Guest blog by Stuart Taylor, Consular Regional Operations Manager
Exciting, enthralling, exhillerating, exhausting; Saturday night took us through a mixture of emotions as Chelsea proved victorious in Munich. The game itself followed a similar pattern to that of 1974’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. This time, instead of Mohammed Ali being forced against the ropes for much of the match, it was Chelsea. Bayern Munich pushed hard but Chelsea, just as Ali did all those years ago in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), fought back late on to deliver a sucker punch.
The UEFA Champions League is watched by millions of viewers world over. Here in Ethiopia, it generates much enthusiasm. Driving around Addis on Saturday it appeared there were even more Chelsea badges, banners, shirts etc in car windows and shops than usual. The city was blue – the final had gripped Addis. As the game drew on and we entered into a penalty shootout, you could almost hear every cheer and groan rumble across the city as players scored and missed, and goalkeepers saved. Addis and Africa was expectant. And it was an African star, Didier Drogba, who delivered at the right moment. Fantastic!
As 2am drew closer and the adrenalin began to fade, I headed for bed sparing thoughts for many Chelsea and British football fans around the world – even as far away as America where British Prime Minister, David Cameron, watched the game alongside President Obama and (more fittingly) Chancellor Merkel of Germany. I know that Ethiopia is home to many Chelsea fans, including some at our Embassy. Congratulations to you all. Well done to Chelsea. Their determination to keep on going, even when the odds were stacked against them, was an example. I am delighted that the UK continues to remain a leader in the world’s most prestigious game.
Dear Greg, I do hope that ‘s correct of me to write some German words.Steffen itself is a so-called Handicapped Person (wheel-chair)
and / but tries desperately to learn English.Fact is also that he is mad about football.So I think that, esp. Reports like this are make it for him easier in his attempts to learn.
I really do hope that you can understand this way of learning.
BW, Ingo-Steven Wais, Stuttgart
Dear Greg, pls.let me add 1 additional remark:
Dear Steffen, so sehen Sieger aus!Wer hat wieder mal Recht?!
(3-Fach A-Rating, ständiger Sitz im UN-Weltsicherheitsrat?Das ich nicht lache…..CONGRATULATIONS!
BW, Ingo-Steven
Dear Greg,
you just took the rights words out of my mouth.E.g.:”Exciting”,”Enthralling”…and so on.But I ‘m really surprised that this game in London/UK caused so much enthusiasm in Ethiopia. So I’m really wondering why.Nevertheless:The result is clear and this wonderfull picture speaks more as 1000 words.
I do hope that it is allowed to dedicated this report to a close friend of mine, Steffen.
BW, Ingo-Steven Wais, Stuttgaart