RIVAL LOVE

Having found it extremely difficult to sleep, I woke up Saturday morning with a huge smile on my face. Knowing exactly what lay in stall, I wasn’t the least bothered. I had my day all figured out. In the morning, I’d listen to one of my favourite programmes on radio, The Weekend City Show on Joy fm, after,it will be off to the library to read a little.Then i'd be sure to make it back in time for the early kick-off of the day. But you see I committed a cardinal sin. I failed to check the fixture list for the weekend. There was no early kick-off, which meant a long and terrible wait for the weekend’s first game in the afternoon. I then decided against going to the library, by which time I was almost in front of my house. I settled in comfortably in front of my TV with my Psychology lecture note in hand and set out to do a little bit of both (reading and watching TV that is). So I was learning o…then the paper started falling. I put it down and went to my room to go check on the density properties of my bed. But who was I kidding? I ended up following,no,chasing after the sleep. But you can bet your last that I was up before it was game time. Derby day was certainly worth my while.

After seeing off the few league games that was played on the Saturday (and yes, we are still waiting for Torres to shake off his Helegberic cloak), it was time for the Manchester derby. And what an appetizer it was. More so in terms of the result though. It wasn’t much of a spectacle with United far from anything like the team that outplayed Chelsea the last time. I did my best to be civil when my United friends called my phone to report themselves, and screamed when I was alone. Oh it was a sweet victory. It went a long way to heal some pains. Am still waiting on confirmation on exactly what Balotelli said to Rio Ferdinand to have gotten the latter so incensed. Confirmed reports suggest he may have intimated in the dialect of our Ga-Mashie folks some sympathetic words and Ferdinand being the rogue that he is, understood what was said. Unconfirmed reports on the other hand suggest he may only have brandished that little crest on his chest to the United fans. There was a little melee and a whole lot of afters. From which the Ghaitaliano bad boy was seen walking away with a sheepish grin on his face. I wasn’t the least surprised when most people were quick to point out what a fantastic light heavyweight clash it would have been. Balotelli is an expert in getting under your skin. You just want to strangle that guy…Hmmm. Anyway, City’s opponents in the final, Stoke, who by virtue of some 5 amazing strikes booked their place in the final and a ticket to the Europa league as well. I already pity those teams who will come up against them. If only they knew what’s coming. Fortunately for United, their weekend was not as bad after all with the Gunners being at their very best against Liverpool. A tale of two last gasp penalties almost certainly handing United the League title. Rubbish!!!

With that one wrapped up…it was off to Spain for the first episode of the Spanish EL CLASICO soap opera. There certainly was no love lost and the setting was glorious, a real brawl (not literally though, like Hearts and Kotoko). For a game that had the two best players in the world on display, it was a shame that the first to land a blow was the referee. Barcelona as we all already know, established as the football Mecca, were simply…Barcelona. But with Pepe in the middle, the Genius, (Mallam) Mourinho might just have found a way for his Madrid side to finally beat Barcelona. Actually, I’m betting on Mourinho to knock Barcelona out again this season in the Champions League. Saturday night’s game was simmering just perfectly fine when our man decided to steal the spotlight. I hate it when these referees do that. Penalty, no doubt, but it was harsh of him sending off Abiol in my opinion. Good grief he made up for it by balancing the equation, a deserved outcome in my opinion.

If the first bite of this cherry is anything to go by, then we are definitely in for a treat. Just got my whip cream out, I’m so, so, so, Horny! (still talking about football here). I’d join you after Episode 2 on Wednesday. Feel free to let me know how you felt, how you are feeling and how you will be feeling. It’s a long sermon, this, but we certainly don’t mind celebrating it. It’s pure magic. I have to mention that Andre Dede Ayew was simply fantastic for Marseille this weekend. With a 20 minute game-changing cameo appearance, he showed us all why he is a son of a legend.