We had an early start today as we have a long journey ahead of us. We were due to meet the colonel again at 7.20 am. Of course that is African time and basically means about 20 minutes after our time. I've never met such a laid back man. We had a 3 hour journey up the coast (sort of) to Mtubatuba. All we passed on the way was fields and fields of Sugar cane. There were the occassionally dwellings made from breeze blocks and corrugated iron roofs. We are due to play 121 battalion South African Infantry, who we were told are the best team in Natal. Don't know what that means.
Mtubatuba was a bustling place centred on a cross roads with a KFC. Very black too.
The game was played in front of a crowd of about 200 and we kicked off at 12.00 in 32 degree heat. I started at left midfield and after an initial period of settling in due to some personel and tactical changes we set our stall out and gave a very good account of ourselves. We again failed to convert the chances that we created and were again victims of poor refereeing decisions. This time we did have lines on the pitch. The ref gave us a free kick inside the box for a push on our player and also turned down a blatant penalty after he said our player dived. I'm not sure we would have got out of there alive had we scored. We unfortunately lost 1-0 to an early goal.
We were again entertained by our hosts to a BBQ after the match. I made the mistake of entering the bar when the colonel was in there. He says 'It is a tradition over here that we toast to a good game'.
I'm like 'Well I've just played in it and all I want is water coz I've lost about 8 stone whilst playing'.
'No No No' he says 'Sambucca!'
'Bastard!'
We left the club to make our 45 minute trek to the Umfolozi game reserve where we were to spend the night. The road was mainly unmade and we passed through a number of shanty towns each with shithole houses and a shop with a Coca Cola sign outside. Very bizarre.
We arrived at the entrance to the game reserve and had a 20 km journey into the Reserve to find our accomodation at the Mpila camp. The Mpila camp in a series of chalets in the middle of Bush. Our chalets was open to the elements and all the creatures on the reserve. We spent the night among lizards and spiders, but lucklily no lions or elephants. You've got to admire us though because we decided it would be a good idea to have a BBQ in the dark even with the threat of lions about.
