Other Duties as Assigned: Football Patron

I think this one is all my fault.

In January, I asked the football [soccer] team to be serious about practicing so that we could beat the Catholic seminarians in the annual football match.  I’m all for ecumenism, but all’s fair in love and football.

I think some of the students filed this notice away, and a couple months later, they asked me to accompany them on a trip to Namugongo for a friendly sports day.  Namugongo is the site of the Anglican martyr’s shrine, as well as an Anglican seminary that trains student at the certificate and diploma [associate’s degree] level.  Some of the Namugongo graduates come to us to “upgrade” their papers and get a degree.

That day, though I really didn’t want to go on a field trip, since the students had gone to the trouble of organizing themselves and booking a coaster [small bus], so I went.   Namugongo won the volleyball match, and we won the football match, so essentially, it was a draw.  However, the students loved having a member of the faculty with them, and all told, it was a lot of fun.

A few weeks ago, one of the captains of the theology football team asked me to be their patron, because I have “ever been with them.”  Keep in mind that one only has to have one experience to “ever be” somewhere, and I think the trip to Namugongo cemented that.  Being a patron entails providing a box of water and some glucose at the end of the match for the team.  While the team likes me to be there, I think it’s the water and glucose that they’re really looking for.

Theology footballers in day-glow green.