Donation Information
Right To Play is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity no. 1112404.
Please donate online by following the link above (through Charity Choice) or send a cheque made payable to "Right To Play UK" to:
Right To Play UK39 - 43 Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 9UD
+44 (0) 207 734 7946
Ben Pegna's Diary
Friday 1st June
After a good nights rest we were up early.
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Next on the agenda was a visit to a local school, Kaladan SDA school, where we were observing the local Right To Play coaches working with the kids before school started. Again, as we arrived the kids went crazy, chanting ‘Essien, Essien,’ but as we got out of the bus it went up a notch, and the place erupted. |
Michael Essien with local kids and coaches |
There were about 80 kids playing the games, and without needing a second invitation all |
the guys joined groups, and participated with the children. We played the different coloured ball games, which included games like ‘Fruit Salad’, ‘Infection Protection’ and ‘Helping a friend’.
‘Helping a friend’ was a personal favourite and a highlight was watching Eddie Newton the former FA Cup winner, and now Chelsea youth coach being given the run around as he chased after one of the kids.
The atmosphere was great and everyone involved really benefited and enjoyed the presence of the visitors.
As with all the places we have visited the Right To Play staff has been excellent at co-ordinating all the kids, and the games being played. It was especially notable that all the local coaches running the games were woman, fulfilling a key goal of Right To Play, inclusion for everyone.
In keeping with the trend from the previous visits we attempted to have a photo call at the end of the session, but this again triggered a surge from the crowd and luckily this time it was controlled a bit better, and the kids were able to have their photo taken with Michael Essien.
As we were leaving the school we managed to glance into the classrooms which surprised the guys as they are open at the side with no windows, and completely exposed to the elements.
From there it was straight to the airport, and onto our Ghana Air Force flight bound for Accra. The flight was great, again just over an hour, and with one of the smoothest landings I have ever experienced!
After a brief lunch back at the Golden Tulip, our base here in Accra, we headed to our next venue, a place called Karikari Park in Dansoman one of the poorest areas of Accra, where the local Right To Play staff had organised for us to take part in some games with some local street kids.
The ground was where Michael Essien had played football every Monday night as a kid growing up in Accra, and so gave the visit real significance.
All the younger players and coaches immersed themselves in the games, whilst Jose Mourinho and Michael Essien strolled around meeting the people there. The crowd was swelling and although the games included only about forty kids the crowd of older children and adults had become quite excited and as we wrapped the games up, there was a bit of a stampede, and we had to rush to the bus without having the opportunity to have photos with the kids.
It was still a great visit and thoroughly enjoyed by the party, although the atmosphere and intensity in the city visit was very different from the more laid back atmosphere in the rural north.
That was it for the days’ visits. It was a busy day and the guys relaxed in the evening watching their Chelsea colleague John Terry score for England in the 1-1 draw with Brazil.
