PAKISTAN
Sat 3rd to Sun 10th October 2004
Johnny, Simon P, S Foster, Pete
K and Claudio (36) discuss tactics, lineup, prospective
scorelines. |
On 3rd October around 4 pm Terminal
4 Heathrow saw the gathering together of 14 men who, despite
all appearances to the contrary, were young, fit and sleek.
Prepared to do battle on the football field anywhere in
the world, on this occasion the selection was the rugged
unknown of Pakistan, a country barely 10 years older than
most of the team.
It was a fantastic opportunity to explore,
albeit briefly, an amazing and spectacular country. With
a comprehensive itinerary
arranged we were all set for the best tour ever! It nearly
all went according to plan!
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THANKS TO
With his opportune redundancy, Simon
was able to divert all his attention to organizing a perfect
tour. Clear cut vote for Man
of the Tour award.
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Back Row:
Piers Lea, Jonathan Lang, Patrick Vigne, Claudio Salinardi,
Graham Richards, Peter Knight
Front Row: Edward Watson, James
Hanning, Simon Foster, Peter West, Andrew Rawlins, Chris
Bain, Simon Parry, Chris Lindsay, Mark Lyall Grant
see
also team page |
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Simon enlisted the help
of his friend, His
Excellency Mark Lyall Grant CMG OE RHP the British High
Commissioner in Pakistan who together with his wife, Sheila
did a fantastic job coordinating and arranging everything
for us in Pakistan. We are all deeply indebted to them for
all their work and involvement both on the right wing and
in the bazaars - how else would we know which Pashminas
were nylon and which the genuine article. Unanimously voted
honorary Couple of the Tour.
In addition to using their
facilities at the High Commission, the Lyall Grants also
activated their network to provide us with an experienced
football playing guide; Alberto
Bonanni from the Italian Embassy who accompanied us
on our trip, also the driver Saif-ur-Rehman
who ended up having to drive us 18 hours each ways over
the Lowari Pass
- definitely turned out
to be a safe pair of hands. |
Thanks to Chelsea FC
for the donation of footballs and lapel pins to give away on our
trip. Probably the last place in the world where people had never
heard of Chelsea Football Club - well they have now.
Also to Maqsood ul Mulk at Hindukush
Trails for organising and sponsoring the local teams as well
as captaining the Ayun side. He says the afternoon scamper up
the hill at the end actually takes two weeks! At 7700m Tirich
Mir is pretty big.
Highest mountain most of us have
seen.
Many thanks to PIA for not supplying a Fokker
Friendship thus ensuring two long, painful but spectacular adventures
in the minibus. At least they got us back to the UK. Unlike the
sheep and goats in this plane still at the end of the runway in
Chitral:
At least they found this plane
- there were rumours that one took off a couple of years ago and
hasn't been seen since.
ALBERTO BONANNI
It is with great regret that
we report the tragic loss of Alberto in his flat in Magella Towers
in Islamabad during the earthquake of 8th October 2005.
In his last email to Simon, dated
4th October, he lamented the fact that it was difficult to get
people to come to Pakistan to play fotball in the current climate
but he wished us luck in our next "venue" suggesting
he might even join us there. Sadly he will not be playing with
us again. pics
