Farewell Sir Roger Moore

IF you grew up in the 80s or 90s like yours truly, my guess is whenever you hear of the name Bond… James Bond the face that comes to your mind is that of Roger Moore….pardon me, I mean Sir Roger Moore.

I learnt about the death of Sir Roger Moore in the early hours of Thursday May 25, 2017 after reading through a WhatsApp message my good friend Musengu had sent to me the previous night. He wondered whether I had heard about Sir Roger Moore’s death and it came as a shock especially that the Bond legend passed on two days earlier in Switzerland aged 89 after a battle with cancer.

Now, I’m not so much of a die-hard Bond fan, though I will readily admit that I have always been to the cinema every time a Bond movie under Daniel Craig comes out. It is quite common among die-hard Bond fans to declare that Sean Connery was the best Bond ever. Others say it is Daniel Craig. I feel Daniel Craig is really doing a great job as James Bond, but for me, Sir Roger Moore is James Bond, end of story.

This man was not just a movie star. He was more than just Bond. Yes, his films made him a star, but his charity work and kindness made him a legend and a gentleman. His words on the hunting of innocent animals for fun are the strongest and most eloquent I've ever heard. His work in supporting animal welfare was amazing.

The world has lost a lovely man who had a wicked sense of humour. I send my condolences to his wife and family. Rest in peace, Sir Roger Moore or should I say... Mr. Bond.

Wednesday May 10, 1995: The Day I Became An Arsenal Fan

I STARTED following football, particularly English football in 1991. I was only 11 at the time and the first team that really captured by attention was Leeds United. I thought their striker Lee Chapman was amazing and I would stay every Friday night waiting for the sports show they called “English Soccer” on ZNBC.
When the show was taken off air, I don’t remember following any team in particular. But I remember following players like Roberto Baggio who was at Juventus at the time. I also found the Brazilian Bebeto quite skilled on the pitch. He used to play for Deportivo La Coruna. The other players I followed closely were the Dutch twins Frank & Ronald De Boer who were at Ajax. I also enjoyed watching Luis Enrique when he was at Real Madrid. And though I never liked Manchester United from the get go, that never stopped me from following Ryan Giggs.
With Roberto Baggio being my favourite player of all the players I used to follow back then (and still is), I was rooting for Italy during the 1994 World Cup and watching him miss the final penalty pierced my heart. That was the first time I remember feeling heartbroken over a soccer match.
The next time I ever went through emotions over a football match was the day I became an Arsenal fan. I was home watching the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final between the holders Arsenal of England and Real Zaragoza of Spain. I found myself rooting for Arsenal. Those of you who are older enough will remember how dramatic that game ended. With seconds left before the final whistle in extra time and both teams tied at 1-all a player named Nahim, a former Tottenham midfielder scored  a spectacular 40-yard volley that sent Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Seaman crushing in the net.
The referee blew the final whistle before Real Zaragoza’s players ended their celebration. I remember watching Ian Wright cry his eyes out and I thought to myself, I want to support a team with players like that.
That match was played on Wednesday May 10, 1995.

Backstreet Boys Vs One Direction

THIS past weekend I attended a school function at an all-girls school where I overheard a couple of teenage girls talk about One Direction and how they are the greatest boy band of all time.

It reminded me of my teenage years and took me to a time when Backstreet Boys sat atop a musical dynasty as far as teen pop was concerned.

Now I have heard of One Direction here and there but I have never paid attention to them so I decided to check them out earlier today and find out why they are so popular among teenagers.

What I did was to first go back in time to remind myself of how 90s teen pop used to be. So I went on YouTube and watched Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way”.

Do you know the first thing that became quite evident to me? I noticed girls where holding signs and pictures taken from magazines instead of their phones.  Men rocked mullets and wore checkered shirts, leather jackets and baggy pants.

After watching the Backstreet Boys video I picked a random 1 Direction video…“Best Song Ever”.

The first thing I noticed in the video?.. a transgender woman. Then I saw gay men acting like clowns… straight men in skinny jeans dancing with a transgender woman. And yeah, fans were holding phones.

I am not going to waste my time discussing who I think is better between Backstreet Boys and 1 Direction. But I will tell you this. Thank God my teenage years came and went within the 90s’ decade. 

The Undertaker's Last Ride

I HAVE not written about wrestling since April 7, 2014 when The Undertaker's 21–0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania came to an end with a loss to Brock Lesnar .

