Veterans can’t be scapegoat
In football, they say you are as good as your last game. It is tempting to add that memories are shallow in this beautiful game. Add also that insults are the souvenirs.
Even more at domestic football power houses such as Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Big Bullets.
Therefore, I was not particularly surprised that some Bullets fans made veterans Heston Munthali, FischerKondowe and James Chilapondwa scapegoats of the team’s recent uninspiring results.
I must have seen this coming from last season, especially on Heston who appeared to be the soft target for every fluffed scoring opportunity. It all explains how shallow we understand football.
If the three veterans have suddenly become so bad they have infected the Bullets, then, ironically, you are implying that the predominant young blood is below par.
Tell me that Bullets are abusing the veterans and over-depending on them then we all will reunite with our sanity.
Perspective is needed to understand why clubs such as Manchester United stick to veterans such as Ryan Giggs.
Such battle-scared players are not retained to win matches week-in, week-out, but to render a helping leg in holding the dressing room and grooming the next generation of match winners.
It is therefore naïve to judge Heston, 14 years after making his Super League debut, on his low goals’ return.
What is wrong is to feature Fischer for the entire 90 minutes even when leading comfortably, instead of introducing the next generation in later stages of the game.
At Wanderers, it is clear that Jacob Ngwira has brought a touch of mental toughness in midfield. At Silver, I am not quite sure their defence has been any better since Itai Nundwe was made to retire.
You blend the young and the old then phase down the seniors gradually.
What is poor management of transition is retiring Nundwe and expect Lucky Malata to lead the defence when he too is learning.
The Flames’ previous coaches would feature Esau Kanyenda and Russel Mwafu
The young strikers cannot suddenly be expected to lead the lines when they spent their Flames’ formative years playing in the wings.
