David’s loud mouth
One of the songs that thrills my world is Mlomo done by local reggae outfit Black Missionaries. Part of the song goes something like: “Amayi anga anandiwuza, mwana wanga ukadzakula, udzasiye phazi, koma ukadzasiya mlomo udzakusata.” It is about an advice a mother gives to her child to be careful with what he says to avoid swallowing one’s words.
Well, on a bright winter Wednesday afternoon last week, Mighty Wanderers vocal general secretary David Kanyenda swallowed his words when the Nomads were booted out of the Presidential Cup by Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium.
When Big Bullets were kicked out of the same competition by Silver Strikers, my good friend David poked fun at the Peoples Team and accused the Bankers of doing injustice to the Nomads, David was quoted as saying: “A Silver atilakwira kwambiri chifukwa amenewa [Bullets] timafuna tiwakhawulitse tokha.”
Kanyenda sounded as though he was floating on air, but alas! Barely three days after his tough talk, it came back to haunt him as his Nomads were also sent packing from the competition.And like a sneak thief, Kanyenda quickly dropped out of sight and was nowhere to be found near the stadium. Maybe he hid himself in one of the toilets.
There’s no doubt that David’s tough talk adds spice to the game which reminds us of flamboyant former club spokespersons like the late Dumbo Lemani and Bob Akule, Henry Chibowa and Gaston Mwenelupembe who would turn on hype with their appealing comments.
But perhaps poor David’s weakness is calculation. He needs to learn the art of handling such tricky situations from ‘Atcheya’ who at one time reportedly promised people free fertliser and when he was taken to task, he did not lose his breath over it and said: “Amayi ndi abambo, ine sindinalonjeze feteleza wawulele iyayi, that is cheap propaganda! Ine ndinati ndidzagula fetereza wa urea!”—Anyamata apa tawuni, asa! Kanyenda, ukayenda usiye phazi, ukasiya mlomo udzakusata!Glory be to God! Uloliwe.. Uloliwe wayidudula hi..Nang’esiza! [The train is pushing!]
