FAZ MTN Super Division Review with MUSONDA CHIBULU
WHEN athletics legend Usain Bolt takes to the tracks, the whole Jamaica comes to a standstill. When boxing great Manny Pacquiao enters the ring, no single crime is reported that night in the Philippines. When new Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka made his debut against Manchester United in England last Sunday, the entire Zambian football family was fascinated!
To the estimated 4.7 billion eyes watching on television apart from his compatriots, that moment in the 74th minute of a pulsating English Premiership match was just another substitution. The 31,609 inside the St Mary’s Stadium, mostly the Saints faithful, welcomed just another new recruit in the number 24.
Among football-loving Zambians it was the dawn of a new era. A son of this soil had arrived at arguably the biggest stage in world club football.
Collins Mbesuma elicited similar excitement when he signed for Portsmouth in 2005. His two-year dalliance with the south coast of England club ended in agony after only making substitute appearances in the top-flight that can be counted without finishing all the fingers on one hand.
But in Mayuka, Zambia can believe again. Whilst Mbesuma struggled to even make those cameo appearances after lengthy spells in the Pompey reserves, Mayuka strolled straight into the Southampton squad. He played barely 48 hours after arrival from Switzerland.
Most pundits in the UK tabloids gave the Kabwe Warriors product half marks for his display in the close to 20 minutes spent on the pitch against Manchester United. That rating was the same given to Japanese play-maker Shinji Kagawa, Brazilian London 2012 Olympics silver medallist Rafael and England midfielder Tom Cleverley who spent more minutes on the park for United than Zambia’s Africa Cup 2012 golden boot winner.
His rating was the worst average on the Southampton lovely passing team for whom England hopeful Rickie Lambert who scored and created impressive midfielder Morgan Shneiderlin’s goal was rated highest.
Although I would not have rated Mayuka’s first appearance for Nigel Adkins’ side any higher myself, I was thoroughly by his showing. He barely trained with his new teammates prior to the match.
When Mayuka was introduced, Southampton were leading 2-1. Paul Scholes led the Red Devils’ incredible release from jail. United, in typical fashion, were in the ascendancy with the 37-year-old veteran sparkling. Mayuka was starved of the ball as the record English league kings dominated possession.
Sir Alex Ferguson, in his landmark 1,000th match in charge of the Old Trafford outfit, first saw his new goal machine Robin van Persie’s cheeky chipped penalty saved by Kelvin Davis. But there was no let-up on the pressure as the 24 million pound piece of summer business made amends for his spot kick miss with an equaliser with just three minutes left to play. The best player in England last year finished from close range after Rio Ferdinard’s header had cannoned off Davis’ post.
The Saints prayed at least for their first point after the newly-promoted and basement club lost its two opening matches of the season. But the former Arsenal captain popped up again in stoppage time to score the clincher. The 29-year-old reached a century goals in the Premier League.
The hearts of Mayuka and the valiant Southampton were broken. Many Zambians suffered too as the deadly Dutchman’s glancing header flew past Davis’ head and despairing hands nestling into the net.
But that was before Mayuka had nearly embarrassed Ferdinard and Michael Carrick. The boy who Southampton reportedly purchased at three million pounds from Young Boys pounced on the ball and left the duo for dead, forcing the former England captain to use his muscular hands to restrain Mayuka from charging towards Anders Lindergaard’s goal.
How the referee Mike Dean kept the yellow card in his pocket on that infringement will remain a wonder! The picture of that moment became probably the most circulated image on the social site facebook among Zambian football lovers when it emerged on Sunday evening.
Mayuka may not have received rave reviews on his Southampton debut. He may have been put in the shade by fellow forward Lambert or even van Persie who hit a hat-trick with six clear shots on goal. But he is destined for great things.
Mbesuma went to England with a gigantic reputation from the South African league where he was (and still is), the record scorer with 35 goals since the league’s unification in 1978. However, the Luanshya-born apart from being dogged with discipline, injury and weight issues, had never campaigned in Europe before.
Mayuka went to Europe four years ago. He spent two years in Israel before moving to Switzerland where he scored 32 goals in 55 matches. He averaged a goal every other game. He is 21 and has no known discipline or weight burdens. In that brief appearance on Sunday, Mayuka was not fazed by the size of the occasion or opponent. He stood head and shoulders with the best on the biggest podium. He looked part of Europe. The challenge is daunting but without doubt Mayuka will be up for it.
No wonder Adkins said he “could not wait’’ to see Mayuka pull on the Saints’ red shirt and that the ‘‘signing would excite’’ the Southampton faithful after his acquisition last week. Adkins may not be aware that his latest property is the new hot hero among Zambians.
There is Mayuka madness here. There is no better time to celebrate that than the visit of the Uganda Cranes on Saturday at the fortress ‘Estadio de la’ Levy Mwanawasa where the Chipolopolo begin their defence of the Africa Cup crown.
Everybody, including FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, himself a man who needs no introduction in football circles, Chipolopolo boss Herve Renard, captain Christopher Katongo, the recently recovered gangling forward Jacob Mulenga, goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, midfielder Isaac Chansa and many others have spoken of their delight at Mayuka signing for the Saints. The move is inspirational for both the young and the old.
As fans converge in multitudes at the Ndola citadel, in one full voice better than that against Ghana (the support was first class), the hope is that this South Africa 2013 final round qualifier will be killed as a contest in the first leg.
The Cranes must be blown out of the water with a huge hiding. The return at the Namboole on October 13 in Kampala must be a dead rubber. Zambia must make her reservations to the rainbow nation from home.
Bobby Williamson’s side is not expected to take a beating lying down having prepared adequately in Botswana. But may Mayuka-mania inspire Zambia; just like the lightning Bolt and the imperious Pacquiao do when they take to the track and ring for Jamaica and Philippines respectively.