However, I have mentioned a couple of times that my days as a wrestling fan will officially be over when The Undertaker retires. Last night The Undertaker recorded his second loss at the grandest stage of them all to Roman Reigns in a No Holds Barred Match and placed his ring gear in the middle of the ring which can only be interpreted he had had his final match.

If The Undertaker has really retired then this is it for me. I have been a diehard wrestling fan since 1989 and The Phenom in my opinion is the last remaining wrestler from the days I religiously watched the product.

The Dead Man is arguably the greatest gimmick in the history of wrestling. No man has done a better job at turning what essentially is a ridiculous gimmick into a freaking legend. I don’t think there is any wrestler whose gimmick captivated fans for close to three decades. But what is even more amazing is the respect he commanded in and outside the ring. The Undertaker is not only respected by fans but by the entire locker room. I have never heard any wrestler be it new or old who has said anything bad about The Undertaker. And that is almost impossible in this business.

I am not going to lie. My heart hurts at The Undertaker’s retirement. And what hurts even more is that he had to be retired by Roman Reigns of all people. I have nothing against Reigns, but The Undertaker deserved to be retired by someone worthy.

Anyway, having been a fan of this man since I was barely a teen and having been there for from November 22, 1990 when he debuted in then WWF at Survivor Series to April 2, 2017, nothing has ever had that "End of an Era" feel for me like The Undertaker retiring.

For me, without The Undertaker, there is definitely no reason to continue watching this sport any more. The product has become quite stale in the last few years and I found myself struggling to watch some of the recent PPVs.

Most wrestling legends get a grand send-off when they retire, with speeches and lots of applause. I hope this won’t be the case with The Undertaker. He came as an enigma. He should leave like an enigma.

People say it all the time but this time it's true, there is no one like The Undertaker, and there never will be. Men like him come once in a lifetime.

Rest In Peace!

#ThankYouTaker

KHUZWAYO

THE death of Zambia’s legendary songbird Angela Nyirenda’s son, Khuzwayo, 15, is quite shocking.

Though the majority Zambian public have only known the existence of this young lad through his mom’s ballad “Khuzawo” from her first album Malo Abwino in 2004, I had several close encounters with this boy.

I first met this young man just three years after his mother released her first album. Angela was at the time staying in Kaunda Square Stage II. I think it was in early 2007 if my memory serves me right. She was renting a quarter at the same residence where my homeboy Bruce Mwewa used to rent another quarter. I remember the first time I saw the boy. He was walking alongside his mom, holding her hand’

I remember my boy Bruce directing my attention with his head towards Angela and her son before he said, “That is the famous Khuzwayo”. I thought to myself, that is one handsome little man.

Two years passed before I again run into this boy. This time it was in Lusaka West. As fate would have it, my homeboy Ndakala Lesa used to rent a house at the same farm where I believe Angela Nyirenda and Moses Sakala are rented another house. I believe they still live there. From that time onwards, I always bumped into this boy playing with his friends along the dusty road every time I was in Lusaka West during my June and December Varsity vacations.

I used to have dreadlocks between 2008 and 2011 and I remember how the boy would give me this look whenever we run into each other within or outside the farm. I swear, every time I ran into this boy I thought he was going to follow his mom’s steps and become a singer some day.

I even entertained this idea that he would one day become a huge star and I would go on to write an article about how I watched him play with his friends in the dusty roads of Lusaka West. I last saw Khuzwayo in December 2014. He was as usual playing with his friends along the same dusty road. I still remember what he was wearing.

I never had a chance of talking to this boy. But he struck me as a cool, calm and thoughtful young lad. And it was not only his dreads that made him stand out among his peers. He just had this aura that told you he was a special kid.

"Khuzwayo mwana wangu. Khuzwayo niku konda. Khuzwayo oh. Khuzwayo niku konda neo."  For sure Angela loved her son with a mother's love and I can’t even begin to imagine what she is going through losing two young sons within a space of five years.

I have searched high and low for the song “Khuzwayo” on the Internet this morning and I can’t find it anywehere. All the links claiming to have the song have turned out to be dead ends. Please if anyone has the song, I would appreciate if you can forward it to me either through the WhatsApp line +27713789370 or email: LubutoWestFoundation@yahoo.com. I will really appreciate that.

I send my prayers and thoughts to Angela and her family. And may the soul of Khuzwayo rest in eternal peace. See you on the other side little man.

