Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga will on Thursday lay a wreath at the Heroes burial site on behalf of the national association to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Gabon air disaster.
FAZ has stated that the event will be low key but family members of the Gabon disaster heroes will be ferried to Lusaka for Thursday’s commemoration in conjunction with Supersport, FAZ General Secretary Katongo Kabungo said.
“This year marks 23 years since the Gabon air crash which claimed lives of members of the Zambia national team, FAZ chairman then, a journalist and the aircraft crew. We will have the annual observance ceremony to mark this day because it remains embedded in our history and will carry on with us as the events of that day left an indelible mark on our football.”
“The activities will remain low key in line with the decision made by the Executive Committee and presented to the Council to observe this day every five years. We remain on course in planning for the 25th anniversary commemoration. But we invite members of the football family, fans and Zambians in general wishing to join us on Thursday to do so for observance of the day,” Kabungo said.
The programme of events for this year will see Kamanga lay a wreath at the site, join in prayers to be conducted by the Zambia Army chaplain and later lunch for the families before they return to their respective stations.
23 years and still no answers, Thank you Chiluba and your corrupt government, who in their right mind would put a nation team on an Army plane, let alone an ancient one that could not even fly 5000 feet above ground? Chiluba and his corruption destroyed Zambia to the depth never seen before. I don’t miss him and his foolish son Castro. RIP to the players and crew, as for the ones responsible the negligence that led to this disaster, I hope they will/are in hell.
I know its been long, but this loss should never be forgotten.
Salute to all the heroes.
Never will we live our lives without mentioning the fallen heros may your souls continue to rest in peace.
This is a wound that even time can’t heal…RIP
The loss of these gallant men still fresh in our memories. The loss to Zambia & indeed Africa as a whole is immeasurable . I quite remember as a middle aged man then & my passion for the game on hearing the news that the national team has been decimated , couldn’t go about my regular duties & had to take some days off. May these dedicated men NEVER be forgotten . Accidents do happen but this was too much to bear . I believe the whole world was shaken by the sad news. I think it was BBC news which put it succinctly : the end of an era (paraphrased). PLEASE LET US ALL REMEMBER THESE PATRIOTS IN OUR OWN DIVERSE WAYS