FOLLOWING your team has never been easier. I must have been the only Reading fan in Harare excitedly following the team’s win against Leyton Orient last week. Then, three days later, 60 miles south of Bulawayo in the most remote location I have ever visited, the wifi was fast and the news was good. A win against Barnsley moved Reading up to fifth, four points behind leaders Huddersfield.

When I’ve not been swatting mosquitoes, which has taken up most of my time, I’ve been on a cricket coaching mission out here in Zimbabwe. The group I’ve been working with, largely made up of recently retired international players, are obsessed with English football. They know everything about Manchester City and United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but strangely their Reading FC knowledge is less impressive. I’m desperately trying to educate them about the qualities of Leam Richardson, Jack Marriott and Lewis Wing, but they haven’t yet got the buzz.

To be fair, they have more pressing matters than Reading’s quest for promotion to the Championship, the rumour striker Marriott will be back for the Plymouth game this weekend, and Wing’s recent dip in form. The locals in this remote corner of Africa talk about “Puffers” and “Spitters” like we talk about cats and dogs. I was hoping these terms were something to do with their inhalation while running, but frighteningly it’s more to do with things that slither around in the grass. I’m sticking to the paths.

Two seasons ago I went straight from Harare to Carlisle, to watch Reading produce a rare away win. This weekend I fly from Bulawayo, to Harare, Addis Ababa and Heathrow and then jump on the M4/M5 straight down to Plymouth. It’ll be about 20 degrees colder there, but presumably the problems with snakes and mosquitoes are far less.

It’s a top-of-the-table clash with Plymouth, who have played a game more than Reading, a point and a place better off. Despite that, travelling 7,000 miles for a League 1 game is surely madness? The things we do to see our home town play football.

The word on the street (Reading’s streets, not Bulawayo’s), is Marriott is over his injury and will return for the game at Home Park. It’s a huge boost, because the sharp shooter is League 1’s best goalscorer, averaging a goal every 64 minutes he plays, across his seven games. If Reading are to be promoted they will need Marriott fit and available again.

What has not helped my cause is kick off being brought forward to lunchtime on Saturday. It hasn’t helped any Reading fans cause. Making sure you’re in a seat in Plymouth by lunchtime means a very early start on Saturday. Hopefully Reading reward their fans with an entertaining away win.

The next five games are all away, and they all have different kick off times. We are entering an extremely challenging 15 days for the club. I’m sure they’ll be rooted to every twist and turn out here in Zimbabwe.