Depending on one soccer player...

Dear Editor,

THE tendency to depend on one striker in crucial encounters is what is leading to most superstars lose popularity and end up into moral decay.

$rgentine Iootball legend 'iego 0aradona cried aIter /ionel 0essi Iailed to conYert a penalty.

7his Zas aIter $rgentina had been utterly humbled by &roatia on the 1i]hny 1oYgorod pitch beIore his eyes and suddenly the threat oI a group stage e[it Ior the tZo time :orld &up champions looNed Yery real indeed.

$s the commemoratiYe Ieatures acNnoZledging the nd anniYersary oI the ³+and oI *od´ Zent to press once again raised his leIt arm only this time to Zipe aZay the tears.

0anager -orge 6ampaoli paced Iuriously up and doZn the touchline. /ionel 0essi head in his hands stood completely still. ,t Zasn¶t supposed to end liNe this.

7his is the more reason Zhy , thinN it is not adYisable in a match to depend on one striNer.

$ good e[ample is Zhen the &hipolopolo team entirely depended on striNer &ollins 0besuma.

0besuma had so much pressure such that he Zas panicNing during crucial games.

,t is thereIore incumbent upon coaches and the technical bench to drill the team to ensure eYery department oI the team is dependable and not just relying on one person.

7his is Zhat is Nilling the soccer game today so please coaches in =ambia do not maNe such mistaNes.

CHRISPINE BOTHA, Lusaka.