Hasta La Vista, BB

I WAS just reading an article on the Internet earlier on that BlackBerry is shutting down its phone business after 14 years of making handsets. The company confirmed that it’s out of the Smartphone manufacturing business.

I knew this day would come. I am a die-hard BlackBerry user ONLY because I love the physical keyboard which has value if you think and talk in complete sentences.

BlackBerry 9300 Curve was my first "Smartphone" about 4 years ago, after my silver little Nokia 6030. It was a "major upgrade” from that little Nokia. I was the "talk of the town" where my family was concerned with that BlackBerry.

Man, who would have guessed 4 years ago that BlackBerry would be put out of business? I remember a time not so long ago when anyone who needed a phone for business had a BlackBerry. Unfortunately, BlackBerry (or RIM as they were known in those days) rested on their laurels and didn't keep up with a rapidly changing market. That's what happens when you don't innovate. BlackBerry became too complacent. They should have gone the Android and touch screen way the very moment others took that route.

But all in all, I will always love these Smartphones. They are so user friendly and produce amazing quality photos. I have years of good experiences to always think fondly of a once significant, though slightly elite, brand.

Oh well . . . . . I might as well get myself a second hand 9300 Curve that I can use until the end of December when WhatsApp finally stops working on non Android phones.

I will surely miss the keyboard cause I really hate finicky touch screens Hasta la vista, BB.

A Tribute To My Late Grandma

I LOST my maternal grandmother on Thursday September 22, 2016 and I have been asked to give a speech on behalf of all her grandchildren. 

My name is Kampa Senkwe and I am one of the grandsons to Ms Elina Mwale Zimba. I want to thank everyone in attendance. Thank you all for coming.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to my brothers and sisters who have accorded me this opportunity to speak on their behalf. I’m quite honored.

It is only earlier this month while I was chatting through WhatsApp with a good friend of mine Sishuwa Sishuwa from back home when he said something that really touched my heart. My fellow countryman said, “The relevance of death lies in its impact on those that live.”

Your attendance here speaks volumes about the impact that this wonderful woman had on all of us. Some of you knew Ms Elina Mwale Zimba as sister, mom, aunt, grandma, great grandma, amai Zimba, amake boi or simply Awasi Wrong.

I find it extremely hard to hold back tears as I put down these thoughts. Where does one even begin in paying a fitting tribute to someone they literally owe their life?

My first memory of my grandma goes as far back as the mid 80s. I briefly stayed with Gogo Elina and my late granddad Mr. Zimba (MHSRIP) at No. 43 Nalikwanda Street in Highridge, Kabwe.  I must have been 3 or 4 or at the time but I vividly remember one hot summer afternoon when grandma dressed up in readiness for her usual trips into the Central Business District.

I remember standing by the gate to our house while I watched her across the street as she waited for a bus to get her into town. I asked her to bring me something from town and she said okay “muzukulu wanga”. She was dressed in this flashy Chitenge wrapper and I thought she looked amazing.  Anyone who met my grandma in her hey days will tell you she was a beauty to behold. Grandma was really, really beautiful.

But grandmas beauty wasn’t just skin deep. Grandma was unbelievably compassionate, kind and generous. I was about 6 the last time I stayed at my grandparents’ home in Kabwe. I never got to see grandma until 10 years later in 1996 when she visited my mom’s family in Ndola. She stayed with us for two days and on the day she left she gave me a bottle of this expensive women’s fragrance. It’s been over 20 years but I can still remember the smell of that perfume. And now that I think of it, that was actually the first bottle of perfume I ever owned. I would safely say, grandma introduced me to the importance of smelling good.

Now, I don’t want to stand here and try to paint my grandma as an angel who was always fun to be around. I spent 5 years of my adult life with her in Kaunda Square when her house was still a two room and we had our moments.

It was only last week when I met my cousin Patricia here in South Africa. While I was chatting with Patricia our conversation turned to grandma. I remember Patricia giving me the props for staying with grandma for that long.

Yes, anyone who has ever lived with grandma will tell you she could be quite difficult at times. There were times it was impossible not to be mad at her. But in the 5 years I lived with grandma in Kaunda Square, I saw a part of grandma that some will never get to see. Grandma’s heart and generosity knew no bounds. Her door was always open- literally. She rarely locked the house. You could just walk in and people often did. Grandma’s neighbours, friends, church mates, immediate family, relatives including my own friends all knew they had a place to stay for a few minutes even a day or two to enjoy her hospitality. The door was always open and the food was always plenty.

