the coaching sessions, and I think it has been close as to who had more fun”.
It was clear that from meeting the children, the girls understood the impact apartheid had on the country and the struggles many still face to overcome its legacies. Comfort zones for many of the players were stretched further when the party headed for the centre of Westrbury township. The true meaning of organised chaos was experienced at first hand! Coaching, planned in conjunction with Conquest for life, a Westbury group trying to turn children away from crime and towards education, for 60 township children soon took a different turn when around 500 appeared. Cpl Tanya Bryan managed to keep 20 or so youngsters occupied for more than 30 minutes when locals pinched her football – her dancing skills were fully tested but she cam out on top, and with dozens of fans to boot. The children were drawn from Westbury, Soweto and Orange County townships.
Back in the High performance Centre focus turned to sporting excellence and to add to their personal development, lectures took place on nutrition and sports psychology took place. Of particular interest was a talk from a former African National Congress member who, having gone through exile and the fight for freedom, is now focussed on the redevelopment and regeneration needed to take South Africa forward.
The first fixture was against the women of the HPC football academy. In a one sided match, and despite conditions favouring the HPC team, the RAF’s superior skill and competitive desire saw then run out comfortable 6-0 winners. The RAF then played an international fixture against the South Africa Air Force. The game was much more competitive and the RAF were stunned at first by the physical aggression and power of the SAAF Team, not to mention the large and hostile crowd. A tense first-half finished 1-1 with the RAF missing a penalty late into the half that would have secured the lead. The second half though saw the RAF play a much more composed passing game and they capitalised, to run out 3-1 winners and lift the inaugural ESS Challenge Cup.
The training, team building and coaching had clearly bore amazing fruits. Team manager Chf Tech Martin Wilkinson said: “Managing the RAF women’s football team this season has provided many challenges to me. The tour to South Africa has been an essential element in our preparation for future success. The fantastic facilities provided by the HPC, and the valuable time spent together as a squad training, coaching and working within the local community, will undoubtedly improve everyone involved.”
But the one thing that shone through was the fact that football was a force for good – the squad could not have had more different backgrounds from the children they met, but it was irrelevant. Football proved itself once again to be an international language.
view the UNITE feature on the Tour
