I arrived back in Lilongwe but my bags didn’t. A South African cricketer gives me a lift into Lilongwe. I spend a few days in a rainy Lilongwe at Dan and Jayne’s house waiting for news of my bags. I get them and that day I’m on the 3 pm express bus north. We arrive back very late and I take a taxi home. I almost trip over Wenson and can only just get in the front door as it is all overgrown. Downs and his family are asleep inside and I don’t wake them. It is a misty morning as I walk into work. I have decided to make an effort with Fabiano until he leaves for his new job. He will be a good link between the Sports Council and the school sports. I can use him to do training as I know he won’t be very busy. I realise again today the big challenge I have but I can visualise success based on last year’s successes. I know it is all possible and I am keen to get started. I have a clear timetable of events for this year. I will start in January with a Divisional Committee meeting and then travel to the districts for District meetings. In February I will tour the North to monitor and support the zone competitions. In April will be a Divisional Cross Country Competition hopefully followed by a national one. In May and June I will try and set dates in advance for the district finals so I can be there. Our Divisional Finals will be in July and we should be ready for the Coca Cola MASSA national competition in August. In September we would be busy delivering some FA sponsored teacher training courses in primary schools. In October we hoped to hold district primary football and netball competitions ahead of a big Northern Divisional Primary School Select competition in November. We would be ready for any National MASSA primary competitions. We also had athletics courses planned in the districts. On paper it looked good but the reality would be different for sure.
The Northern Division Sports Development Office was looking good. It was a great place to meet people and convince them of our programme. The walls were full of pictures, certificates, posters, maps and information. I was proud of it. Fabiano is officially the new Regional Sports Development Officer for the Sports Council. He left without paying his outstanding water and electric bills at school. As per our agreement I soon get my money back and we move on. The district sports committee meetings go well. Lots of schools attend and the atmosphere is good. They believe us now after last year’s success. Most zones are ready to go with the competitions. Our district committees are doing well and have good leadership. Joseph Munthali in Mzimba South is proving a real gem. Our Divisional meeting is a success with Joseph elected Chairperson for 2000. We are ready to go.