Back in Rustenberg . . . and it's freezing

June 19: Ghana v Australia.

On arrival at the media centre, I collected my radio, my access-all-areas pass and tried to find the designated volunteers within the media team who are to work in the media tribune, which are the seats where the media sit in the stadium. 

Finding them seemed like a massive mission, and then trying to find out who would be the runners for today was another mission. 

From each of the technical areas, a runner is identified to come from their area to the media centre and then return to hand out the half-time and full-time reports. 

No-one wanted to do this job at all today.  I eventually did manage to persuade three of them to help me, but everyone was claiming to be tired and saying they don’t like running! 

So iI found it hard work today—it’s tough when people are not motivated.

Eventually, I did get my volunteers to the tribune and the runners only appeared at the start of the match and not at half time, so guess who was very busy running around the stadium distributing the reports?

I was doubly busy today as there was a change to Ghana’s starting line up, so after I had collected the team sheet I had do the whole process all over again!

It’s been freezing today, really, really cold. I had my thermal underwear on to start with, and as I was stood at the edge of the pitch waiting to collect the final match report, I began shivering and thought how cold it must have been just sitting  in the stadium! 

It was -4C in Mafikeng two days ago!

No famous faces to report today, I’m afraid.

TOMORROW:  Time on the road and freezing temperatures.