Two months down the line Coach Musa is yet to test defeat as Parklands Head Coach. The soft-spoken coach whose voice can hardly rise beyond ten decibels whether he is angry or happy has managed to do what most Parkland Coaches have failed to do, record two clean sheets within a year, the most Babu, Omosh-maglue, and Block have had combined in 5 years. And of course, the aspect of managing to give John Sembe instructions in English and being followed to the letter. With the Committee breathing fire on the coach to only play paid-up members, Coach Musa had to settle with benching his top scorer and player of the season so far Belvis Ovi Hamisi, the dread dancing rasta who is causing nightmares for the opponents from the midfield akin what the MAUMAU did to the white man to grant us independence. Born and bred in Parkroad, Block Mulumba a consistent figure between the sticks was the obvious option in goal, flanked by Waire Mapangale who was in search of his first yellow card of the season, and Trent Alexander Karani the self-proclaimed Marauding full-back. Kevin having broken into the team after three years of being a player-wa-tizi finally got his start pairing with the ever-present Dennis Droopy who was also captaining the team for the day. Daktari Hatari Senji looked to transfer his surgical skills from the theatre to the field, with Odhis Trevor returning from a knee injury and alas his eyes were whiter than white powder that Pogba on steroids is known for. Maybe there is a correlation between coming with a cuzo and having a good night sleep but that will remain among the many Parklands theory such as the correlation between Sisco scoring and bringing a cuzo or Mutua bringing a cuzo and faking a groin injury after ten minutes of play. Talking of the Indian from Kangundo, the man who can have a claim of having one of the sweetest first touches alongside Captain IQ and Ogochee (you can hardly believe he was in the same academy with Doobiz) was looking to complete a half of football in the season. The new Kamdam has only managed to play 40 minutes across ten matches each cut short by either niggling injury or the proverbial red card. For attack Coach Musa went for Duolingo, Arafat for Swahili with a hint of Kiarabu, Nesh for the Queen’s English “you guy my guy, Braa” (speaking of Braa Soita is back in the building someone tell Sisco, but two years down the line, the addition of the youngsters like Mumo, Elvis and a guy called Larkhs let me not even say and English Speaking Luo Coach by Now the Man from Nyaribari Chache surely knows the Braa is slang for Bro). Anyway, back to the Duolingo attack, Izzo had to be there “Ngumi Mbweksee aisee” some Wakadinali and the Coach had the team cooking. As usual Parklands had a slow start, like the vampires they are afraid to play under the hot sun. Some disconnect in movement in the midfield was evident with Trent-Karani and Kevo also seemingly taking too long to get into the game. The Duolingo front was also not speaking the same language, shooting blanks with Arafat and Izzoh being the key guilty party, if we were under the dreaded USA DOGE(Department of Goal Efficiency) these two would have parked their bags. You could sense the frustration in the technical bench as Coach Musa wondered if his shooting drills went to the dogs. With Parklands attack proving impotent, PWC were being effective in penetration, with the defence and keeper having all the work to do. PWC won a corner after a near-fatal back-pass from Kevo. A hapless corner was swang in but the bodies in the box proved to be a hoax with the PWC attacking having the easiest task of controlling the ball to the back of the net. Mutua the guilty party of not man-making his man but for whoever knows Mutua he would not head a ball even if it means it saves his life. A wake-up call to the team?? Probably. Nesh switched into the midfield to provide a much-needed English speaking midfield with a fortification of brotherly love. It didn’t take long for this to bear fruits as a much fluid passing between the trio, Senji providing the precision, Trevor the technique, and Nesh the flair. Tick-Tack-Toe, the ball into Arafat who switches the ball to Izzoh who makes no mistake to clip it over the onrushing goalkeeper. Five minutes later, another interplay between Mutua and Nesh who then bisects the defense with a well-weighted pass into the path Arafat, who controlled the ball and cut in with his left foot, Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi, Mohammed Salah, Arafat Ali, you can see it from a mile away but you can do nothing about, curvier than a luo lady on a diet of omena the ball was at the back of the net. 2-1 to Parklands and its Mellaaaan time. Like-for-like substitution, as John Sembe came in for Waire, Captain IQ for Droopy, Drury for Kevo, and Ndibo for Karani. In the middle of the park, experience was added to control the game, Pogba on Steroids for Daktari Hatari and 18-year-old Ogochee for 17-year-old Odhis Trevor. Tiger returned to the fold for Arafat, with red-hot Roy taking one flank leaving Caleb Sisco to finish things at the front. The second half picked up where the first half started with Parklands never having to get out from the first gear. Missed opportunity after missed opportunity as Parklands seem to have left their shooting boots at home. It is during calamities and problems that leaders arise, that individuals step up to lead and who else to show how it is done other than Captain IQ. Renown for his galloping runs from the back combined with one two inter plays (you risk his wrathif you do not give him the ball during this sacred process, trust me the ‘eyes’ you will receive are worse than of a certain tall midfielder who has a love for outfoots). A quick oflay to Sisco who mysteriously returned it to the captain (maybe because of the nonsense he had engage with John Sembe for a majority of the game - termed as wing ya wakisii sorry wasikii yani hawasikii la mwadhini wala la mteka maji msikitini), another touch to Nesh and back to the Captain before a lay up to Tiger who had the goal on a platter, his trusted left foot did not let him down as he increased the lead in the game. With that, the game was as good as done with the opponents unable to master any creative chance, with the coach proving to be Santa and granting Waire his much-needed wish subbing him back in to receive his first yellow card of the season. He had to wait a long time but after 12 games his wish finally came true, a well-taken chopping from the back of the opponent to deny him from breaking, Waire smiled all his way to the referee's book. For Coach Musa, he will continue to smile with his towering Dumbledore hut that may or may not contain the winning concoction that Conte experienced during his play days. Two months in, 12 games for juniors and seniors; 8 wins and 4 draws, 37 goals scored, 15 conceded, and two clean sheets, Coach Musa continues to match on, his quest give me a challenge, give Pharaoh, give me the Red Sea, for I am ready.
