Even the Veep got thrilled
Sport, will always provide special moments when time appears to stand still, frozen in the beauty of the occasion, crystalised in the significance of the moment like it was seven years ago in 2008 when the then Sports minister Symon Vuwa-Kaunda became a willing victim of his emotions and jumped up and down a coffee table at Kamuzu Stadium’s VIP enclosure like an ecstatic five-year-old child who had just received a birthday gift.
Chiukepo Msowoya had just scored the priceless goal for the Flames with virtually the last kick of the game against the then African champions Egypt in a joint 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and in that moment of delirium, the fans hoisted and threw Vuwa in the air as they chanted “Vuwa yemweyo, kuti wawawa!”, But alas! After the dust had settled, Vuwa
realised his mobile phone and wallet had vanished, apparently it transpired that pickpockets had also joined the fun.
And on July 6, it also felt good to see Vice-President Saulos Chilima hoisting his frame into the air, punching imaginary objects with his arms in full flow, as he celebrated the Flames late winner against Uganda, which spiced up the independence celebrations. So excited was the Veep that he apparently forgot he was in the company of his beautiful wife Mary. If I were near the VIP enclosure, that would have been my golden chance to hug her! Poor me!
Chilima was not alone. Zambian President Edgar Lungu joined the party and he too jumped from his seat to celebrate that superb strike. Now, that is the beauty of football; the power of sport, when time appears to stand still and the common person and the big shots share the stage to celebrate a moment of delirium regardless of their status.
The Flames performance might not have been vintage, but it was good to see the Veep being charmed by that victory and the events should have given him a breather from his hectic reforms task.
Hopefully, as he spearheads the reforms drive, he will consider lobbying for more investing in the team so that it can reach greater heights that we all yearn for. Such heights can only be scaled by playing continental giants such as Algeria and Cote d’ Ivoire. Glory be to God. Uloliwe..Uloliwewayidudulahii…Neng’asiza [The train is pushing].
