Training visitors
Wednesday, 28 May, 2008
Fabio Capello and Ray Clemence were reunited this week with the children they met in Lesotho.
England had some welcome visitors at their training session on Tuesday morning as they prepared for USA at Arsenal's London Colney training ground.
The children that both Fabio Capello and Ray Clemence met last month in Lesotho were reunited with the England coaches and also able to meet the players and join in the kickabout.
Capello, along with Ray Clemence, had visited Lesotho in April and watched matches in a specially-arranged seven-a-side tournament for 12 local schools, which also included onsite HIV education and testing between games.
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Fabio and Ray also spoke to representatives from ‘Test Your Team’ organisers Kick 4 Life and Sentebale, a charity founded by Prince Harry to deliver a range of initiatives for vulnerable children throughout Lesotho, before linking up with one of the participating schools to follow their progress throughout the trip.
The most moving part of the trip came when Capello and Clemence sat in as a young boy was tested for HIV. After a counselling session with the doctor, and a nervous wait, the test came back negative, but it was an emotional experience for all.
Capello said after the test: "It was tense, it was a few very long moments in that tent waiting for the outcome of the test. Fortunately the test was negative and everyone was very relieved.
"This was a very good experience, very good for our soul because it makes you understand what hardships there are in the world."
The children will all be at Wembley this evening to watch as Capello's team take to the field to face Bob Bradley's USA.
