At the same time as the district finals we were selecting a Northern Divisional Football Select Squad ahead of a National Competition to be sponsored by Coca Cola. To cut a long, stressful and confusing story short. We selected a thirty four strong Divisional Football Squad, held a four day training camp under the supervision of the ex-Malawian national team coach Alex Masinjala. We selected eighteen and travelled to Lilongwe in the back of the Mzuzu Government School truck. We wore our new green kit. In the first game we beat Shire Highlands 3-0. We then beat Central East 1-0. We beat Central West 3-1 in the semi-final and South East 2-0 in the final at the Civo Stadium.

I knew early on that it was going to happen and it did. We were impressive in all the games. The Civo Stadium was the biggest place these boys had ever played football. The Northern Division were the Champions of Malawi. News spread fast of our success. The news beat us back to Mzuzu.

We had major transport issues along the way. Funds didn’t arrive on time. Our new kit arrived at the last minute from Blantyre. It was all desperate stuff but almost hilarious at the same time. A very tiresome three weeks ends in triumph. The rest of Malawi was not pleased as we return victorious to the north. It left me absolutely exhausted. The DEM was pleased and apologised for the confusion. I got a letter from Mr. Reuben Singogo our Embangweni Zone sports co-ordinator. He said ‘it pleases me so much in this zone because the cup for MASSA has been brought home-it’s our pride!! Bravo Bottomer, Bravo Sibale, Bravo MASSA’.