Monday, October 27, 2008

Chelsea 0-Liverpool 1

It can't be more than beautiful to start blogging by commenting on what happened at Stamford Bridge - home ground for one of England's most reverred teams, Chelsea - on Sunday, October 26 2008.

The Blues - as Chelsea is fondly referred to - had gone 86 matches without tasting defeat at the Bridge.

So when an English Premier League fixture indicated that Liverpool Football Club was visiting the Bridge, people expected nothing less than an 87th match without defeat for Chelsea. After all, Liverpool - prior to Sunday - had won only once in League at the Bridge courtesy of that 32nd minute Bruno Cheyrou goal in early 2004.

As such elsewehere, the story was that Liverpool was tasting defeat for the first time this EPL season. I had other views.

At a drinking joint in Mzuzu, northern Malawi, I told a forest of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal supporters that come the 26th, Chelsea was going to taste defeat at their backyard. Guess what? I was booed, but like any Liverpool diehard, I stood my ground. How I wish I was there the day the game was played. Unfortunately, this time I was in Blantyre, southern Malawi, where I am based.

However, with technology and the world of TV, I was able to be in touch with those that thought I was dreaming when I said Chelsea was tasting defeat.

This is the text message that I sent those overzealous supporters. "Nga umo nkhayowoyera sabata lajumpha, Chelsea tamufyapulira kuchipinda chakhe." This is Tumbuka, which translates to: "As I said last week, we have whipped Chelsea right in its bedroom."

It was funny how one Chelsea supporter responded. He said: "At least, today you played better football." But that was not the case. Throughout the season, Liverpool has been playing like that, but people thought the 2-1 historic win over Man United at Anfield was a fluke - Nay!

Now, only one giant remains in front of us - Arsenal. Unfortunately, the bad news to Arsenal is that they will lose twice - home and away - to Liverpool this season.

What a nice way to start blogging!