In the five years I lived with grandma, she made me feel like I was her only grandchild. There was no single moment grandma made me feel like she never cared about me or wanted me around. There were time I felt the heavy burden of life and she would always encourage me and urge me to stay strong and to always believe in God.

When I left for my studies at the Copperbelt University, it was always a homecoming whenever I visited her during my vacations. She would show me off to her neighbours and beckon anyone she knew that passed by the road and introduce them to me. I will always cherish those moments.

Though I stand here to speak on behalf of her grandchildren, I’m aware each and every one of them have their own stories to tell about grandma. But speaking for myself, I would like to end by quoting the words of Maya Angelou who once said, 'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

I want to say to grandma that thank you for making me feel special through and through. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for those encouraging church hymns you used to sing to me when I was down. Thank you. Thank you. You will forever live in my heart.

As they say here in the South, Hamba Kahle Gogo Wami. I Love You!

Tupac Shakur: The Man, The Myth, The Legend

I REMEMBER on the evening of September 14, 1996 walking up to my friend George who lived next door and found him in the company of our friend Elisha. I also remember Elisha asking me whether I had heard about Tupac’s death. That’s how I got to find about Tupac.

Mobile phones had not reached this part of the world at the time and the Interne certainly wasn’t as popular as it is today. Also, a rap artist being killed hardly made it on the evening news in Zambia, so the good old word-of-mouth was how most people found out.

I can’t say the news hit me that hard. Of course I felt a little bit sad, but I wasn’t into Tupac let alone rap music back then. As a matter of fact I only came to learn about Tupac a year earlier when Elisha walked up to me one afternoon as I was listening to some Soukous music and handed me Tupac’s third studio album Me Against The World. I remember Elisha handing me a white cassette and urged me to put it in the cassette player. He said something to the effect “I want you to listen to this guy called Tupac. There is a song on this album called Dear Mama.”

I don’t know whether that was my first introduction to rap music, but I don’t remember listening to a rap song before that. Though Elisha wanted me to listen to “Dear Mama”, it was “So Many Tears” and “It Ain’t Easy” that I had an instant liking for. I felt the two songs really spoke to me in some way. So Many Tears remains to this day my all time favourite rap song.

I don’t think there is an artist dead or alive that has moved the way Tupac did. Though I rarely listen to rap music now, whenever I start to feel overwhelmed by the ugliness of the world I look to Tupac’s music and interviews. I really pity people who only remember this guy as a thug or gangster. They truly miss out on a brilliant intellectual individual.

In my opinion, there was nobody in the rap industry as good as Tupac. Tupac was all about his work which he did until he couldn’t. The man came from nothing. He created, stood on his two feet, fought, lost, picked himself up, all day every day. Every “Rap Star” after him owes him. He brought to the table rap music worth listening to.

On September 7, 1996, Tupac and his record label boss, Suge Knight left the Mike Tyson vs Bruce Seldon fight at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tupac sat in the passenger’s seat of Suge’s BMW when a white Cadillac with four occupants pulled alongside at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane.

According to one witness, two men got out of the Cadillac and fired 13 rounds at the BMW from less than 13 feet away. Tupac was hit three times, one in the hip, another in his right hand with the fatal one hitting him in the chest while Suge escaped with minor injuries. The shooting occurred at 11:15 p.m. local time. Tupac was rushed to the University Medical Center.

On Friday, September 13, 1996, Tupac died after 6 days in critical condition. Tupac Shakur was pronounced dead at 4.03 p.m. His body was later cremated. He was only 25.

 There are many theories to Tupac's death; however there is a suspicion that it could have been the rivalry between the Westcoast and Eastcoast rappers.

