On a day when a rat was the cause for so much agony, an anonymous caller from the city where I was born—Zomba— provided me timely comfort.
This nuisance of a rat had caused pain in my life—the pangs growing at an alarming rate, the climax was last Wednesday afternoon when I realised it had ‘drilled’ holes into my favourite clothes, and, most of all, my choicest Emporio Armani underwear. Moments later, I bumped into this naughty rat in the corridor and thrust a kick aimed at its head—but this little creature caused even more misery by selling me a dummy, leaving me with a twisted ankle from hitting the wall in my desperate miss.
And, as I sat with my head in my arms agonising over the predicament, my mobile phone rang. The caller identified himself as a resident of the old capital. He had a story to share about a strikingly beautiful young prostitute who has taken a watering hole called Highfield by storm and is attracting all the limelight.
According to the caller, many guys have been frequenting the pub to catch a glimpse of her angelic face and she has caused quite a stir. He further informed me that such is her irresistible beauty and charm that it has earned her the nickname ‘Gaba’ in reference to Big Bullets and Flames red-hot forward Gabadinho Mhango.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, such is Gabadinho’s charm and influence that he is being associated with just everything. Many commuter minibuses now have stickers with the fella’s name. Even kids as young as two years old, sing with passion the chorus ‘Siine koma Gabadinho!’ But then when you have an exciting talent such as Gaba, you want to get the comfort that he is keeping his feet on the ground and not being swallowed by everything that is happening to him and I have little advice for the fella:
Your performance against Namibia 10 days ago, was pure class—that cheeky body swerve and sublime finish—all in one swift movement is what has made your name. I loved that Gaba, and boy, I leapt into the air with delight after a long time. No wonder some of their newspapers mocked that ‘Little Gabadinho fires coach.’
But the truth is you have just started a journey that promises greatness and you still have a long way to touch great heights scaled by the likes of Ernest Mtawali, Kinnah Phiri, Lawrence ‘Lule’ Waya, Kennedy ‘Senator’ Malunga and late Cliffton Msiya, and a lot to learn, and, therefore, you should not be laboured with extra pressure neither should fame get into your head.
Of course, you have the X-Factor mate—genuinely gifted, small in frame, but a genius with magical feet. But the truth is you still have some way to go boy and, hopefully, you will keep your cool. Glory be to God!Uloliwe.. uloliwe wayidudula hi..nang’esiza! [the train is pushing!]
