Zambian football legends took time off their busy schedule to the clean up the Heroes Acre where the fallen heroes are buried ahead of Wednesday’s 28th anniversary.
The legends have also come up with an exhibition match which will be played at Heroes Stadium on Wednesday with kickoff at 13h00.
The match will see members of the KK11 battle it out against the Chipolopolo side.
KK11 Captain and 1988 African Cup of Nations Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya is expected to lead the veterans while CAF 2012 African Cup of Nations captain Chris Katongo will captain the Chipolopolo side which should feature a host of members from Herve Renard’s winning side.
At Lusaka’s Independence Stadium Heroes Acre, memories were shared of the fallen heroes as ‘young guns’ like Chris Katongo, Given Singuluma and Ignitius Lwipa listened attentively.
CAF 1994 African Cup of Nations best defender Elijah Litana, former Zanaco midfielder Kabamba Kalande, Vesper Janza and Harry Milanzi told their tales and personal encounter with their late colleagues.
As some of the players narrated their stories, their was one person amongst themselves who could have been on the plane 28 years ago. He was aged 19 years old at the time and was dropped to pave way for foreign based duo Kalusha and Johnston Bwalya who were connecting direct from Europe to Dakar, Senegalese capital City.
Former Zamsure midfielder Andrew Tembo and goalkeeper Martin Mwamba were part of that squad and actually travelled to Mauritius three days earlier. The two were only dropped after it was confirmed that the Bwalyas, not related would fly straight to West Africa.
While Tembo failed to make it for the 1994 African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia, the burly winger was recalled by the Roald Paulsen 2 years later on.
Aged 22 years old, Tembo was the star of the 1996 African Cup of Nations as he helped Zambia to claim bronze in South Africa. Tembo went on to have a successful career in Denmark alongside Mwape Miti at OB Odense.
During the late evening of Tuesday 27 April 1993 the Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D carrying most of the Zambian national football team to a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Senegal in Dakar caught fire and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 500 metres offshore near Libreville, Gabon.
The plane had made a refuelling stop in Libreville en route to Dakar. All 30 passengers died, among them most of the finest generation of footballers Zambia had ever produced.
Footballers
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 (midfielder), Richard Mwanza (goalkeeper), Samuel Chomba (defender), Moses Masuwa (striker), Kenan Simambe (defender), Godfrey Kangwa (midfielder), Winter Mumba (defender), Patrick “Bomber” Banda (striker)
Coaching staff
Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu, Alex Chola, Wilson Mtonga (doctor), Wilson Sakala
Others
Michael Mwape (FAZ Chairman), Nelson Zimba (public servant), Joseph Bwalya Salim (journalist)
Crew
Colonel Fenton Mhone (pilot), Lt Colonel Victor Mubanga (pilot), Lt Colonel James Sachika (pilot), Warrant Officer Edward Nambote (fitter), Corporal Tomson Sakala (steward)
Tears….for the fallen greats!
A suggestion…like liverpool who always carry the number “96” on all their jerseys why can’t the national team jerseys have the number “30” just below the collar in a small print as well in remembrance of the fallen heroes….
Frank, I love that suggestion.
May their souls continue to rest in peace. But again, we still ask why a military plane, and for that matter a “Buffalo”!