GABON DISASTER HEROES REMEMBERED
By Chansa Kunda:
Former Chipolopolo players will tomorrow play a friendly match in honor of the 1993 National Football team that perished in a plane clash.
The game will be held to commemorate 28 years since the Zambia National Soccer team crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Libreville, Gabon in 1993.
The match will see all former players, that will be divided into the KK Eleven squad, and the Chipolopolo squad going head-to-head in the historical game to be played at the National Heroes’ stadium.
A check conducted by a ZNBC Sports crew found the former players cleaning the Memorial site ahead of tomorrows’ commemorations.
And Speaking to ZNBC News in an interview, former Chipolopolo striker Harry Milanzi implored various stakeholders to involve former players in various talent identification programs.
Milanzi who will be captain of the KK Eleven side said the retired players have vast knowledge that can be used to develop Zambian football.
And Andrew Tembo who survived the plane crash after being dropped before departure said the memories of the heroes are still fresh and that the game is a right way to honor them.
And 2012 AFCON winning Captain Christoper Katongo who will captain the Chipolopolo squad said having won the AFCON in Gabon is the greatest honor to have been bestowed on the 1993 fallen heroes.
Meanwhile, an Association being called The Zambia Coaches and Footballers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society has been formed in a bid to help retired footballers.
Association Spokesperson Vesper Janza said all retired footballers are welcome to join the cooperative.