OF THE CHIPOLO POLO BOY' MISSION AT AFCON 2012: WINNING THE CUP IN HONOUR OF THE 25 ZAMBIANS HEROES

By: Qeko

On the 27th April 1993, the most devastating news in the life of African football was announce, that the Zambian Air Force carrying the Zambian National Football players crushed and perished along the coast of Gabon killing all passengers on board. Those days I loved to update myself with every little detail of the beautiful game. I remember that the Zambia national team was on their way to play Senegal and that Kalusha Bwalya who at that time was playing his professional soccer in Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven was to join the team in Dakar hence he survive the crash.

Actually it is emotional and touching to remember this Gabon Air Disaster because it was the most shocking and distressing news in the life of this beautiful game. This disaster took away the best of African’s footballers as follows;

Efford Chabala-Goalkeeper
John Soko-Defender
Whiteson Changwe-Defender
Robert Watiyakeni-Defender
Eston Mulenga-Midfielder
Derby Makinka-Midfielder

Moses Chikwalakwala-Midfielder
Wisdom Mumba Chansa-Midfielder
Kelvin Malaza Mutale-Striker
Timothy Mwitwa-Striker
Numba Mwila-Striker
Richard Mwanza-GoalKeeper
Samuel Chomba-Defender
Moses Masuwa-Striker
Kenan Simambe-Defender
Godfrey kangwa-Midfielder
Patrick Bomber Banda-Striker

To honour these Zambian National Team Heroes, the Chipolopolo boys upon arrival at Libreville, the team went to the site of plan crash where they had a brief funeral and emotional service to remember the departed. It has taken 19 years for Zambia to come back to the site where the players died. Headed by Kalusha Bwalya, and the Zambian sports Minister, Kambwili, the Zambian national team visited the site. In his speech, Bwalya stated that the Zambia National team is there to respect the dreams of their beloved brothers who died. In as much as many have concluded that Zambia will be defeated by the Giant of African football this weekend, it would be dangerous to undermine the spirit that is energizing and propelling the Zambian team this particular moment. This is because the team has a mission and a goal to win the cup in honour of their friends who perished during that Gabon Air disaster in 1993. In as much as they are the underdog, this weekend there will be some fireworks as Zambia fight with a common goal