Cruden Homes’ manager leads youth football team to Africa

Alongside his day job as site manager at the Cruden’s prestigious Kinnear Road development in Edinburgh, Phil is also chairman of his local kids’ football club, Tranent Colts FC in East Lothian.

Under Phil’s stewardship, a delegation from the club, in conjunction with East Lothian Council and the Scottish Football Association made the trip to Africa.

Describing the experience, Phil said: “Our ‘goal’ was to assist in many community projects while also delivering football sessions to people who would really benefit from this opportunity. We believed this could make a real difference to young Rwandans’ lives who could use football as a catalyst for change. As it turned out, the trip turned out to be everything we had planned and more.

“The first thing we did was educate ourselves on the 1994 genocide and try to get our heads around what went on. We visited two memorial sites which was a very powerful and moving start to the trip.

“We then went on to meet the head of the Rwanda FA, the head of the Olympic committee, head of the commonwealth committee, the head of the Paralympic committee and the Rwandan national football team manager. These meetings were hugely worthwhile and gave us an insight into what their infrastructure was like and to see what plans they have in place for progress.

“In between all this, we were coaching the kids. We split up and visited 14 different football groups to educate and assist with coaching.

“We also visited homeless street kids and were taken to the drainage pipes and holes in the ground where they sleep.

“During this visit, we handed out toothpaste, toothbrushes, clothing and food. We all agreed no kid should ever have to live like this.

“Working with the community was another eye opener. We worked in the fields side by side with widows and orphans from the genocide who work hand in hand with guys who had likely killed their loved ones.

“Probably one of the main highlights from the trip though, was working with the disabled kids. These kids are shut away, hidden behind big gates and a brick wall. Their families cannot cope or are embarrassed by them. We had two absolutely brilliant sessions with the kids - playing games and football with them was amazing. The smiles on their faces is something we will never forget to the extent we are now looking into funding a training programme to get a properly trained teacher/worker into this school.

“On the second Sunday we went to church, another amazing experience, the joy and love they share at these events is almost as good as their singing!.

“All in, we went to Rwanda with 250kg of clothing to give out to the kids, to coach them and try to make their football and their lives a little better. We came back with much more than we went with in the way of memories, experience and most of all, a whole load of friends who we will be keeping in touch with and will be revisiting”.

He concluded: “I’d like to thank all the companies and people who helped out with funding this trip including East Lothian Council, The Scottish Football Association, Heart of Midlothian football club and Tranent Colts FC but most of all, a huge thanks to all the people who joined us on this unbelievable and life changing experience”.