Success breeds jealousy and creates enemies

| Friday October 30, 2009 00:00

Winning the league title is often akin to opening a Pandora's Box. That is when one starts to see the people who think that as long as they are not peddling influence in their clubs, success should not be realised.

For quite some time, football-mad fans were fixated on Mochudi Centre Chiefs in their title-winning season. And for all their faults and weaknesses, Chiefs put up a splendid show and exhibited some class act.

Upon establishing themselves as a top side, some started accusing the team of bribing opponents to throw away games. Their maverick chairman Ernest Molome was spitefully characterised as a busybody who applied dirty tactics in order to ensure his team won at all costs.

There was a time when a bunch of yobs sought to beat him claiming frivolously that he had paid the bill to ensure a top player with a Gaborone side had drunk himself into a trance and failed to honour a game. As the silly drama unfolded at the National Stadium, I was one of those called on to stop the lynching mob from inflicting pain on Molome. I was to share a joke later with a friend, telling him Molome's work in turning Chiefs around was starting to be noticed and some people are getting frustrated.

When Chiefs missed defending the title by a whisker last season, the cacophony of celebrations were not only amazing but unprecedented. Some derisively wished Chiefs dead.

Those who grew tired of Chiefs' run of great form - at some stage stretching 32 games without a loss - were now delirious about Gaborone United (GU). When the Reds grabbed the Premier League title from Chiefs, some thought it was a relief. Fast forward to the new season.

It only started five weeks ago and the first three draws have elicited unpleasant comments about GU and predictions that their fortunes were dwindling. There is a section of Township Rollers' panjandrums who are wheezing themselves into some excitement thinking their team will claim the title. I have my doubts.

Winning the Premier League title is very tough as those who have achieved the feet will attest, but retaining it is akin to moving mountains. It is like the title in some instances, is a poisoned chalice. Other than opening a Pandora's Box of hatred, malice, jealousy and backstabbing, there is always an enemy within, if you like. Here is why. In the 2007-2008 season, ECCO City Greens became the first team from the northern part of the country to win the title.

Their celebrations were however marred by a sudden eruption of internal squabbling that threatened to tear the club apart. No one said it in quite simple terms, but apparently when it was time to place a swag of flowers on committee members and players for bringing the beacon home, those who were left behind cried out that their efforts had not been recognised. Some walked out in protest.

They were later persuaded to come back the following season when it had become clear ECCO were hitting blanks and teetering on the brink of collapse. The disgruntled crew returned to the club and ECCO started to pick the pieces. We saw them mount another challenge for the title last season when their major undoing was that they woke up a bit late. I do however reckon they will be a force once more this season.

Township Rollers' story is slightly different. Their woes erupted soon after their return to the top flight.  People were looking at Rollers coming back a better and grander side, but things started to fall apart, as Chinua Achebe would say.

The resultant woes saw management taking a decision to 'purge' some rogue elements. That proved a major blow. The fortunes of the club dwindled even further and displeasure took charge. Rollers, without any shadow of doubt have been the laughing stock of the entire league owing to the manner in which they have puffed and huffed in recent seasons. 

Now I hear some saying it will be their season. Put differently, it will be their chance to open their own Pandora's Box - evil comments, ridicule, curses and insults. Others in the team will be in a funk charging that their efforts have been undermined, just as it is the case presently with GU and would be, for any other club winning the title.