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A reminder of the good ‘ole days’
It felt so good to see famed Flames’ former midfield star Ernest Mtawali back on the Kamuzu Stadium pitch on Saturday after a long time when he featured as guest player in an Honours Cup game between Big Bullets and MTL Wanderers which was part of the lively K150 million Telekom Super League launch.
It was nice to hear the roar that echoed inside the stadium as the fans saluted the return to the stadium of one of the best players ever to emerge from this country.
I was one of those privileged to have the opportunity of watching the trademark pin-point passes. Of course, he also tried the good old cheeky body swerves that helped him make a name and grace the top leagues in France, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. But at times, he appeared overwhelmed by the pace and sheer intensity of the game.
That 360 degree turn that he used to taunt opposing midfielders, now took him twice as much to achieve. But that what happens when age finally catches up with you.
There was no question that Mtawali was trying very hard but—as all professional football stars have found out in the twilight of their careers—some times things they used to take for granted just don’t work out anymore.
And similarly, one does not expect Bingu wa Mutharika to go into the bush at his Kamoto Village in Thyolo and bring back dozens of mice as he used to. He too has lost considerable pace because of age and can only be reduced to chasing his own shadows.
That also brings to mind, the game that was played last week in Lilongwe between parliamentarians and the national women football team.
A number of excited soccer fans turned up at Civo Stadium to feast their eyes on the skills of the likes of Dedza South MP and MCP president John Tembo. Thank God, he didn’t show up, otherwise it would have been embarrassing for the whole JZU to be floored head-long after being bamboozled by the fancy footworks of national women’s team wonder girl Tawonga Khonje—this girl is massive!
All the same it was nice to see the younger MP’s in action, especially Billy Kaunda who at times forgot he was on a football pitch and performed some stage work.
I had also expected to see MCP veep Nicholas Dausi at the match, but unfortunately, I am told thieves went to his yard and stole tyres and engine of his Toyota Corolla.
I am hoping that the law enforcers will catch these thieves because it is a major setback for Dausi who is now back to square one—foot slogging. I hear he has already started feeling the pinch—he was chased by dogs as he walked back home from town.
This would have been the time for Dausi to start thinking about buying a DStv set in order to be watching the English Premiership or the Spanish La Liga other than going to spare parts shops to get quotations of the stolen items.—Feedback: garrychirwa@yahoo.co.uk
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