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The romantic first dates between African football and the four Zambian representatives was simply orgasmic. Not only did Nkana, Zesco, Eagles and Buffaloes win but the Zambian sons elsewhere also had a week to remember: Both Augustine and Shonga scored for Pirates while Cletus Chama’s magic feet was the crowning glory in Simba’s victory.
Zambians are so overwhelmed by the slender victories that i’m scared it will get into the heads of the players before it should. We are now talking about Zesco United vs T.P Mazembe and Nkana verses Simba SC and i just hope this is not the same attitude the players are having.
In all fairness, it is not in order to start talking about Nkana v Simba when there is still a return leg to focus on. It is in times like these that we need maximum concentration and focus, taking one match at a time and focussing on the immediate.
The mentality of crossing the bridge before we reach there has been a thorn in our football flesh for a long time now and through this ill mentality, we have lost so much.
Remember the Under 20 were leading German up to the 80th minute and they began celebrating being in the semi finals of the world cup before the whistle was blown. Guess you know what happened.
Zambian Football Fossils
Let me drag your memory to the match between Zambia and Mozambique at Levy Mwanawasa stadium last year. The game that hitherto has cost us a place in Cameroon. The match got into the ninetieth minute and Zambian players began thinking about the dressing room before the referee had blown the whistle. Boom! Mozambique scored in the 92nd minute and that was the killer blow.
I’m not done, Zesco was leading in Angola against O’gusto up to the 78th minute. A win in that match would have easily catapulted us into the semi finals of the Champions as we went in to hammer Swallows of Eswatini. On the contrary, the Zesco players began celebrating a victory that wasn’t there yet.
In a nick of time O’gusto had scored two goals in the last five minutes of the match and everything is history.
Now Nkana is leading 2-1 and people are already talking about how we shall beat Simba. Zesco is leading 2-1 and people are already bullying T.P mazembe, Hope this mediocrity has just remained within the circumference of social media and never in the heads of our players lest i see tears of disappointment after the second legs are played.