James Bond Has Always Been A White Heterosexual Man

ENGLISH author Anthony Horowitz who is the most recent writer chosen to write a James Bond novel by the estate of Bond's creator Ian Fleming, recently sparked an outrage when he said actor Idris Elba was "too street" and not "suave" enough to play Britain's favourite spy. Mr Horowitz later apologized for his comment which some deemed as racist. Though I did not agree with author's claim that Idris is 'too street' to play 007, I found nothing racist about his statement. Idris Elba is the personification of sex in my opinion. He is a versatile actor who can certainly play suave. I have watched him play many varied roles very well indeed. He is a great actor. However, he cannot be James Bond because James Bond is a white guy with white parents. According to Ian Fleming, the creator of this fictional character, James Bond was born in 1920. His father is from Scotland and and his mother is Swiss. His eyes are blue. With that said, it would compromise the narrative to Idris Elba as bond, as worthy and capable as he is. I know someone is already calling me a racist. Let me point out that I'm a black man and I have nothing against the colour of my skin. Furthermore, I'm a huge fan of Idris Elba. He is an amazing actor and I believe he can play the part smoothly. However, the idea of a black actor playing the Scottish-Swiss James Bond is as daft as having a white actor playing Shaft. Furthermore, if Ian Fleming didn't care about Bond's ethnicity he wouldn't have mentioned it. For him to go to the length of describing the colour of Bond's eyes meant he wanted us to know his character's race. Fleming created a white character and we should respect his product. I was listening to the the cast of the latest Bond movie, 'Spectre' last night. I found it ridiculous that some thought it would be a great idea to have a woman play James Bond or that 007 be gay in future films. I'm all for equality, but James Bond has always been a white heterosexual man. 'It's who Bond is. I think people forget we're talking about a character in a movie, that is based on a series of books. This is not a race thing, it's a back story and continuity thing. It's about sticking with the character.James Bond was written as a white heterosexual male just as Shaft was written as a black heterosexual male, some things are just not meant to be altered. Perhaps I don't buy into political correctness bullshit, but are we not supposed to respect the creative mind of the person who invented James Bond? What will be next? A native American Snow? Should we have an Indian girl play Harry Potter? Why is everything sexist these days? Why is everything racist these days? Political correctness gone wrong. James Bond, in the books and films, has spoken of a Scottish dad and a white European mother. I couldn't give two hoots who plays any other role in a Bond movie but if 007 ain't a well spoken British white chap. then it ain't Bond. If certain actors/actresses [if the latter is acceptable to female actors] and/or producers etc want to create films about spies who are different, let them. But they ought not usurp the Bond franchise which has worked so well on its own merits for so long.

MY THOUGHTS ON OSCAR'S RELEASE FROM PRISON

SPRINTER Oscar Pistorius who was supposed to be released from a South African prison on Tuesday was apparently released Monday night after serving one day shy of a year in prison for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. It is thought his early release may have been to prevent the media from trying to catch a glimpse of the gold medalist as he was driven away from prison. Pistorius, 28, will now serve the remaining four years of his five-year sentence under house arrest. He also will face further attempts by prosecutors to charge him with murder in the death of his girlfriend. Pistorius who was convicted of culpable homicide in September last year has been released from prison under South Africa's guidelines that allow non-dangerous prisoners to be freed upon serving about one-sixth of their sentence. Now, I'm not going to claim I know anything about law let alone the South African law. But in my opinion, I don't think "good behavior" should get a murderer out of prison in a year. Oscar was in prison not a local pub. There were guards and other nut cases in there with him. How the hell do they think he would behave? Practically speaking most convicts could be released under those "good behavior" rules. Why can't it be, behave "good" for half of your sentence, then we'll consider parole and after considering we would say NO? Thanks to this stupid law, this cold blooded murderer is now home in a mansion in a very upscale neighborhood, having steak and eggs in the morning as Reeva's blood keeps crying from her grave for justice. I call Oscar a cold blooded murderer because I don't believe his account of what happened on that fateful night. I read and saw few things on this case and clearly this man intended to kill her. Pistorius killed Steenkamp by firing bullets through a closed bathroom door on Valentine's Day. His defense was that he believed there was an intruder in his home, and had no idea that Steenkamp was on the other side of the door. Well , now that he is back home, Oscar might want to leave the bathroom door open at all times as he does his business.

NO JUSTICE FOR CECIL THE LION

ZIMBABWE has announced that it has abandoned its bid to press charges against a US dentist who killed Cecil the lion, saying his papers "were in order" and that he did not know he was committing any offence. I don't know what is going on in Zimbabwe. That country seems to be driven by very dark forces. Something has to be done at international level to stop the brutal killings, torture and abuse of animals by these serial killers like Walter Palmer. That is a crime against humanity. In this day and age, why do we need to hunt for sport? As human beings, we need to go above our egocentric and self-absorbed needs for unnecessary killing of animals. If that sorry excuse for a man has $50,000 or Euros to throw around, why not give it to a charitable cause? That dentist, or whatever he is, exemplifies what is wrong with the world. Maybe Palmer's papers WERE in order. However, I don't feel that trophy hunting is ethical by any stretch of the imagination. Palmer says he "thought everything was in order". I don't believe him, since he lied years ago about "legally" shooting a bear. I still hope his practice has suffered because of the outrage. There are many who disagree, I'm sure. But that's the way I feel.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

I WENT to see Straight Outta Compton last night at The Zone in Rosebank and it left me amazed at how far rap music has come.

