Football mad

Malawi like many countries is a football mad country. It’s played mostly by boys but latterly the girls have started playing too. Wherever you go you see children kicking a ball. Now I say a ball but it’s not a conventional one like you and I understand it; it’s more often than not a home-made ball, made of a balloon, (or a condom) plastic bags and string as in the photograph.

However some visitors brought across a few of the real thing and they have certainly taken some kicking. The ground is rough, the vegetation often prickly and the balls are high in demand. The two boys in the photo are determined that the balls should last a little longer and almost on a daily basis spend time sitting in my garden repairing the footballs for themselves and the others to play with