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| Columns |
| Sport On |
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by
Gracian Tukula, 07 November 2004
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13:56:28
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Flashes in the pan
I am told several people were surprised last week that I said nothing about the Arsenal-Manchester United match played a fortnight ago. That was deliberate because I foresaw that many people would want to jump on that, although I did not expect my editor Steven Nhlane to be among them.
There are a few things I would like to clarify in the wake of sentiments attributed to me in last week’s My Diary column. I only hope that I am not risking having my column taken out.
First, it would be out of character for me to celebrate a Manchester United win, but my stand was, and remains, that a drop of points for Arsenal was good news for the entire league because at this stage in the season you need to have as many hopefuls as possible to maintain widespread excitement.
Secondly, I could not believe the assertion that with a gap of nine points between Arsenal and Liverpool, and the Reds with a game in hand, there is only a miracle chance for the Anfield outfit to win the championship. I am not one to rush and say Liverpool will be champions this season, but it’s difficult to understand how, on current form and standings, anyone would view it as a miracle if they did.
Otherwise, I understood why my editor was so taken up with the result as to go to town on innocent souls like me. His team had gone unbeaten for 49 league matches and defeat was a strange experience just as it was for Liverpool when the 63-game unbeaten run at Anfield — spanning from January 1978 to January 1981 — was brought to an end.
On the home front, I think a congratulatory word or two could be in order in relation to the finale of the Bakili Muluzi Super League. I must confess I was relieved that teams got their dues because I was genuinely worried. Many thanks to Dr Bakili Muluzi.
I also gather that last week’s match between Bakili Bullets and MTL Wanderers passed on peacefully without the nasty incidents that were typifying the local game recently. Congratulations to all those responsible for the achievement and please, let it not be a flash in the pan.
The Bullets deserve special commendation. They have not only won the league title with a huge margin, but they made history this year by being the surprise package in the Caf Champions League, doing this country proud in the process. When I see members of the Bullets family walking tall I fully understand them.
Something I don’t understand, to wrap up. I am told one Walter Nyamilandu, fully understanding the requirement that an aspirant for a Fam position needed to possess a minimum educational qualification of an MSCE, took his Bachelor of Social Science degree to Fam and he was sent away because the officials there wanted the MSCE and not a degree. He-he-deee! Uluuu!
Feedback:
e-mail: atukula@hotmail.com, gtukula@yahoo.co.uk
gtukula@nationmalawi.com
cell phone:
(+265) (0) 9 958 696 or (+265) (0) 8 825 263
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