Now, probably someone is wondering how a movie that was released on August 14th, 2015 can still be in theaters, two months later. Well, apparently the movie only premiered here in South Africa on October 2.

Though I have been looking forward to seeing this movie, I will admit that it far exceeded my expectations. I don't really have a favorite part. But if this counts, my favorite part of the movie is the whole first 40 minutes. It was funny, sad, entertaining, inspiring and brought back old memories. Every music scene in the movie hit hard in the theaters, the bass and just the way it was filmed was amazing.

Straight Outta Compton is definitely up there among the best  biographical drama films ever produced. This movie should and must definitely win an Oscar!

Also, I never thought this movie would be great to watch or even draw me closer to  Eazy E. Watching Straight Outta Compton really made me feel for this guy. It referred many times to the fact that he admitted he wasn't smart or anything like that; which makes sense as to why he never knew about HIV or AIDS.

The movie is also more or less about the hardships that surround trying to start something that has never been done before. Seeing what these rap pioneers went through and looking at what has become of rap music today just makes me wanna cry.

Man I don't know where I'm going with this, but If you have not seen this movie yet, you are missing out. This is hands down a classic. Go see it, you won't be disappointed!

DIEGO COSTA SHOULD BE GIVEN A RETROSPECT BAN

I HATE the feeling of being angry, especially when it is about something I have no control over. But I'm still livid about Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. My anger is not so much about the loss itself. It is about that ugly son of bitch, Diego Costa.

If you watched the lunchtime kick off, you will probably agree with me that Costa is a horrible excuse for a football player. He is a disgrace.  For the record, I don't doubt Costa's abilities as a player. I think he is a good player. But he is a good player who always treads a fine line and he went way beyond it in yesterday's match. Costa's aggressive behaviour has no place in football.

Also, though it is no surprise, it still infuriates me that Jose Mourinho can defend his player's appalling behaviour. There's one thing worse than a bad loser and that's a bad winner.

How can Mourinho claim, "He played the game like it should have been played."???Chelsea are bullies who are full of themselves, from the top all the way down. Danny Baker quite brilliantly likened the Club to a chav that wins the lottery, he was spot on.

Mourinho cannot say Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, should stop 'crying' after every Chelsea defeat when he is the one who cries and blames everyone but himself when his team loses. Mourinho is on record blaming referees, his own players and his own team doctors in the wake of Chelsea defeats. Jose is the biggest hypocrite of all time and an enemy of football who's never spoken a word about football worth remembering.

Anyway, I came here to talk about is Costa and not his bullish and arrogant coach. The FA should review the situations involving Costa throughout the game not just the ones involving Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel. By the letter of the law, he should've had 8 yellow cards and 2 red and I could've missed some. How the referee Mike Dean missed all of those, yet picked up on two tiny infringements by Santi Cazorla and sent him off, I have no idea.

I should also mention about Gabriel's naivety. It was naive for Garbriel to stick his studs up against Costa in full view of the referee. I understand he was irked, but that was plain dumb. Costa enjoy getting under the the skin of opponent players and Garbriel fell for it hook, line and sinker.

The Premier League should throw the book at Diego Costa.

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11

FOURTEEN years ago today, thousands of innocent people lost their lives in the US terror attacks.

As someone once put it, "on that terrible day, a nation became a neighborhood, all Americans (if not the whole world) became New Yorkers."

I will never forget that day, where I was, who I was with or how I felt. Rest in peace to the innocent people that lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

My thoughts and prayers are with all victims and their families, friends and loved ones and the thousands who continue to suffer from illnesses caused by the toxic smoke and debris at Ground Zero.

Remember, this is not a day to entertain conspiracy theories or wallop in Islamophobia. Do not generalize. Empathize and employ a broader thought process.

Also, if there is a lesson to learn from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.

‪#‎NeverForget911‬

REMEMBERING PRINCESS DIANA

TODAY marks exactly 18 years since the death of Diana the Princess of Wales. On Sunday August 31, 1997, Diana, her companion Dodi al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul were killed in a car crash in Paris, France while trying to escape the paparazzi.

