Interco 2 - Sometimes, Augusco Has Got to Fight

I arrived back in school to find there had been a power cut and the school was in darkness. All over the compound people stood in small groups discussing Zaitoto and the false starts, the threats of Izzo and what the strategy had to be for the next day. But above all, they talked about Moga. There were discussions about success stories and failures with girls, Sandy Mathew’s antics and everything else. The atmosphere was festive because, after Moga’s unexpected heroics, St Augustine’s was still in with a chance.

I listened to one group and then to another, contributing little myself. In one group, Kwame Bossman, one of the sixth formers was relating an experience he had had. He had been dating a Wesley Girls High school girl called Abiba for a couple of years and, of course they had planned to meet during Interco. Abiba was blessed with such beauty, people wondered why she had chosen Kwame. But as Kwame was always quick to point out, it was not how handsome you were or the size of your wallet that mattered, but the size of your dick. Today, however, when he had gone to see her, he had found her with Raymond.

“Bloody Raymond!” groans from the listeners

For everybody knew Raymond. He was the mixed race son of a rich businessman who owned a factory in Cape Coast. He had been dismissed from Adisadel College in year 5 after having had an affair with the wife of a teacher who had travelled for a course in Europe. He had not continued his education but had joined his dad in business. Still, he continued to enjoy student life to the full and was present at all events. Today he had attended Interco in a BMW, which he had parked on the road on the other side of the pitch in the full glare of all those in the stands in Kwabotwe.

“Charley, they were standing by the car oh, proper BMW. Abiba introduced me as a friend and went back to chatting to Raymond. Them relegate me to the background completely. This bastard who couldn’t finish school. So naturally I was upset.” Kwame Bossman said

He had wondered what to say to let this guy know, that he could not go round taking other people’s girlfriends just because he had money and that, there was much more to life than being rich. So it was, that he had looked Raymond straight in the eye and said;

“Knowledge is power!”

To which the witty Raymond had retorted

“Oh absolutely, but money rules all.”

Humiliated and embarrassed, he had watched as Abiba had jumped in the car and they had disappeared through the milling crowd on the road.

We all laughed

Every now and again a couple of form one boys would run past as their friends cheered

“Moooga”

The second day was a furious affair. Everything seemed to be happening at the same time. While Izzo once again swept all the sprints, Mfantsipim’s Alhassani was hurling the javelin miles into the sky to the sound of Alas! Alas! Alas! He did the shot put as well but thankfully, Oshoo had taken care of that. A pattern was emerging. Adisadel were brilliant in the sprints but horrible in the field events and long distances. Mfantsipim were the best in field events and long distances but were weak in the sprints. Augusco, however, were coming second and third in most of the events. After a day of intense competition, and with just the 4x100m to go, the score board read as follows;

St Augustine’s – 102

Adisadel College – 98

Mfantsipim – 60

This meant that Augusco only needed to be second in the final race to win. The tension had been palpable. Izzo and the Adisadel quartet went through some well-rehearsed choreographed dances in front of their wildly cheering fans. The Augusco quartet – Marcos, Adamu, Baba and Zaitoto stood with their heads bowed before the fans as we sang the Latin song, Adoramus to inspire them to battle. This was an opportunity for Zaitoto to make amends for the previous day’s error. The drama and noise had reached fever pitch. Then silence, as the athletes went on their marks.

“Set!” the singular voice of the starter reverberated around the stadium

The blast of the gun saw Marcos getting the best start of the lot. He had been in lane five but by the time he handed the baton over to Adamu, he had almost caught up with the Adisco guy in lane six. It was neck to neck between Augusco and Adisco in the second leg. Baba got the baton and lept into the lead in the 200m curve. Then disaster! Zaitoto had moved a shade too early. He had realized this and tried to slow down but Baba had bumped into him and the baton had fallen down. Izzo was gone.

The nature of the defeat and the gloating of the Adisco boys had been too much for us to bear. We had laid ambush on the road leading from Kwabotwe and attacked Adisco with missiles as they danced to brass band music on their way to school. There had been several injuries as the Adisco boys had charged towards us and engaged us in a free for all fight. We had all been brought up to accept defeat, to congratulate the winner and to pray for better luck next time but sometimes, sometimes, you just have got to fight when you are a man.