Category: Remembering the Players

1993 – Zambian Football Team

Remembering the Players

The 1993 Zambian National team was the best that the country had ever had. For the first time in the countries history, they were attempting to qualify for the FIFA World cup and this seemed favorable for them, after all, in the 1998 Summer olympics, the Chipolopolo boys shocked the world and made headlines by beating Italy with four goals to none. They made it clear that their win was not a fluke. Instead it was a display of complete domination by the Zambian side, announcing their presence to the sports community (Wilson, 2012). The year was filled with promise for not just the footballers, the entire country of Zambia. Possibilities were endless.

So, as the team headed out to Dakar, Senegal for their qualifying match on April 27, 1993, spirits were high. On board the flight were 25 passengers and 5 crew members. Of the passengers, the 18 football players were as follows: 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), and Patrick “Bomber” Banda (striker).

In addition to the players, 7 supporting staff members and 5 crew members were also present. These were Michael Mwape (FAZ Chairman), Joseph Bwalya Salim (journalist), Nelson Zimba (public servant), Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu, Alex Chola, Wilson Mtonga (doctor), Wilson Sakala, Colonel Fenton Mhone(pilot), Lt Colonel Victor Mubanga (pilot), Lt Colonel James Sachika (pilot), Warrant Officer Edward Nambote (fitter), and Corporal Tomson Sakala (steward).

Except they never arrived. 

 

References

Editor 2. (2020, April 27). THE CLASS OF 1993: Zambia remembers national team that perished in plane crash | Zambian Eye. Zambian Eye. https://zambianeye.com/the-class-of-1993-zambia-remembers-national-team-that-perished-in-plane-crash/

Wilson, J. (2012, January 18). The day a team died: A tragedy for Zambian football. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/the-day-a-team-died-a-tragedy-for-zambian-football-6291475.html

 

Our Team Vision

About Ngosa Chungu, Remembering the Players

As a group, our vision is diving deep into the research of the Chipolopolo plane crash and the effects it had on the Zambian team in terms of being able to rejoin and how their reputation crashed along with it in the eyes of the public. Additionally, we were open to explore the social, political, and global aftermath of the tragic incident as well. We believe covering this event sheds light on how the Zambian national sports team was initially flourishing until a highly conspired crash largely impacted their nation from entering any sports related competitions.

The questions we planned to focus on answering this project are how the death of the Zambian National football team affected the country socially and how it also impacted the political and general sports atmosphere in the country. We further planned to explore how the sports scene in Zambia was before the crash and how it changed after the incident. On top of that, our group touched upon how the crash affected more than just Zambians but several other countries in order to emphasize the solidarity aspect of sports. Lastly, we also mention the legacy that has remained decades after the tragedy and how the Chipolopolo teams are always compared to the team that passed away.

In this team, we are a trio of women known as Katongo Lungu, Tasmia Belal, & Chileleko Sibayumba. We believe we have achieved in creating a wonderful visionary piece that breaks down the history, the remnants, and legacy of the National Zambian Football Team.