Lady Diana's tragic death not only shocked the UK but the world at large. I was only 17 when this tragedy happened but I still remember that day so vividly like it was yesterday. I had just arrived home that fateful Sunday afternoon when my baby sister broke the news to me. When I heard the news, it was as though time had stopped. I could not believe the sadness and pain I went through in that moment. It was like receiving the death of a very close relative or friend.

But perhaps this could be the reason Diana was referred to as the People's Princess. Her sympathy and kindness were always sincere and people reciprocated her feelings. Lady Di's life in many ways resembled the fairy­tale about but it is worth mentioning that Diana did a lot of charity work. She personally visited the terminally ill in many countries of the world, led a campaign in animal protection, against AIDS and inhuman weapons, in particular, against anti­personnel land mines.

Princess Diana was one of the first high profile people to be photographed embracing HIV/AIDS patients, helping to remove the stigma attached to the disease. Her tireless work with AIDS organisations and children's charities leaves a lasting legacy, while the Diana Memorial Fund set up in her memory has raised 100 million pounds to date.

HEAL THE WORLD

TODAY the late King Of Pop Michael Jackson would have celebrated his 57th birthday.

I'm not sure about you folks, but my all time favourite MJ song is Heal the World from his 1991 hit album, Dangerous.

In my view, this song encompasses everything. Musically, it is beautiful and I don't think there is a songwriter alive who doesn't wish they had written this song. The lyrics are amazing. It's perfect and I will speak for many when I say the message in this song is how we want the world to be.

Happy Birthday MJ. May your legacy live on.

Maya Angelou: Poet Extraordinaire!

ANYONE who has been inspired, challenged, and sustained by the written word will agree with me that the death of celebrated US author, poet, actress, philanthropist and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, 86, is a sad development.

Maya Angelou was indeed an epitome of a phenomenal woman. She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration.

But what really stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not necessarily what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life.

By the time she reached 40 she had been a professional dancer, prostitute, madam, lecturer, activist, singer and editor. She had worked with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, lived in Ghana and Egypt, toured Europe with a dance troupe and settled in pretty much every region of the United States.

We all can learn a lot from the life of this absolutely wonderful, inspirational woman. She taught self strength, honesty, love, respect, belief and moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace.

Maya was an iconic figure of faith, perseverance, fortitude, and peace. Literary giant. Advocate of women and all equality. Maya is not just the United State's jewel, she is the world's precious soul.

Maya Angelou once wrote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

We'll certainly never forget how you made us feel, Maya.

Rest in peace Dr. Maya Angelou. We all know however, that great people don't die. They live through their words from generation to generation.
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The Amazing Story Of Stephen Sutton

THE name Stephen Sutton may not ring a bell to most fellow citizens.

Stephen was a British blogger and charity activist known for his blog "Stephen's Story" and his Teenage Cancer Trust charity for the aid of teenagers with cancer.

Stephen, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, England, was first diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 15, and was told in December 2012 that his condition was incurable.

Stephen passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Wednesday May 14, 2014 aged 19.

The most amazing thing about Stephen's story is how this young man courageously faced his illness.

Sutton, who initially set himself a target of trying to raise £10000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, raised more than £3m for charity after his story was publicised.

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have supported his fundraising efforts for the Teenage Cancer Trust since he posted a picture of himself in hospital in April with a goodbye message as he thought he was nearing death. Among them was Prime Minister David Cameron.

Stephen did not only manage to inspire a nation to donate to a good cause but also made millions of people around the world to appreciate and make the most of their lives, to be positive and brave in the face of adversity.

This young man also taught the world that life isn't about how long we are here but what we do with the time that we get. Whilst his life was far too short, he achieved some tremendous goals than most of us can achieve in a dozen lifetimes.

What an amazing person this young lad was. He was indeed a true inspiration and if more people had his wonderful attitude to life, then this world would be an infinitely better place.

Stephen has done so much to help with the fight against cancer and to bring to the attention of so many people, young and old that this disease has no respect for age, gender or creed.

His attitude towards his life and his illness has inspired not just me, but many, many people around the world to look at their lives in a different way.

The courage and grace shown by this young man in the face of a battle he knew he was never gonna win is inspiring and should both give hope to those in need and bring shame to those of us who are forever complaining about our lot in life.

To Stephen I say, thank you for making such an impact and for being you. You were, are and will continue to be an inspiration to millions.

You'll always be remembered as a brilliant human being and a complete and utter legend who made a difference.

