09-06-2018, 02:14
1974 was also the tournament when Zaire right-back Ilunga Mwepu famously broke from his team's defensive wall to kick the ball away before a Brazil free-kick. There was a lot of patronising guff from commentators and pundits about Africans not understanding the rules of the game, when the reality was that Zaire's dictator had threatened to exile the players and/or execute their families if the team lost the match by more than three goals, and Brazil were already 2-0 up. Mwepu was timewasting to save lives.
That said, he clearly had a sense of humour about the whole thing, and his appearance on FFL twenty years ago was classic.
That said, he clearly had a sense of humour about the whole thing, and his appearance on FFL twenty years ago was classic.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley