FOR MANY soccer lovers who followed the European soccer season in 1998/1999, the UEFA Champions League’s crowning battle between German side Bayern Munich and English club Manchester United will remain unforgettable. The match is best remembered as Manchester United scored two last-minute goals in injury time to win 2–1, after having trailed for most of the match. The game's ending was so unexpected that then UEFA President Lennart Johansson had left his seat in the stands before Manchester United’s equalizer to make his way down to the pitch in order to present the trophy, already decorated with Bayern ribbons. When he emerged from the tunnel at the final whistle, he was stunned. “I can't believe it,” he later said, “The winners are crying and the losers are dancing.” Bayern’s only goal had come in the sixth minute of the game and if they had not conceded those goals in the ninetieth and ninety-second minutes, they would have been crowned champions for that season.
BAYERN’S BLUES
BAYERN’S loss can speak to us in many ways. When you start well, you must endeavour to finish well. A good beginning does not guarantee a good finish. A plush wedding will not naturally lead to a great marriage. Inasmuch as it is good to lay good foundations, the roof of our efforts are also important. A little mistake and your life will be shattered. Don’t take anything for granted. At every stage of your life, strive to be on top of your game. Don’t let anything take you by surprise. Don’t celebrate until you receive the trophy. In business, no matter how much you trust the other party don’t put the cart before the horse. Don’t move until the deal is signed. If you want to be a champion in life, never count your chicks before your eggs hatch. You’ve got to hold on to your mettle until the final whistle is blown.
UNITED’S U-TURN
ON THE other hand, we can learn from Manchester United’s fortune in that encounter. You can dance even if you are losing. You can smile in your sadness. You can go up when things are going down. You can win when you are being defeated. How is that possible? All you’ve got to do is to adopt the posture that “it’s not over until it’s over.” You may not start in a promising way but you can end in a predominant manner. In the Bible, we learn from Ecclesiastes 7:8 that “The end of a matter is better than its beginning (NIV).” It’s possible to start life poor and end up wealthy. You could be at the bottom of your class but you can be at the top of a thriving corporate entity.
Don’t give up when life is tough. If you are a lady and you are not married, don’t feel you are too old to be married. Even in your menopause phase, you can still meet Mr Right. Nobody should write themselves off in life simply because they think it’s too late. The sun rises only after a dark night. When everything around you is dark, do not commit suicide; do not kill your expectations. Remember that day comes after night. If you give up in the plight of the night, you will not live to harness the light of day.
FINE FINISH
TO BECOME a dancing loser or a dancing winner, I offer these five guidelines:
1. Focus on your ultimate objective
2. Remain hopeful even when there is no reason to do so
3. Give off your best all the time
4. Don’t stop fighting when the fight is not over
5. Make every moment of your life count
I don’t know the field you operate in but I don’t want you to declare the finality of your life when there could be further opportunities in the future. Even when you feel weary and worn out, remember that there is injury time ahead and that could be your time of opportunity. If you are already winning, stay on the winning path. Don’t quit. Winners never quit.
© 2011 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana
Great article!
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