NO NEED TO THROW IN THE TOWEL YET

The dartboard itself is made of 20 segments, numbered 1 through 20, with a bullseye in the middle of the board. Each number also contains two small rectangular scoring sections on each segment. The smallest of the segments, closest to the bullseye, scores triple points and the other rectangular segment scores double points. For example, if a player tosses an 8 but it lands in the small segment closest to the bullseye, the triple score would bring the total to 24.

A goal or objective is a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve. Goals are able to motivate and spur someone to meet their ambitions because they help them focus their efforts on that objective. Having objectives is not the issue, but striving to attain them is.

Make your goals attainable. There is no point setting goals you believe are unattainable. However, don’t set impotent goals! I think one needs to set a higher goal. For example, if you are taking an exam and your goal is to get a C, you should aim for a B. Similarly, if you are playing darts the bullseye should be the target even if you know that chances of hitting the target are very slim. If you don’t get triple points you will at least get double points. It’s a win-win situation.

That said, it surprises me that “FAM (Football Association of Malawi) has dropped ambitious and far fetched dream of making it to South Africa World Cup next year and now wants coach Kinnah Phiri to concentrate on Angola Africa Cup of Nations”

FAM president said it was time to face the reality and concentrate on finishing third in the group to qualify for the continental football gala: “After giving up six points we would be cheating ourselves to say we can still make it to South Africa World Cup. The only sensible thing to do is to be realistic and reposition ourselves. We need to strategise on how to get rid of Guinea on the third position.”

Mathematically, it is still possible for Malawi to make it to South Africa. I like what Peter Mponda (captain) said: “We set up our goals when we started the campaign and we are going to achieve them. There are still four games remaining and anything can happen.”

In 2006 The Gunners were trailing Manchester United by 14 points and although it looked like a distant possibility that Arsenal would be crowned champions in May 2007, Wenger did not give up hope.

Wenger said: “Of course to be 14 points behind bothers me and I cannot say that it does not.

“I know we sound a bit crazy but no matter how big the gap is we want to get it down as much as possible and you never know.

“The first step for us is to be consistent and get the points. After that we will see.”

They ended up fourth, 21 points behind Man U because they had set a higher goal. If their goal was to end up 4th they woud have probably ended up 8th. That’s what the Flames of Malawi need to do. Aim to make it to South Africa until it’s not mathematically possible. After it’s not mathematically possible to make it to South Africa they should aim to finish second in the Group. If it’s not mathematically possible to finish second in the group then that’s when they should aim for third. If it’s not mathematically possible to finish third, then they should play for pride.

Whatever your goal is, it’s OK to dream big….it’s these big dreams that keep us motivated.