A perfectly timed tackle from a surprisingly nimble black rhinoceros at centre back sparks a counter-attack. The ball is worked forward to a vulture in midfield, who uses her keen eyesight to spot the run of a cheetah on the wing whose pace terrifies the opposition defenders.
This wildlife XI is actually made up of children who have been taught to mimic the posture, movements and talents of the animals that live alongside them while they kick a ball around the field.
“It helps us to bring those animals into a child’s life,” said Lesley McNutt, director of Coaching Conservation, an educational project based in northern Botswana. “We bring those animals on to the soccer field as coaches and mentors. The children can learn from
