It felt so good to see the red side of town exploding into ecstasy last Saturday after years of misery as Big Bullets celebrated their first cup triumph in 10 years [of course, they last won the Super League championship eight years ago, but for a cup, it has been a good 10 years].
Had it been it was in Lusaka, prostitutes would have probably offered free sex to Bullets fans after this momentous feat—like it was when Zambia’s Chipolopolo defied all odds to win the continental showpiece—the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time early this year.
It was reported that at a place called Corogo in Zambia’s capital, a man in his mid-20s was even beaten up after he took long to ‘perform’ when his turn came as others waited anxiously for their turn.
But I wonder if prostitutes in Bullets’ Ndirande Township stronghold or Kachere had the luxury of offering services for free after the team’s Presidential Cup triumph with devaluation having hit the sex trade real hard even in Kachere Township, where the cheapest of Blantyre’s commercial sex merchants ply their trade.
Just last year, having just K200 could earn one a sex romp, but it all changed after the devaluation of the kwacha in May. Nevertheless, people are assured of reduced tomato prices at Ndirande Market for the whole week as it was in the past.
This time last year, Bullets were barely recognisable as the biggest football club in the country and even Thekerani Red Devils could beat them. How life changes in football!
And where we used to see starving cockroaches [mphemvu] and spider webs on the shelf at their Mandala Clubhouse, we will now see the glittering Presidential Cup.
Bullets, as we used to know them, are back ladies and gentlemen and it was refreshing to see their fans rise from their seats, a galaxy of red and white colours, to salute their heroes as Civo Stadium danced to their tune.
The colours beamed brightly in the spring sunshine, their faces were all painted with happiness, some screamed and others cried as the power of triumph cheered their spirits and turned them into symbols of joy.
It might be a case of life coming to a full circle and as night fell on Saturday, it was clear that the giant had woken up from its deep slumber. Come on Dala! Come on Gaba! Come on Heston! Come on Bullets! Uloliwe..Uloliwe! Uloliwe wayidudula hi..nang’esiza! [the train is pushing!]
