The Dili Cricket club started when groups of expatriate Australians formed a side to play an expatriate Indian side in Dili in December 1999. We played twenty-five overs for one innings and we have retained this format.

As the side principally comprised tradesmen coming to East Timor to rebuild Dili after the devastation wrought by the militia in September 1999 we named ourselves the Dili Contractors Cricket Club. In view of the number running free in the streets of Dili a pig seemed an obvious emblem and our games echo to the war cry "Fahi, Fahi" - "Pig, Pig" in Tetum which is the East Timorese language. "Fahi" to the Dili Cricket Club is rather like "Queenslander" to the Queensland rugby league team and we regard pigs with the sort of affection which Australian cricketers reserve for a sprig of wattle.

To complete the array of essential accoutrements for an Australian side we adopted a Timorese song "Oh Doben Furak". The works would have been attached but are in Tetum and difficult to understand. When singing this song members are expected to make up in gusto what they lack in accomplishment.

We used to play the Indian side regularly but gradually other teams formed and we have played against the Australian Army, South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand, and there has been some suggestion of a West Indian side forming from UN Staff.

As other people started to play we dropped "Contractors" from our name.

One of the problems we have had is that not many people stay in Dili for long periods. Last year we had brisk, aggressive opening bowlers but they both left denuding our attack. However, we still tend to field and bowl better than we bat and our batting can be very fragile. We are probably still at a stage where we would struggle to beat England although we hope to progress smartly to a higher level.

Probably the most pleasing development has been the involvement of young East Timorese. It started with plumber extraordinaire Roger bringing his two assistants; Hernando and Vernancio along to play and they both soon became keen. Now we have four Timorese playing, but our games always attract the curious and we are confident that we can draw more local players.

A landmark was our visit to the six a side tournament in Denpasar. Our results were disappointing but we all enjoyed ourselves and the side that eventually won only beat Dili on the last ball by hitting a six. The other team members paid for Hernando to go. It whetted Hernando's appetite for the game.

There are three main people who have put a lot of their own money in buying equipment for everyone to have a good game. This includes myself (Jim Richards - Manager), Roger Sjouland (Vice Captain), Mick Hogan (Captain). As with most of Dili there are always problems with security and after our first substantial buy of equipment it was stolen in the middle of the night.

We have raised money by subscriptions, foundation memberships and selling shirts and so forth. Our equipment is adequate for the level at which we play. We were lucky enough to get some equipment from Darwin from an under 14 side, which was very lucky because it fits the Timorese very well. We manage with a school soccer pitch but it is certainly very rough. We have had initial talks about making an agreement with the school for us to improve the oval if we are allowed full access to use it for cricket at weekends and training.

We will probably remain as a side that enjoys playing cricket with the occasional leavening of a good player from Australia who happens to be in Dili. It is a game we all like a great deal and we would like to spread the gospel of cricket in East Timor. To do this we have set ourselves the goal of taking a completely local side to a six a side tournament in Thailand in April next year. This involves a big effort on the fund raising side. Also, we want them to be competitive enough for their spirits not to be crushed by a series of heavy losses.

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