Playing Humpty Dumpy with Bright...tribute to Terry

FIRST CUT
BOITUMELO TSHIMOLOGO | Friday December 12, 2008 00:00

What constitute a kick in the teeth in the case of Bright's relationship with the club? Well, succinctly, a decision to bring a technical director to supervise him. 
My take is that the action smacks of sabotage, and is an acidic plan to push Bright out.

When there is an appointment of a technical director especially coming at a time when your ability as a gaffer is questioned, there is need, as has always been proven in football circles, to be very afraid.

Bright's days at Santos are numbered. And this is because his new 'boss' one Bobby Solomon, dropped the penny when a newspaper reported him saying Bright is new in South Africa and does not understand the country's football.

I thought it was crass, extremely disconcerting and condescending coming almost a year after Bright had been with the club. Not only that, the man had proven his credentials with some impressive wins to propel Santos to a commendable fourth finish in the league. Not to mention his qualifications as coach.

'What does Solomon know?'.
Okay, regarding Bright's response to the charges levelled against him by his new boss, I actually concluded he lacked tact.  The former Zebras' coach resorted to tackling a Gordian knot with a blunt instrument.

I would personally have advised him to allow team owner Goolam Allie to worry about the situation he was creating in his own house. After all, being rational and fair are not in club bosses' DNAs.

Meanwhile, the latest I gather is that Allie has dismissed his new technical director's comments as bull, but still failed to guarantee Bright a longer stay devoid of harassment and interference. It is for Bright to wake up and smell the coffee, and perhaps recall the logic of Humpty Dumpy in the book 'The Looking Glass', by Lewis Carroll: 'When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more or less.' Someone is playing Humpty Dumpy with Bright.

Why interest in Bright's story? At the time when his team was making waves, I had two calls from some prominent football personalities in South Africa, asking me where Bright got his juju. Hope they did not really believe it was anything to do with black arts. I laughed it off- Fobby Radipotsane is a witness.

How Bright handles his new coaching challenge will be a lesson for aspiring coaches in Botswana with ambition to follow on his footsteps. I am keen on the story because Bright, assuming nobody else shows interest in his services in South Africa, would be my ideal choice for the position of Zebras' coach.

l Mophuthing's passing own

In 'The Paradox of time', Henry Austin Dobson writes: 'Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go'. I have vivid memory that never fades about two penalty misses. The first is Roberto Baggio's miss against Brazil in USA 1994 which resulted in Italy handing over the World Cup title to the modern aristocrats of football.

The second is Terrence Mophuthing's miss against Eleven Men in Flight in a CAF Champions League game in 1995 at the National Stadium. Then, he was one of Extension Gunners' most adored, infinitely talented players who made things happen at the club.
One of the founders of the Swazi club is my pal, and two months ago when we reminisced about the last clash between his side and Gunners, he mentioned three players that he had massive respect for.

He said they had planned to contain in the return leg in Botswana Tumie (Duicker), Scara (Kebalepile) and Terence. 'I still remember their names,' he purred.
Mophuting was well known following his short stint with Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa around 1992-1993.

And the trio had put up a brilliant show in the first leg played in Mbabane.  I recently became a messenger of bad tidings and called the Swazi man to tell him about Terrence. Having earlier planned to visit Mmabatho, he together with a colleague drove to Kanye to join the multitudes who buried the former national team player.

About penalties.
They do not turn a great player into the worst. Just as Baggio was Italy's pin-up boy, adored and respected all over, and despite missing a spot kick in a crucial once in a life time opportunity, he continued to enjoy a status befitting a top class player - with or without the World Cup winners' medal.

Mophuting continued to shine as evidenced by his illustrious career spanning almost 20 years. Do you know he was such a brilliant tennis player and nearly failed to pursue a career in football? If we have to document extraordinary successes of the great heroes of our football - as supporters of Gunners, Notwane, Free State Stars and the national team would hopefully affirm - there is no way Terry could be omitted.

He was a consummate professional whose love for the game and discipline inspired many.
The difference between the Baggios and Mophuting's of the world, quite sadly, is that, the former lives a life of opulence, praise and appreciation, (and probably die with a smile) while the latter die paupers and are easily forgotten.

Why do we wait for death to visit upon us then start to praise our heroes? Why not have a programme that helps to empower our sporting heroes so that they are able to impart knowledge to our youngsters? Why not  reward our past heroes, empower and motivate them to play a meaningful role in developing future stars?

Rest in peace Terry.