Football

Last term I created and started coaching a girls football team at my school (It's really soccer). Sunday we have our first match against a school in a nearby village, so to prepare for the game we decided to hold a friendly practice match today, teachers versus students. There was a lot of question as to which team I would play for. Would I be with the girls since I am their coach and obviously a girl myself? Or would I be on the all male teacher team? Since the teachers needed more players anyway, I played with them. 

After classes I went up to my house to change and get ready. As soon as I returned wearing my jersey and trousers all the students still hanging out in the school's courtyard started yelling and cheering. We walked to the field where the entire primary school, our school, and half the village were already gathered. After a few warmups and a lot more cheering, shouting, and laughing, the game started. I played defense and did pretty well. At first I was pretty self conscious, I felt like there was a giant spotlight on me with about 500 people watching. I did, after all, stick out of the crowd. But as the game progressed I relaxed and had a lot of fun. I was, however, still concerned for my feet and ankles. The field we played on is hard, uneven, dirt with random patches of grass and plenty of rocks and holes. I, at least, had some protection. Half of the players weren't even wearing shoes and walked away with a good number of cuts and scratches. 

During the game I felt very worldly; I was an American, playing in Malawi, wearing a Nigerian team jersey, while people shouted German at me. (Even though they tack vowel sounds at the end of every other word, people here consistently pronounce my name Madam German.

The teachers won the game 4 to 1. But the best part was after, as I was walking off the field, one of my students handed me a note that read: "Madam Germany, you are doing the best please keep the fire going".   😊⚽