Saturday 24th May 2004

8 O'Clock start to meet the Colonel @ the Hilton. Eventually he turned up @ 9.15 so he must be on weekend African time. He was wearing a woolly hat and we are all in shorts and T Shirts. The weather is overcast, but still warm. Maybe he knows something we don't about where we are going.

The porters at the Hilton are getting really pissed off with us know. Everytime we turn up in our 2 buses like a well oiled machine they turn out with there luggage trollies etc. expecting that we are paying customers.

We made the 3 hour journey in country to Ladysmith to play a match. We weren't at the races in the first half and came in 4-1 down at half time. We competed slightly better second half and didn't concede or score. It again was very hard work in 27c temperatures against another Zulu Army side who again played some very nice football and had us chasing shadows for most of the game.

After the game we were again entertained to a BBQ, at which we distributed gifts (crayons, toothpaste, colouring books, socks etc.) to all the local kids.

The colonel made a speech as this was our final game against South Africa Army opposition. For me it has been a privilege and a tremendous experience to play in these conditions and against these opponents and I hope the rest of the lads feel the same.

We spent the night in a Backpackers hostel (Inkosana Lodge) in the Drakensburg mountain range. This is the sort of place I'll have to get used to on my travels. On first impressions I think I can manage that.