Former Chipolopolo Boys defender Hillary Makasa has died. Makasa died at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital on Monday evening.
The predominantly right-footed who became a fixture at left-back will be remembered for his long-range strike in the 4-2 defeat to Tunisia in the semi-finals at the CAF 1996 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Alongside the likes of the late Dennis Lota, Andrew Tembo, and Vincent Mutale, Makasa was one of the five members of the ‘fantastic five’ that Danish coach Roald Paulsen brought in to refreshen the all-conquering 1994 squad.
The other player was Mwape Miti but he wasn’t a regular at AFCON ’96 at the time.
Mutale and Tembo replaced Evans Sakala and Tenant Chilumba in midfield while Lota got the nod ahead of Zeddy Saileti.
Current Green Eagles coach Aggrey Chiyangi paved way for Makasa.
Makasa was featured in five matches in the 1996 African Cup of nations.
On the local scene, he featured for boyhood club Roan United before he was snapped up by Kabwe Warriors.
With an impressive showing at the African Cup of Nations, he was snapped up by South African side Ajax Cape Town.
After retirement, he came back home and settled in Kafue.
Too bad, but it is the way life is
rip big man
Afcon 96 – a tournament to remember , built around K Bwalya it was one of the most exciting editions Zed featured in – so many goals .
Such a pity we lost to Tunisia in Durban.
(Its been said somewhere even though Brazil lost in 1982 that team is still remembered more fondly than the 2002 title winning squad).
HM MYSRIP.
Zamfoot – thank you for this pic (looks like the Durban stadium)
RIP
@GSK11 Well spoken my friend. Hilary IS one of the best #3 to have played for our National Team. I rank him just behind Greats like late Kapambwe Mulenga, Whitson Changwe Manfred Chabinga…. He timed his tackles to perfection. MHSRIP
Sad to read about this. This guy came to Zimbabwe for the All Africa games in 1995 alongside Kabamba Kalande, Mwape Miti, Kingsley Musabula, Bilton Musonda and others. They didnt go far in that tournament but showed a lot of promise. RIP Hilary Makasa.