BLAST FROM THE PAST with Lawrence The Pen pusher Moyo

Bhola Yamapepa was a common activity munkomboni. We even refused to drink tea when
our friends were waiting for us to go and play bhola yamapepa. Star players were collected at
their homes if they failed to show off on time. Ball in hand, we went there to collect them. We
belonged to our teams by virtue of our sections, meaning that each section had a team.
Some section teams were known to be masters of violence. Violence would erupt during the
course of the game or at the end because such teams did not accept defeat. One had to be a speed
merchant to survive the wrath of the perpetrators of violence.
Sometimes we took a break from inter-section matches and played friendly matches within the
section where a team would split for a friendly.
The team was split by having two players standing in front and taking turns to call out names of
players of their choice. The proud owner of the plastic ball would also stand there clutching his
ball and waiting for his name to be called. Most of the time he had an advantage of being the ball
owner and so could easily be drafted into one of the teams even if he was not a good player.
Star players were called out first and those who were not good players waited patiently for their
names. After team selection, a player could be a remainder with no team attached to him because
the numbers would have reached a balance.
As a result, the player was either left out or told to play for both teams (mandawo) hence kicking
the ball in any direction. Sometimes these matches ended prematurely when the owner of the ball
got upset and took his ball away. There was no regulation time to end the matches because there
was a set goal target.
The first team to reach the target obviously became the winner hence a draw was unheard of.
Some of the playing fields were not conducive hence we kicked stones and often cut our feet
from pieces of broken glass. We persevered and showered the bleeding parts with sand to subdue
pain and minimise bleeding. At times we used very hot sand.
Some comments forced us to continue playing despite the injuries. comments like Check him.
He is strong. This injury is nothing. He will obviously continue playing Upon hearing this, the
player would then continue playing to impress his friends.
Icho.Wachiona.Nicholimba.Vele sichizachoka mu ground. Yima uwone.These Nyanja
comments were enough to propel the injured player back into the field play. Zikomo
munkomboni!