May Stephen's gentle soul rest in peace and his family be comforted in the knowledge that he has truly made a difference to this world.

To you the reader I say, Stephens race is run but we must continue in the hope that just a little of his strength and generosity rubs off on us all so that we can learn to help others as he has done.

Perhaps then we might all leave behind a small addition to Stephen's wonderful legacy.

Rest in peace Stephen, your legacy will be carried on by those who have been inspired by your story.

End Of An Era

DROPPED jaws and stunned faces characterised the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for WrestleMania XXX when the unthinkable happened on The Grandest Stage of Them All Sunday night: Brock Lesnar attained the Holy Grail of WrestleMania feats and ended The Streak.

I'm quite upset and still in shock. And it's not the fact that The Undertaker lost that upsets most. It's who he lost to.

Brock isn't a wrestler. He is a part timer, and him breaking the streak is a direct disrespect to the likes of Kane, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and CM Punk among others.

And I don't care whether Brock Lesnar is "The Beast Incarnate". To have a once a month wrestling piece of stool like Brock Lesnar defeat The Undertaker was about the most disgraceful way to end the streak.

If that was going to happen then it should have been done by a wrestler who has been there and devoted their time to WWE and who wrestles every week.

The Authority could have got any wrestler and I mean anyone but Lesnar to break the streak!

The streak has been so instrumental in giving WrestleMania that intriguing component that the WWE Universe has been having for this Pay Per View.

This WrestleMania would have gone down in history as the greatest of all time for the fact that Daniel Bryan and The Yes Movement finally had their dream come true.

But no one is going to really remember WrestleMania 30 for Daniel Bryan overcoming the odds and finally having his moment.

People will remember WrestleMania 30 for The Undertakers streak ending and the stunned and shocked looks on everyone's faces as it ended.

I made a promise that if The Authority allow Brock Lesnar defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, I quit watching wrestling altogether. I'm not going back on that promise.

Yes, I've been a wrestling fan if not addict since the early 90's. Being a long term wrestling fan and seeing this sport flourish in the 90's and Taker being "The Man", I'll be upset and frustrated for quite some time. I don't think I will enjoy wrestling like I've always done.

I feel WWE should have allowed The Deadman retire a winner. How pathetic of WWE to end an era like that. On Sunday April 6, 2014, WWE screwed WWE Universe. Professional wrestling just died on Sunday night.

And with that said, I have officially resigned from watching WWE.

Long live The Undertaker. Long live Deadman and Rest In Peace WWE!!!

MMD SUFFERS FROM POLITICAL CANCER

THE statement by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President George Mpombo that no amount of political tinkering will redeem MMD made an interesting read.
It’s just this past Friday when I met Mr Mpombo in person for the first time at Ndola’s Mint Cafe situated at Jacaranda Mall.
A very close friend of mine had sought an audience with Mr Mpombo and asked me to accompany him.
In the 45 minutes my friend and I spent with Mr Mpombo, I remember him saying something to us that made me liken what is happening in the former ruling party to a person who is drowning.
Those who have studied the art of swimming refute the claims that rip-currents pull people under. It’s not the case.
People drown because they panic, become exhausted, and are not a strong enough swimmer to at least tread water.
Panic makes you fight the current and exhaust yourself. In a crisis of any kind, staying calm lets your survival instincts tell you how to survive. On the other hand, panic paralyses the mind and body, often sealing your fate.
This is exactly what is happening in the MMD. The MMD has been in a panic mode even before Rupiah Banda got elected as President of this country.
I am sure we all remember how the MMD prior to the 2008 presidential by-elections hired foreign image-builders for their candidate which we all know never worked.
If MMD managed to win the 2008 presidential by-elections it’s only because they chose to ride on the legacy of the late president Levy Mwanawasa (MHSRIP).
And who has forgotten how in trying to hoodwink the electorate, the Rupiah-led regime embarked on speedy developmental projects just before the September 2011 tripartite elections?
This is the period we saw words like “unprecedented” given a whole new meaning.
MMD as a party has done so much public relations damage it will take a miracle to save them from annihilation.
What amazes me is the stubborn attitude from certain members of this party.
If the MMD have no ears to listen to the cries of those who don’t want to see the MMD go into oblivion, they will be made to listen in some other way.
MMD is suffering from a cancerous tumour that destroys not only itself but also everything else around it.
No amount of cosmetic surgery will help to redeem or beautify MMD’s soiled image and the sooner its leaders realise this better for the party.