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Wonderful. It really doesn’t get sweeter than this. President Bakili Muluzi Tuesday saluted his Bakili Bullets troops with thick envelops containing K50,000 each at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre for putting Uganda’s top-notch side SC Villa to the sword in the first round first leg of the continental Caf Champions League showcase played at Chichiri Stadium on Saturday.
That was not all, the President, visibly floating on air following the Bullets’ 2-1 triumph, also presented a K5 million cheque to meet the club’s expenses in the return match scheduled for Namboole Stadium in Kampala next weekend.
The 12 players who were thrown into service on Saturday, carted home a cool K50,000 each, those that warmed the bench got K40,000 each while players who were not on the game list took home K30,000 each.
The officials, who included supporters committee members, were not left out in the cold—they too were given some cash.
Muluzi, smiling broadly, went on to express a warm and touching fondness for the game of football in general, and his team in particular, by pledging to sponsor 20 vocal fans to cheer the team in the potentially nerve-shredding return match in Kampala.
There was a murmur of satisfaction from the players as they filed in front to get the fat envelopes from their appreciative sponsor for a job well done—K50,000 is not the kind of dough to be sneezed at.
“I was very proud indeed when you roasted the top Ugandan team on Saturday. I have, therefore, called you to offer my personal congratulations. You have made me happy...you have also made the team’s six million supporters very proud.
“I was actually coming from Zomba and I witnessed the excitement that was there after the match and I joined the fun by clapping my hands in the car,” said Muluzi.
However, the president sent out a timely caution to his team saying they have not yet crossed the bridge and the return leg will not be a stroll in the park for them.
“The battle is still on and I also wish you the best in your return match...please don’t lose in Uganda, nobody wants to lose and I am appealing to you the coach Kinna [Phiri] to go to Uganda with a mission of beating Villa.”
And on a lighter note, the President then asked the players: “Do you promise me a win?” The players assured that he can count on them with an overwhelming: “Yes Your Excellency!”
Muluzi always full of humour, then said: “That is why I called you here...it is like kukutemerani mangolomera.”
“Don’t be intimidated with the crowd in Uganda, the spirits of all of us will be vigilant when you’ll be playing,” he said.
He also said depending on the performance of the team, his plans are to make Bullets one of the best teams on the continent.
“I want to make Bullets one of the best teams in Africa, I can assure you that, but it will all depend on you because football is played by the players.”
The president then swiftly switched to the issue of discipline and appealed to both the players and the supporters to behave since they are carrying his name.
“I have always said this and I’m repeating—I do not want to be associated with violence. Football is a source of entertainment and people go there to enjoy the game and not for violence. I want Bullets to be a peaceful team,” he advised.
Muluzi also called on the players to desist from excessive beer drinking and chamba smoking saying they do not go along with the game.
“Ena mumati ayi ndisute pang’ono kanundu, koma ayi ndithu sizigwirizana (some of you prefer to smoke before you play but the two don’t go along).
Speaking earlier on one of the club’s trustees Yusuf Matumula and general secretary Ophman Kondowe thanked the president for his continued assistance saying they do not take his support for granted.
Matumula said: “Your Excellency we have no words to express our gratitude. At first you bought us a bus at a time when the players were actually footing to the training, thereafter you gave us K15 million sponsorship.
“That was not the end, you also sent the team to England for training. And as if that was not enough, you made sure we joined the Champions League. For all that we are very thankful Your Excellency,” said Matumula.
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