Being a captain

One of the funny tales that fascinates me is about Flames captain Joseph Kamwendo. In one of his previous stints as the Flames captain ahead of a game in Namibia, the team manager realised that they had forgotten to carry a pennant which captains are supposed to exchange just as a courtesy before the start of an international match. However, somehow Kamwendo told the edgy team manager not to worry and take it easy.

Upon reaching the stadium, Joseph picked up a small wooden stick, more or less like a match stick and when the time for exchanging pennants came, he offered a warm handshake to his Namibian counterpart then received the Namibia FA pennant, but when his turn came to reciprocate, Joseph offered the Namibian captain the tiny wooden stick and said: “My bro, get this, back home in Malawi, this is regarded as precious jewel, it symbolises luck!” And the Namibian captain was left fascinated that he even put it in his boot, anticipating luck. But alas! The luck never went their way and it was the Flames who trooped off victorious over the Brave Warriors.

And just last week, upon the Flames arrival from Mali at Chileka International Airport, all the players appeared dejected, but not Joseph. He was as usual in high spirits, with him there is never a dull moment. When I offered him a handshake upon appearing from the check-out lounge, instead he offered me a clenched fist greeting popularly known as ‘big up’, saying: “Tisakupatsireni ebola bro, paja tagwidwa ebolatu dzulo”. I later on realised he meant the 2-0 loss to Mali.

And as the bus left the airport, I could hear Joseph cracking jokes trying to lift the spirits of his troops as a leader, trying to instil in them that while they might have lost to Mali, tomorrow would not necessarily be the same and it was time to switch focus to the next task and on Wednesday he led the Flames into the trenches for yet another battle against Ethiopia and came out of it, bruised, but triumphant.

And in the end, typical of Joseph, he led them into his trademark ‘bekeshu’ victory dance in which he shakes his waist this way and that and then lifts the hip high up, I just don’t know how he does it, but it is always a marvel to watch when Flames win. That’s what is expected from a captain and it feels good he has the armband back. Go Flames! Go! Glory be to God. Uloliwe..uloliwe wayidudula hii…neng’asiza [The train is pushing].