Basketballi is a huge hit! It has been a Friday and or Sunday afternoon happening. It is a little scary since it is played with reckless abandon; anything goes. Just get the ball through that hoop! Oh and don’t wipe out too badly on coffee beans, millet seeds or chafe, corn, or sticks. Our”court” wears many hats! Playing with just the children is one story, but when the adults enter watch out! The bigger they are the harder they hit, push, and grab. They smash you and then smile. We Matthews, being somewhat demure, are fairly aghast at this barbaric method of play. Yes, we are teaching them about passing, dribbling, and teamwork. The notion of fouling will come when we have a whistle. Hopefully committing fouls will rein them in a bit. They know about free shots in football (soccer).

On one occasion, there were about 25 fans in the “stands”. It was an odd combination of farm workers who are currently picking corn by hand, animal caretakers, and wheelchair bound students; with some people who just walk up from “somewhere”? Every time the ball went in, the shouts, clapping and whooping was voluminous. Last Friday, the two matrons (dorm moms) and a cook played. The children really liked that. Quiet, shy Aurellia dressed in her skirt, shawl, and barefoot, actually made 3 baskets!