It’s derby time again
In the good ‘ole days, the Blantyre derby, which features Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, was a contest for talented artists whose magical boots used to create lasting memories. Life was good then and fans watched the Blantyre derby to see football at its best—end to end stuff, cheeky body swerves and boy, those fabulous goals.
It was so appealing that even young women and families alike, would take time to watch the big one. Back then, you even had girls, travelling from rural areas such as Molele and Six Mayilosi (miles) they would perm their hair using stones just to look good at while those from town would come spotting curl-kit and georgetee dresses and their spiky or punky-haired boyfriends would put on Wrangular flare or stone-wash jeans complete with platform or scuna shoes.
Days when watching Lawrence ‘Lule’ Waya and ‘Senator’ Kennedy Malunga and, at a later stage, Albert ‘Kika’ Mpinganjira and Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi waltz past bemused defenders at full pace, was good enough to brighten our Saturday afternoons. Admittedly, over the years, the derby has lost its appeal, but the rivarly is still strong and this Saturday, thousands of fans will troop to the ceremonial home of domestic football—Kamuzu Stadium for the latest episode in the never-ending duel for supremacy, hoping that the latest showdown will turn back the hands of time to the golden era when it represented the beauty of local football.
And there could have been no better way to step up the hype than an exchange of taunts between ‘Dee-Jay’ Boniface, the fella who helps me with house chores and a staunch BB fan challenging his next door counterpart Wilson. Boniface set the ball rolling saying: “Nebandichezebwino, ngatimumavinamanganjendi Silver ndekuliliife? Mapuleyaanuangoyambaganyuyogawafetelezawasabusidem’midzimu!” And Wilson did not take it lying down and he hit back: “Aaahkodiukutichaniiwe, inusimwatchukandikatapilabasi, pasavutepanganizaulimiwan’thililabasi.”
And it’s such jazz that sets the hype for the derby, and makes it so unique. Glory be to God. Uloliwe..Uloliwewayidudulahii…Neng’asiza [The train is pushing].
