‘WENGERING’ , ‘PELLEGRUMBLING’ FOR ‘SWAZI BOLT’

United Kingdom (UK) Daily Mail Sports Columnist Jeff Powel told European Champions League losers Arsenal and Manchester City to stop the ‘Wengering’ and ‘Pellegrumbling.’
The seasoned sports writer was reacting to the flimsy excuses made by both teams’ coaches’ Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrin made after losing to Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively early this week.

It was the Frenchman Wenger who after the first leg 0-2 loss in London three weeks ago started the blame game as his Polish goalkeeper was rightly sent off for a late lunge on goalbound Dutchman Arjen Robben. A penalty and red card followed, which substitute goalkeeper Lukansz Fabianski saved. But two second half goals from Manchester United linked Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller sealed the tie. Wenger blamed the referee for the red card incident, which he even dragged to the second leg which ended 1-all in the Allianz Arena where Munich missed a last minute spotkick from another foul on Robben – this time by defender Laurent Koscienly.

Foul

Pellegrin, whose expensively assembled Manchester City side lost defender Martin Demichelis for an early shower for foul inside the box on goalbound Lionel Messi three weeks ago in the first leg also screamed murder at the referee accusing him of deciding the match they lost 0-2 at their usual fortress the Etihad Stadium. He was charged and slapped with touchline ban by EUFA, hence, watched the second leg in Nou Camp on Wednesday from the grandstand as his team lost 2-1 and 1-4 on aggregate. 

The veteran Chilean born mentor blamed the whistleman for the red card on Demichelis and the subsequent penalty that Messi as expected converted. Powel told them loud and clear to zip it and like true sportsman accept the results. He said they lost to the best in the business in Europe. I also think he was damn right because current statistics show that in between them (Bayern Munich and Barcelona) have 8 European Champions League titles with Arsenal and City still attempting to get one. Powel just hit the nail on the head. Not because the refereeing on both games was spot on, but because all four teams benefitted somehow from some decisions, which retired Manchester United Coach Sir Alex Ferguson said had the tendency of evening itself up in the season. If truth be told both Wenger and Pellegrin’s sides tried under the circumstances against two top sides, and the best they could do is to learn from the encounters for future campaigns in Europe.

asking

Before you start asking why all the stuff about European football, let me come clear and lift the lid on today’s issue at hand. On Friday last week, I had the privilege of watching our own ‘Swazi Bolt’ Sibusiso Matsenjwa competing in the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Instabul on the television. He was competing in the 60m sprint against the best and he only managed to set a new national record despite finishing fifth out of six athletes at 6:88 seconds.
Not that I am also Wengering or Pellegrumbling over the athlete’s failure to reach the semi finals and the finals.

But, really it must be pointed out that the Royal Swaziland Police recruit, had gone to the competition by himself without a coach, trainer or doctor like the rest of the athletes in the tournament. He even struggled to get his visa and had to run helter skelter to get one almost missing the event. However, he managed to rise above all the problems to set a new record. He was up against athletes who have access to advanced training facilities overseas.

Tops

Among his competitors in the first heat was Zambian Gerald Phiri whose 6.54seconds record saw him came tops in the group.
Matsenjwa’s new record is about 0.16 seconds better than the one attained by the winner of the race in 2012 at 7.04seconds.
This just reflects that ‘Swazi Bolt’ has what it takes to compete with the best in the sport, if he could get proper training. He needs to start getting access to scientific training to improve his speed. Jamaican Usain Bolt got his training in the advanced training facilities in the United States of America.

invest

It would the do country some good to invest in Matsenjwa; he has a role to play in taking the country forward in its desired dream of a First World in 2022. He can be our First World athlete, alongside the likes of golfer Nobuhle Dlamini who has not only just turned professional, but has made her mark in the on going Sunshine Tour.

She has benefitted from relocating to South Africa where her career has since reached new heights. But all the same she was discovered here and we are the one who should take the glory. But how can we, when we do not even understand what it means to have such capable sportsmen and women in our midst. It has been said before and once again I want to reiterate that the country has capable athletes who can turn the world towards us for a good course.

competitions

Tennis ace player Bruce Gama has under trying conditions managed to raise the country’s flag in regional competitions, without any financial backing from government or the Sports Council.
For the last time, Mr Minister David Cruiser Ngcamphalala please do something for these athletes and more others who have made their mark already in international competitions.
That is me, ‘Wengering’ and ‘Pellegrumbling.’

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