A Presidential Diary Part 13

November 18th 2013 by Robin Walsh |

There are worse places to be in November - or at any time of the year for that matter - than Abu Dhabi.  Particularly when Ireland are playing - and winning. If only just.

I said earlier in the year after ties against Pakistan and Holland that watching Ireland play is not for the faint-hearted. It doesn’t get any more relaxing after the first three games in this Twenty20 World Cup qualifying tournament.

First up Namibia - and no problem with a convincing 32-run win as the tournament opened on Friday.  Different the next day: Canada needed four off the last ball, Alex Cusack ensured a two run win. And, incredibly, it was the same last over tension again on Sunday with Trent Johnston capturing the last UAE wicket for a five-run win.

All three games have been well and truly documented with the first two streamed to computers across the world courtesy of the ICC.  Suffice to say that William Porterfield’s side’s will to win even when defeat seemed inevitable is impressive and leaves Ireland the only undefeated side in their eight-strong group. Qualification for next year’s T20 finals in Bangladesh is already all but guaranteed.

So rather than rehash all that’s been written let me tell you a few stories behind the scenes -  of how coach Phil Simmons did battle against the man who was groomsman at his wedding….. of Ireland’s most enthusiastic supporter who happens to be the wife of Ireland’s ambassador to the UAE….. of the Northern Ireland Executive minister who highlighted Ireland’s success to a top level trade mission in neighbouring Dubai.  And let’s not forget the little matter of a car crash from which yours truly and my good friend and team manager Roy Torrens walked away unscathed and more than a little shaken.

Phil Simmons and Gus Logie are the best of friends. They played together for Trinidad and Tobago, for the West Indies Under19s and for the Test side.  Gus was a member of the official party when Phil married the delightful Jace.

Gus is now the coach of Canada and the reunion between the opposing coaches was a warm one at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Canada may have lost on the last ball - the previous day it was the penultimate ball against USA - but the ever-smiling disposition of Gus Logie belied his misfortune as he happily posed for pictures with Phil and me immediately after the game.  He is the most pleasant of men.

Pauline Hennessy knows a thing or two about sport as you might expect from a former PE teacher.  One of her pupils a few years back in Dublin is the sister of the O’Brien brothers, Ciara, better known in her own right as the former Irish hockey international with 156 caps to her name. Pauline has been in Abu Dhabi since husband Pat took up his latest diplomatic posting as Ireland’s Ambassador to the Emirates in September.  It was a pleasure to keep her company at the game against Canada, her support for the Irish cause mustard-keen; her delight at the last ball win boundless.  Her parting words were “see you tomorrow” - and sure enough on the dot of the first ball against UAE there she was,  this time accompanied by a jolly group of ex-pats. Another last gasp win, much relief and more delight. Ireland has a new lucky mascot.

On the eve of the first match I had the privilege of inviting the Irish squad to dinner: pleasant at the time but with not very pleasant consequences.  All was fine for the early morning game against Namibia but thereafter Alex Cusack, Max Sorensen and Roy Torrens were laid low with a bout of something you would prefer not to have.

Alex and Max had the doctor come visiting before the afternoon game against Canada and recovered sufficiently to make meaningful contributions to the victory. No such luck for the manager who was to spent the next two days in his bedroom following the fortunes of the side against Canada and UAE on his computer whenever frequent visits elsewhere allowed.

Roy Torrens is a man of duty and so it was that immediately after the UAE game he insisted on donning the blazer to honour a commitment we both had made to attend a reception 80 miles up the road in Dubai. It was organised by the excellent Northern Ireland Connections whose aims include strengthening links between the diaspora and home, creating networks and identifying opportunities for business.

We almost didn’t make it - in more senses than one. Three miles into the journey the team’s courtesy car was involved in a smash as our driver attempted to turn off the highway.  Much damage to the side of our car, similarly to the front of the other one. Shaken yes, but someone (do you mean ‘somehow’?) no-one was injured.  Thank God the collision was with a small job (?) rather than the huge 4x4s so common out here.

Taxi! (??)  It was well worth the effort as the (NI or ROI?) Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arleen Foster, warmly welcomed us to the Emirates Golf Club.  We told her we probably had done trade relations with the Emirates irreparable damage by defeating the national side a couple of hours earlier,  something she made much of in her generous opening remarks. Earlier in the day the indefatigable minister had greeted Rory McIlroy after his final round of the Dubai Classic, having just flown in from Shanghai.

It was a pleasant gathering of people from the aerospace industry seeking business at the Dubai Air Show, food experts extolling the virtues of Northern Ireland produce and an interesting cross section of ex-pats.  Pleasant chats with former Northern Ireland soccer international Steve Penney - plays off 2 and out for the golf with mates from Ballymena - and the father of Caitlin Adair, Paul Stirling’s girlfriend.

I write on the first of two rest days, then it’s back to business against USA on Wednesday with the last three group matches to follow against Italy, Uganda and Hong Kong and thereafter come the cross-over play-offs with the second group.

So far, so good.