Lobeni’s orientation 

I dedicated my off day last Thursday to orient my new house help (DJ) Lobeni (as in Robin).

He has been around for three weeks now and appeared to be slowly picking up. But when he put a pair of shoes in the lower compartment of the refrigerator and asked  me if he could also put “pelefyumuwaudzudzu” (insecticide) in the same cooler, I realised the need for ‘mentorship.’

Just like me, Lobeni is also an ardent soccer follower and on the domestic scene he supports the People’s Team— Nyasa Big Bullets.

So, in the course of the orientation, we chatted while listening to a sports programmes on one of the radios which was interviewing Football Association of Malawi (FAM) club licensing system (CLS) manager Casper Jangale.

And as Jangale outlined the requirements, Lobeni was prompted to ask: “Komamatimu ena osawukawa ngati amalephera kulipira mapuleya nde azakwanitsa za driving licence zo? [will the teams be able to meet some of the club licensing requirements if they are failing to pay their players?]…well to him it is ‘driving licence.’

Although he sent me into stitches of laughter,  I felt Lobeni had a point because one wonders if the teams will be able to meet some of these requirements when they even struggle to buy chiwaya chips as pre-match meal for players.

Well, perhaps Lobeni’s jazz was timely food for thought, but whatever the case, it is time to move on and the train has to push. Those that can’t will have to be left behind at the station.

AOB: On a lighter note, it felt good to hear the big shot Peter Mutharika crack a joke as he presided over the opening of MasaukoChipembere Highway last week when he said: “NiribePulobulemu” probably from Zambia’s hit song  Dalisoul and Magigi. You will have one on me Your Excellency, bola ogwanawochagada! Lol!Uloliwe…uloliwewayidudula hah!, neng’esiza [The train is pushing]. Glory be to God.