Fri, March 11, 2011

Whilst delivering our new Management Diploma in Romania two participants from the SEWS Deva site suggested a pro-celebrity (in my head) football match at a local soccer dome. To which the kindly invited me to participate. For a moment I thought my Scottish accent had been misconstrued as Brazilian such was the insistence on my taking part.

Armed with my PJ shorts and my not so stylish formal sockwear I took up Liviu and Adi’s invite to pull on the boots one more time. Kick off 18.00 SEWS select team featuring yours truly took on a Deva select made up of workers from the local site.

Cheered on by the other programme participants I sat benched waiting for my moment to relive the football dreams of my youth – these aren’t hugely aspirational being an Ayr Utd fan. None the less the moment came 10 minutes in I took the pitch and within the first attack the ball fell to my right foot and I connected with great power. Result: the ball ending up closer to Blackburn than Bucharest.  Fortunately things improved as we progressed.

We played 3 games in total with a fair degree of success and more importantly forged a really meaningful connection which will be invaluable as we progress through a challenging but rewarding 15 months of the programme.

A huge mult'umesc to my team mates and our more than generous supporters.  A truly rewarding experience.

P.s. - I also play basketball should your organisation need a 6ft plus consultant.