The Zambia national soccer team were harrased at Blantyre’s Chileka International Airport in Malawi and turned back in mid air from landing in Madagascar before finally completing a tiring 24-hour journey for Sunday’s Africa Cup match against Mauritius.
Malawi Airport authorities denied the squad access to the airport lobby after landing rights for onward flight were turned down.
The team which were placed under armed guard at Chileka airport spend the whole night in the plane parked on the runaway went without a meal for the whole day.
After taking off from Lusaka International Airport yesterday evening the Air Craft piloted by Colonel Lungu of Zambia Air Force, flew to Blantyre where it was refueled and proceeded en route to Madagascar for another fuel stint.
Only 45 minutes to flight, the pilot was told to turn back as the airport in Antananarivo was closed and the landing lights were turned off. Col Lungu tried to impress that it was emergency but the Indian Ocean Islanders stood their ground.
Returning to Blantyre, the Malawian were not too friendly ordering that no one should leave the plane.
FAZ Chairman Micheal Mwape and officials telephoned Zambia’s high commissioner to Malawi Milton Phiri who in turn contacted Sports Minister Dipak Patel in Lusaka for urgent help to gain clearance from Madagascar.
At 03:00 hrs Patel told Mwape that he was doing his best to facilitate for the onward flight via Madagascar to Maurtius.
In the meantime, packed meals were dished out to the players on the plane while those who wanted to the lavatory were allowed to do so in groups of five but under armed guard.
The whole night night spent on the runaway, Colonel Lungu made a hold decision at 06:00hrs taking off for Madagascar before even clearance was granted.
The reception in Madagascar was warm. The plane refueled, the squad finally flew into Port Louis late in the evening.
Mwape complained about the hostility of the Malawian authorities saying that they did not behave like neighbours.
“Its disappointing that the Malawians should be so hostile Why should they behave like this when they are our neighbours?” Mwape asked.
Despite flying almost for the whole day, the morale in the squad was high with players insisting to get to the nearest pitch and loosen up.
The Mauritius Football Association who were on hand to receive the team at the airport were unable to provide a pitch with flood lights but promised to help
Coach Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu was not happy that the team lost two days of training apart from one whole day meal.
The mood of the Mauritians, however is that Zambia is a tough and could easily beat them.
One official said: “Don’t beat us please.”
Zambia squad v Mauritius
Efford Chabala (goalkeeper), Martin Mwamba (goalkeeper) John Soko (defender), Whiteson Changwe (defender), Robert Watiyakeni (defender), Eston Mulenga (midfielder), Derby Makinka (midfielder), Moses Chikwalakwala (midfielder), Wisdom Mumba Chansa (midfielder), Andrew Tembo (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
Goalkeeper Martin Mwamba and then Zamsure midfielder Andrew Tembo were dropped at the Lusaka International Airport for the trip to West Africa, three days later on
[Beauty Lupiya l Port Louis, Mauritius l 23rd April, 1993 l Times of Zambia ]
Rest in peace ,ur legacy still exist
Why are we learning of this now??? Iam very disappointed with the Malawians, this should not be allowed to happen again!
Thanks for the refresher though somehow unclear especially the young ones who may not have had heard the whole issue. Heroes they were and Heroes they are.